Transplanting Echinops Ritro & Lychnis Coronaria

15 years ago

I keep reading Echinops has a long tap root and are difficult to transplant. Don't think Lychnis Coronaria has a tap root but haven't dug one up yet.

Both were new last year and had just their basal rosettes.

They're in a spot where trees were supposed to be thinned or taken down but weren't and now they're in way too much shade.

I have to move them.

How deep is "very long tap" root with Echinops Ritro if anyone has experience with it...meaning how far down should I expect to dig before I start trying to ease them out? Assuming I'll see end of tap root but I know I've been wrong on many gardening assumptions before!

I don't think the Lychnis Coronaria is as bad to transpslant as the Echinops but if anyone has tips for that it'd be welcome as well.

I'm going to transplant this week just before the forecasted rain here starts and/or stems start coming up from the basal rosettes figuring earlier transplanting is better than waiting any longer.

Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to lose them after waiting a year for them to bloom just because I mess up the transplanting.

Here's hoping I do better with some experienced advice. I hate transplanting...LOL.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

christinmk z5b eastern WA
15 years ago
Don't worry about the Lychnis, it's a tough old girl. Be prepaired for a lot of seedlings after she blooms though!

Let me just say, that I have never transplanted an Echinops (I think I would be a little afraid of moving mine, being such a prickly thing, lol!). But I would imagine that digging two feet or more would be fine. Dig several inches away from the plant, and all around it. Then gently lift it up, dirt and all and make sure to have your other hole ready.
I think it should do fine. Good luck to you.
CMK
DYH
15 years ago
I have moved both. The Lychnis was easy and didn't have any shock. I moved it this spring and it looks like it's shooting up to bloom along with its sisters that were planted at the same time, but are in their original locations. I do have lots of babies this year around my 2 year-old plants.

The Echinops took more recovery time when I moved a 1 year old plant last year. I would transplant yours before it gets taller. Mine have really started growing in the last few days. Take as much soil as you can with your echinops and water at the base everyday for a few days. After each watering, make sure there are no air pockets in the soil by firming it down again.

Best wishes with your project.
Cameron
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
listen newbie ... JUST DO IT ... and quit worrying about it ...

the only way to change your name from newbie to green thumb.. is to go play in the dirt ... and kill a few things... lol...

doing it right before or in the rain is spot on ... increases your success rate 75% .... much better than waiting until mid june...

ken
MissMyGardens
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks very much for sharing your experience and advice.

I had a bad day of harping with "why are you growing more plants?" and "why do you need all this 'stuff'?"...meaning seedlings inside and out, potting soil, amendments, containers, tools, lights, heat mat, etc., etc. etc.!

I decided to stop worrying about whether my father will sell his house and convert from mostly annuals to many more perennials this year. It's been a lot of work growing some myself and ordering starts of others. I took over the basement to start first year blooming perennials (and lots of salvia) which has become another bone of contention. This brings me joy and I'm trying to ignore the nongardener's wrath.

Good news on the Lychnis. CMK, I'll welcome volunteers next year if I get them. This year I'm using some very nice home made leaf mold/compost for mulch instead of hardwood or cedar bark. I don't think I see more than 1 Cleome seedling from where I scattered lots of seed but that could change as the season moves on.

There's a good long narrow "bladed" step on shovel in the garage which we just used to clear the way for sprinkler heads. Looks good for digging deeply around the Echinops rosettes. I'm surprised the groundhogs haven't eaten them yet as they did last year. Luckily the rosettes are still only about 6" high with no prickly stem growth yet.

This is the first window of moderate temps and clouds/rain to both plant things out and transplant. I'm so excited it seems silly to nongardeners.

Ken, I've already killed a few things so I'm not a newbie at that! That's why I've got over 20 seedlings each of Salvia Lady in Red & Coral Nymph, Agastache Rupestris, Agastache Apricot Sprite, Agastache Purple Pygmy and beautiful Monarda Bergamo among others...LOL. Don't have room for all of them but I'll share some color by planting any extras at a neighbor's and one sister neither of whom have flowers. It'll feel so good to share the beauty and colors. Hopefully they'll get to see Hummingbirds nectaring the way I did last year.

Thanks again. I knew I had to move them but wanted to get some experienced voices for support and advice.

Last average frost date is May 15th and then there's the big push to plant out. If I get half the bloom I'm expecting I'm going to be one ecstatic camper!

Leslie

PS...Cameron, I'm keeping track of your deer resistant garden. Thanks for sharing it on your blog.

Transplanting Echinops Ritro & Lychnis Coronaria

Comments (4)

christinmk z5b eastern WA

DYH

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Transplanting Echinops Ritro & Lychnis Coronaria

Comments (4)

christinmk z5b eastern WA

DYH

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

MissMyGardensOriginal Author

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