Rules for planting and caring for heather in a pot at home
Heather is an evergreen shrub found throughout the world. In Russia, it is primarily found in Siberia and the European part, where it has chosen pine forests and peat bogs. This plant is very whimsical, it is not easy to care for it in the garden, and even more so at home. But this culture has a lot of fans. It serves not only as an unusual decoration, but also brings many benefits. Growing heather in a pot at home is an interesting activity, the main thing is to take into account the characteristics of the plant.
The best varieties for growing at home
Not many varieties of heather are used for growing at home.
Slim
One of the most beautiful indoor varieties. Neat bushes, up to 40 centimeters high, with light green leaves, densely hung with inflorescences during the flowering period. The color of the flowers is pink, red, purple, which makes them look like bunches of pomegranates.
Wintering
This variety grows up to half a meter, the flowers are also larger than those of slender heather. The flowers are white, the size is up to 2 centimeters.
Mix
Heather mix fell in love with many gardeners due to the fact that its flowers are painted in the most different and vibrant shades. It can be pink, purple, white. This variety reaches a height of half a meter and grows very luxuriantly. Blooms in July.
Ordinary
The height of the common heather is more than half a meter, it also branches strongly, the color of the stems is reddish. Flowers of lilac and pink shades, do not fall off for a long time even after the end of the flowering period.
Required conditions for a flower
Heather lives less in an apartment than in the wild or a garden - up to two years. In order for the plant to delight with flowers all this time, it is necessary to grow it correctly and then take care of it.
Location and illumination
When choosing a room in which you plan to grow heather, you need to consider the following:
- it must be well ventilated;
- the plant is harmed by heat, therefore, overheating must be avoided (do not place next to heaters and batteries);
- a lot of diffused sunlight.
The ideal option is an insulated loggia, where the desired temperature will be kept in winter.But avoid the south side and direct sunlight.
Temperature regime
High temperatures are fatal for heather. Therefore, in winter, + 12-15 degrees is enough for him, in summer - up to +25. When growing seedlings, try to keep the temperature around + 18-20. Contraindicated to the plant and stuffiness. On the other hand, it will be good to take it outside in spring and autumn on warm (but not hot!) Days.
Indoor humidity
An abundance of moisture is important for heather; it will grow poorly in rooms with dry air. To avoid this, gardeners are advised to spray the bushes.
Optimal soil composition and pot volume
A shallow and wide pot is best for heather, but when planting the plant, you need to focus on the roots. The depth of the container should be greater than their length, and, as the heather grows, you need to transplant it into a larger pot. Often heather is planted in long boxes, then you can assemble a composition of several varieties.
As for the land, the best option is an acidic soil with a base of peat and humus, in which there will be a sufficient amount of organic matter. Good drainage is also important.
Rules for planting a heather flower at home
You can plant heather with seeds or seedlings. When buying seedlings, you must carefully consider each one, since even dead bushes do not lose their leaves and seem to be alive.
Terms and technology of planting works
Seed planting is carried out in any season as follows:
- Bury the seeds shallowly in a mixture of peat, softwood and sand.
- Cover the pots tightly with plastic or glass to create a greenhouse effect.
- Ventilate periodically, water the ground when it dries.
- 8-10 months after the seeds have sprouted, the plants can be transplanted into separate pots.
If you decide to use seedlings, then choose sturdy stems without flowers. First they need to be put in water, and when roots appear, plant them in a pot. Use a mixture of peat and sand.
Crop care rules
Heather is a whimsical plant, and if you decide to grow it at home, then you will need time and patience. Fortunately, you need to care for different varieties in the same way. Mulching has a good effect on heather, but be sure to remove dry leaves and branches.
Watering and irrigating the bush
It is important that the soil for the heather is always moist. It is also sensitive to water. It is necessary to water only with settled water, practically without chlorine. If the water in your area is highly chlorinated, then stand it for 2 weeks, or even better, use melt or rainwater. Pour carefully, right at the root, so that water does not get on the leaves, otherwise gray rot may appear. But for better hydration, the plant can be lightly sprayed.
What and when to feed
Top dressing is very important for heather, but you shouldn't add too much. During the period of active growth, fertilize with complex mineral fertilizers. The first time is in the spring, after pruning. One square meter requires 20-30 milligrams. Organic is also good, and use spruce bark or sulfur to oxidize the earth.
Shaping and pruning
Pruning is another activity required for a plant. It is carried out after flowering. Fresh stems are removed to form a bush. At the same time, those who have become stiff must be left - they will then give new shoots. Some gardeners choose not to prune the heather in order to keep the flowers longer, but still, thanks to pruning, the shrub grows more luxuriantly and forms flowers better.
Transfer
Heather needs to be transplanted into a new container every year, as it grows rapidly. It is necessary to transplant carefully - the plant is sick for a long time. The root system is especially affected, since it is shallow and has many small roots. Therefore, try not to damage the earthen ball.The pot should be selected with large drainage holes and larger than the previous one, but for the bush it should remain a little cramped.
Exposure to diseases and parasites: prevention and treatment
At home, heather rarely gets sick, but there are still several diseases and parasites that a gardener may encounter. First of all, it is gray rot. It occurs due to excess moisture and stagnant water at the roots. White growths and spots on the plant, wilted leaves testify to gray rot. You can fight it with the drugs Fundazol and Topaz. As a preventive measure, spray the leaves with a weak solution of copper sulfate.
Most diseases and parasites are also easy to deal with:
- Against powdery mildew, due to which white and brown spots appear, Fundazol will help.
- Rust - Topaz preparation. It can be recognized by red spots on the foliage.
- Aphids - Inta-Vira and Decis preparations.
- Spider mite - Aktellik, Aktar.
But if the growth of the shrub has slowed down, its branches become crooked, and the color of the leaves and flowers has changed, then the plant is infected with viruses. In this case, only the destruction of sick heather helps so that the disease does not spread to other bushes. It is best to burn them.
How to store heather in winter
In order for heather to survive the winter safely, it must be kept cool (up to +8 degrees) and the soil must not dry out. But at the same time, watering is slightly reduced.
Reproduction methods
Heather can be propagated by seedlings and seeds, and both methods give good results. If you keep the temperature at home, you can breed heather at any time of the year.
Saplings
Reproduction with seedlings is a fairly quick and easy way. Cuttings for this purpose should be:
- flexible;
- with vegetative buds at the ends;
- annuals;
- without flowers;
- from the tops of the bushes.
They are recommended to be planted in special pots, in a peat-sand mixture. Choose autumn for breeding.
Seeds
Seeds are the safest way to breed heather. Germination rate is 90%, moreover, the time of year affects less planting of seeds. However, seeds require more time and labor than seedlings. Sowing takes place as follows:
- Pour the prepared soil with warm water.
- Spread the seeds on the ground, press them lightly and sprinkle with soil on top.
- Cover the pot with plastic wrap to keep the earth from drying out.
Seeds sprout in about a month. You can also stand the seeds off the ground in cups or saucers. To do this, they are laid out in a dish in a thin layer, poured over with water and also hermetically closed. After the first shoots appear, they are planted in pots.
Frequently asked questions and answers to them
Gardeners who are just starting to grow heather have a tough time dealing with it. You need to know how and what to do at each stage of its growth, as well as other features of the culture.
When does the plant bloom?
The flowering time of heather is the end of August. Its great advantage is that even after the flowering period, the inflorescences do not fall off, but remain on the bush, so that the latter does not lose its decorative qualities for a very long time.
What to do after flowering?
At home, heather is often grown as an annual plant. In order for the bush to survive the winter safely, and the next year again please you with flowering, appropriate feeding after flowering, as well as cutting, is necessary. It is also important to keep temperatures low during the winter months.
What is the lifespan of a plant?
In the garden, heather can bloom for a long time - up to 5 years, while in nature its life is sometimes calculated for decades. But at home, this period is much shorter - 1 or even 2 years, if all the necessary conditions are created.
Why does heather dry?
Heather dries up from lack of moisture.In dry seasons, you need to ensure abundant watering, do not forget to spray the plant, and humidify the air, if possible. Also, the reason may lie in the soil, which has become slightly acidic. This requires an appropriate feeding, for example, you can add acid with water twice a year.
Despite the difficulties in planting and growing, heather remains one of the most interesting and useful plants. In addition to beautiful flowers that can be admired for a very long time, it is also used in medicine, cosmetology, therefore it is highly valued by gardeners.
