As an evergreen shrub, the lavender heather attracts admiration all year round. But only if you take good care of the plant.
The flower bells are already formed in late summer. In the spring that follows, the flowers appear in full bloom. Lavender heather (Pieris) can be planted both as hedges and in tubs (instructions for planting lavender heather). The most important thing is the right care. If you follow the instructions below, the shadowy bell will bring you a lot of joy and lead anything but a shadowy existence in beds or pots.
An overview of some lavender heather species
❍ Japanese Lavender Heather:
The Japanese lavender heather grows two to three meters high. The flowers appear white to slightly pink and appear as early as March. The red autumn color of the foliage is particularly attractive. The hardy plant is very popular in rock gardens or shade gardens.
❍ Heather Rosemary:
The rosemary heather is often confused with the shadow bell, but it only grows about 30 centimeters in height. The pink flowers appear between May and August. The plants are extremely hardy and, as moor plants, love a moist environment.
❍ Formosa Heather:
The Formosa lavender heather comes from Asia, like the other representatives of the plant genus. The stately shrub can grow up to five meters high. The white flowers appear in early summer. In winter, the plant tolerates temperatures down to -10 degrees and should receive appropriate winter protection in severe frosts.
How to properly care for the lavender heather
pour:
Heather lavender prefers a moist site. This requires regular watering of the plant. The soil must not dry out. This requires a sure instinct. Do not confuse moist with wet, because the plant does not get waterlogged at all. Root rot would be the result here. A permeable substrate is therefore the best prerequisite for the liquid to drain off well. You should therefore always mix heavy soil with coarse sand or gravel. For potted plants is theFluid requirement higher than outdoors. Pay special attention to the permeability of the soil. A drainage made of potsherds, for example, protects against waterlogging.
The lavender heather does not tolerate lime. Therefore, do not water the plant with fresh tap water, but rather with rainwater. If you don't have rainwater available, you should at least use stagnant tap water. The lime content is noticeably reduced as a result. You can also mix tap water with distilled water.
fertilize:
The soil quality can be optimized by mixing bark mulch or peat under the substrate. To stimulate growth and flowering, you can use rhododendron fertilizer. In any case, prefer organic fertilizers to mineral fertilizers. Here is an article about organic fertilizer and its benefits for the garden.
cut:
The pruning tolerance of the lavender heather is quite good. But you don't have to use scissors all the time, because the plant grows quite slowly. clearing is enough. You can also do this during the flowering period. This ensures that all shoots are supplied with sufficient light. However, do not cut back directly to the bud. Keep a distance of at least one centimeter. Withered flowers should be removed immediately. This is how you promote growth and new shoots.
If you have planted the lavender heather as a hedge, you should shorten the shoots immediately after flowering. The cut surface should be sloping and running away from the bud. This ensures dense and compact growth.
Important:
Always use a sharp and sterile knife for the cut. Thicker branches can be removed more cleanly and quickly with a small saw.
hibernate:
❍ in the bed:
The lavender heather is hardy outdoors. The Schattenglöckchen tolerates temperatures down to -20 degrees without additional winter protection. A sheltered location is an advantage so that the winter sun does not damage the leaves.
The soil must not dry out completely even in winter. Therefore, you should check the soil on frost-free days. If it feels dry, you should water the plant lightly. If you cover the layer of soil with leaves or brushwood, the plant is better protected and the soil does not dry out as quickly.
❍ in the bucket:
If the lavender heather is in a bucket, you have to pay attention to a few things in winter. Although the container plant canRemain outdoors, but you will need to provide them with shelter from around October when the nights get colder. Wrap the plant pot with garden fleece, a jute sack or an old blanket. However, frost can also get into the planter from below and attack the thin hair roots. You can prevent this by positioning the plant pot on a base made of polystyrene or wood. Depending on the location and weather conditions, the winter protection should remain on the lavender heath until February or the beginning of March.
You must check the plant regularly during the winter months. Always water lightly on frost-free days so that the soil does not dry out. You can use this opportunity to remove frozen plant parts immediately.