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As much as it hurts you to do it, I'd deadhead it. The blooms on the whites ones will brown out like that when they're pooping out and need to be cut off. I'm wondering about the brown spots on the leaves. Did it have the spots when you bought it? Are you having alot of rain there - the spots on the leaves makes me think it was/is getting watered at night and staying wet which isn't a good thing. It's best to water early in the day so the plant has time to dry. I'd only give it some water every other day. They're pretty hardy plants so I think it'll be fine.
Since we've had lots of rain this summer, I haven't watered my coneflowers at all. Yours are new plants, so they may need a little more attention, but watch for overwatering. The native coneflowers thrive in the hot, dry prairie. I would deadhead head them also since they are going to try to produce seed after the flower dies. That takes more energy from the young plant. Cut yourself a bouquet of the flowers and and let the plant work on growing it's root system.
I have another plant(paeonia) that the leaves look like bugs got to them. They are new plants that i put mulch around and then it rained 2 days off and on. How far do I cut the coneflower down? Should i water the any after cutting it down?
Here's a pic of my paeonia. looks rough:(
Cut the coneflower down to above the next bud, if there is one. Otherwise down to the next pair of leaves.
From your picture, I don't really see holes but I see the black spots. I think in places like Home Depot, WalMart, etc. they cram the plants together and water them whenever. If they stay wet overnight frequently, are crowded, and add outdoor humidity and you'll get fungus spreading amongst them.
The mulch will keep them moist so if it's raining alot don't water them for awhile. You can check by sticking your finger down an inch, if the soil feels dry then you can water them. After the plants die back this fall, I'd clean up the foliage and throw it out in case of disease, you wouldn't want to compost it.
I think they'll be fine and wouldn't worry about the spots - they look like good plants otherwise.
I think your coneflower is going to be fine. It my garden, July is a hard month to plant anything...even coneflowers. I say that because last year I planted this Fragrant Angel (white coneflower) in July and I went through the same exact thing.
I don't know what your humidity level is there...but it's been awful here. Either the humidity is at an all time high or we have pouring down rain. If you've been getting a lot of rain...I wouldn't water it at all. Usually those brown spots mean too much water...at least in my garden.
NoGreenThumb - Your color combo there looks very pretty. Is Fragrant Angel very fragrant? I can't say I've seen that one here. I can't complain about our summer here so far temperature and humidity-wise - it's been absolutely great - FINALLY! There is nothing worse than high humidity, that's something I just can't take anymore so I feel for you!! BUT, I'd love some of your rain, it's been crispy dry here and the rain always seems to pass to the north or to the south. Watering's a drag!
It's rained so much here this season that we are always having Flash Flood Warnings. Rained last night...again. I'd be happy to send you a bucket or two!
