Erica Heather Plant in Trouble!?

Question

My husband bought me a little Erica Heather (Native to S. Africa). You can keep it in a pot indoors if the room temp is 40-80 degrees. The soil is to be kept moist but not soggy and you aren't supposed to let it dry out completely. It looks like it's sitting in a sandy soil, not potting material. The tops (the part that grows up past the blooms) started getting brownish looking and the whole thing became less perky. The blooms are still there, but I'm wondering if I should cut that top growth off- it's like the top of a stalk of corn. Some of the roots have come out the bottom of the pot, but the plant doesn't come near being too small for the pot. The tag also says to give it a light feeding of acid plant food in early spring if it looses color, or apply iron sulfate. Okay, what's an acid plant food, and it's not early spring, so should I even think about doing that? I don't want it to die, what can I do?

Answer 1

Trim it for aesthetic reasons if you like (so it looks better.) Roots coming out of the bottom of the pot indicate it needs a larger pot - applies to any plant. Epsom salts can be substituted for (very expensive) acid fertilizer - I'd combine it with a weak mix (1/4 tsp per gallon of water) of MiracleGro. Iron sulfate (coperas) substitute is rusty nails or wire - poke them in the dirt around the plant. good luck

Answer 2

first you need to re pot it in some different and better soil. You can go to Lowe's or Home Depot ( this one is better) They have potting soil there and pots for you to transfer it to the new soil and pot. Then you can use a little miracle grow to help it along the way like every three to four weeks. Water it every two weeks and keep it in front of the windows for sunlight. You should cut of the dead part cause it can kill off the rest of the plant. if the roots starts coming up again, that's because there is not enough soil in the pot and you need a bigger one so it has room to grow and spread it roots.

Answer 3

The heather plant you acquire would have contacted a ailment on the roots. it could additionally be the airborne dirt and airborne dirt and dust you planted it in. i'd go returned to the area you acquire the plant from, consistent with risk they'd assist you to.