Echinacea will normally take 10-20 days to germinate at 65-70F (18-21C) - cooler or warmer may take longer. I think your climate is approximately a Z8 and the plants may do better outside than inside over winter with low or inadequate light. You don't need to cut them back, let mother nature take care of the dormancy, give them some protection during a harsh winter storm if your pots would be in danger of freezing. I've moved very young plants in and out of my unheated garage when temperatures have been predicted to fall much below freezing.

Prairiegirl, I put in one 'Paprika' last fall that I got from a swap, and it is just now starting to bloom. There is a 'Walter Funke' a few feet away in the same bed, so I'll be able to make a good comparison this summer. If I like the 'Paprika' better, I'll just divide it in the fall, and replace the 'Walter Funke's. ... on the other hand, some of those 'Tomato Soup' Echinaceas would make a fine replacement for the 'Walter Funke's ; ) This is my second year for the Achillea 'Terracotta', and I am very pleased with the bloom color, and like the golden yellow color that it fades to. My only problem with them is that I placed them in a spot that gets too much wind, so they are leaning on some other plants a bit. I may try staking them to tidy them up. Someone on this forum suggested using a peony hoop, but mine are way too big for that. Sorry, Echinaceamaniac, for wandering off the topic. Bonnie

I'm one of the ones with troubles with the newer varieties. "Mango Meadowbrite" only lasted 2 years, yet my bosses only lasted 1. "Harvest Moon" doesn't look like it'll make it a third year, and "Sunset" doesn't either; both are in full sun and puny. To make matters worse, I have one of the skunked "Sunset"; it's not blooming properly/petals don't open/remains curled. I've tried "Double Decker" twice and neither returned the following year. "Coconut Lime" also died off after purchasing when transplanted, and it wasn't disturbed at all in the process. My "Magnus", "White Swan" and other unknown purples (also in full sun) are much more reliable in my garden, and return faithfully as well as reseed...

Irma, it has been my experience that they take at least two years to bloom from seed and I have never gotten much out of them from seed. There not aggressive and often get killed by the weeds or die from heat or lack of water or to much water. I personally have only been able to get them to grow well from ones already started and in a part shade protected from the hottest part of the day. That being said I have found them growing in the wild and along road sides in the middle of nowhere and doing just fine with out human help. Go figure right. Can't get to grow well at home but finds hundreds on side of road.