Indoor heather: cultivation, care

With the most adapted for growing indoors are indoor heather slender (Erica gracilis) and winter heather (Erica huemalis).

Slender heather is an evergreen shrub up to 40 cm high , with linear leaves of light green color up to 5 mm long. The flowers are 5-10 mm long, bell-shaped, pinkish-red in color, arranged in 4 pieces. at the ends of lateral shoots. It blooms from September to February. This species has many varieties that are distinguished by a variety of flower colors.

Winter heather – differs from the slender bush in height – up to 50 cm and larger, up to 2 cm long flowers, have the shape of a white bell tower.

We have described the multiplication of heather in detail in this article “Heather : cultivation, care, reproduction”

When to plant indoor heather

It is necessary to plant indoor heather: in April and until May; in late September – early October. The soil mixture should consist of peat, river sand and coniferous soil (proportion – 3: 1: 2, respectively), with the addition of coniferous soil or pine forest litter.

Caring for indoor heather

Indoor heather is used as a seasonal annual plant. But indoor heather can be saved for the next year. To do this, it is necessary to cut the shoots 5-7 days after the flowering period and put the plant in the fresh air. Carry out a full feeding cycle and prune the bush.

Heather at home needs regular ventilation and spraying of the plant, especially at high and dry air temperatures. The plant should be placed in a well-lit, sunny place. During the flowering period, indoor heather needs to drop the temperature to + 12 ° C, not higher.

Water and humidity for indoor heather . Heather should be watered only with softened, settled, melted or rainwater at room temperature, free of chlorine and lime. The soil should not be allowed to dry out. Every day, indoor heather should be sprayed with warm water in the spring-autumn period to prevent pest infestation.

Air temperature for heather. The best air temperature for growing heather indoors is: in summer within +18 + 25 ° C; in winter +8 + 12 ° С.

Lavender comes in pink, purple, white, and even yellow.

Top dressing of indoor heather. During the period of active growth (spring-autumn), heather should be fed with organic and mineral fertilizers for heather plants.

Transplanting heather. Every year you need to transplant or replace the substrate in the pot without disturbing the earthen lump.

Pruning indoor heather.To stimulate flowering, growth and maintain the decorative appearance of the bush, regular pruning of heather, which is carried out after flowering, is required.

Pests and diseases. Heather, when grown at home, is often infected with aphids or spider mites, and at very high humidity, fungal diseases are possible.