Dry echinacea for a tea, infusion, or decoction - PEP BB medicine.sand.dry.echinacea

My Echinacea patch is double last year!

This years drought might be killing my echinacea flowers. Trying to grab some leaves before they succumb.

I've been growing echinacea for three years or so. So weird that I haven't turned in this drying bb!

In my continuing saga of the echinacea that broke my irrigation system:  Short version -- I had to dig up some, so I harvested it.

As it turns out, there was a crack in the drip irrigation line that was below the surface and the echinacea was taking complete advantage and overrunning the patch.  I harvested with multiple purposes.  This will show the drying of leaves and flowers.  I also dried some roots, but they take longer to dry, so they are not shown in final jar.

When I started drying the herbs, I did not know that echinacea is more potent if it dries somewhat quickly, so I opted for low temperature (95 F) in a dehydrator.  The leaves and flowers only take a few hours this way. The roots will take 48 hours.

I will likely save the dried echinacea for when my elderberries are harvested to make a nice syrup for winter colds & flus.