Echinacea Root

11Dec/10Off

Echinacea Root

Help! Transplant crisis (garden)?

We bought and transplanted a coneflower (echinacea) plant and it is wilting horribly. I've read up on shelter and tap roots but I don't understand. Why is it doing this; what do I do now? More water? Thanks!

Firstly, most plants suffer transplant shock, of some type, when they are replanted. If there is heat around, this will further shock your Echinacea which, although able to withstand summer heat, will feel its effects more strongly just now.

I wouldn't water too much, as this could further aggravate the stress that it's under, but some shading, if possible, would minimise any heat stress.

If you've damaged some roots, then it's still possible for your plant to settle in, and grow again strongly, depending on how much root you may have cut off. If it's overall root health and quantity is good, then this will make this more likely too.

It's possible that a little misting would alleviate water loss from its leaves, although this would be temporary. Plant's leaves wilt to conserve moisture, and water uptake is more difficult after some root damage, so your plant's condition may be entirely fine.

I would generally move Echinacea when dormant, as this allows you to avoid most transplant shock - this isn't possible right now, it's about allowing your plant to adjust to its new position as easily as possible.

A further thought is to ensure that the soil is firmly compacted, as air pockets in the soil could also dry the roots out. If this is fine, then just focus for now on giving your plant a cool breather, with some shading, from intense sunlight and heat. Fingers crossed, it will re-establish itself, and in a month or so will have developed its growth again.

Whilst it will have a tap root, it will also have other roots, which you possibly saw when you were planting - it's possible to divide a clump of them, and they'll regrow as long as each part has some of the root - in a way, think of your replanting as a form of division, OK, you may have lost a part of your plant, but there should still be plenty of vitality within it.

If you divide it in future, then do this when it's not actively growing. Mine also seed around the garden, so you could find some new plants, in future, in this way too. As mature plants they don't like to sit in water, so it would be against its nature to over-water it just now, even though in distress.

Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob