Is your heather fading out?

Calluna vulgaris, also know as the common heather, is a great and undemanding plant with beautiful pinkish flowers that blow in autumn and even in winter. It can deal with snow or frost and that is why it is a popular plant during the All Saint’s holiday or in pagan terms – Halloween. However, after a while your beautiful heather starts to dry out. Drying is the main manifestation that something is wrong with your common heather and therefore, we decided to give you a little advice, so you can make sure that your heather doesn’t dry out this year and you can enjoy its beauty for as long as possible.

Acidic soil is very important

Heather needs an acidic soil to grow – pH below 5. If you cannot provide it, grow heather in suitable containers where you put acidic soil. Buy substrate designed for azalea and rhododendron, or make your own substrate by mixing peat, sand and classic gardening substrate. Good water drainage is important, so make sure to put pebbles, perlite or lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) on the bottom of the container.

Photo: Pixabay

Watering is very important

It is important that the soil around the heather is constantly and properly moist, because insufficient, but also excessive watering, can be fatal – insufficient watering leads to drying and overwatering can make your plant rot. Rainwater is best. If you live in areas with hard water your heather will have harder time, because calcium in the water is not good.

Caring for heather

If you want your heather to maintain its beautiful colors, it needs enough light. This is the only way for your plant to display its typical and beautiful flowers.We also recommend fertilizing once every 14 days with a fertilizer designed for azaleas or rhododendrons – these fertilizers do not contain calcium. Calcium turns acidic soil into alkaline. If you want to keep heather every year you must trim it regularly. Best time for trimming is the end of March to the beginning of April. Don’t be afraid of a rather extensive cut. You can shorten the plant by a quarter or even by a third of its length.

Preview photo: Pixabay