A beautiful and easy-to-care plant. It is perfect to have in the garden, either planted on both sides of an entrance, or delimiting paths. Able to live for many years even when grown in a pot.
La EricaSometimes called heather, it is a plant that looks beautiful for much of the year, with fall being the time when it fills with flowers. Thus, it is worth taking it into account to give color to the patio or the green corner of the home.
If you need a flower pot o land for your erica plant, do not hesitate to click on the links to get it at a good price.
Characteristics of the Erica
Belonging to the Ericaceae family, it is an incredible plant. Erica is a botanical genus comprising 863 accepted species. Most of them are native to the Cape (South Africa), but there are some that are found in Europe, including the Canary archipelago. It is very adaptable, and resistant to something surprising: the fire.
This decorative shrub grow to a height of approximately one meter. It has tiny leaves, about 10mm long, evergreen, dark green. Its flowers can be pink, cream or white, and they grow arranged upside down or upside down. They appear, as we said, during the autumn period, so it is undoubtedly the main plant after the end of the summer.
The growth rate is reasonably fast, as long as it grows on soil that has a low (acidic) pH, otherwise you could have problems due to a lack of iron and the plant would turn yellow. If this happens to you, don't worry. It can be easily solved if you fertilize it using a specific fertilizer for acidophilic plants, or with Iron sulphate.
By the way, you should know that the Erica are easily confused with the Calluna. The main difference is that the leaves of our protagonist have the largest leaves. Those of the Calluna do not exceed 3mm in length.
Caring for the Erica
Heather is a plant very easy to care it requires little maintenance. So much so that it looks great in any corner: whether sunny or semi-shady. Thus, if you want to have a flowered carpet in the garden, you can choose to plant several together; And if you prefer to have it in a pot, it will look great on your patio or terrace.
To have it well cared for, let's see what we have to do to keep it healthy for many years:
Location
Erica grows well in both full sun and partial shade, so you only have to ask yourself one thing: Where do i put it? And the truth is that it is not easy, since it looks good in any corner. But if you will allow me a suggestion, how about the idea of putting a few around a tree trunk? Not much is done with flower bushes and it's a shame, because eThe result could be incredible.
Substratum
If you have a clay soil there is no other choice than to have it in a pot. This is not a problem since, thanks to its small size, will have perfect growth and development. But so that it does not lack anything we have to plant it in a substrate with a low pH, between 4 and 6.
Being an acidophilus plant it is essential that the land is acid like this. Otherwise, we would have to provide iron at least once a month. But not only the pH is important, but also the drainage, so it is advisable that you mix the substrate with 10% perlite or any other porous material. In this way, waterlogging will be avoided and, consequently, its roots will remain properly aerated.
Irrigation
Heather quite likes the humidity in the ground, but without exceeding. Water it with rainwater or non-calcareous water about 2 or 3 times a week in summer, and every seven days the rest of the year. But if it is very hot and / or it does not rain, and you also see that the substrate begins to be very dry, then it will be time to water.
One way to know when the plant needs water is by checking the humidity of the substrate. How do you do that? Very easy. You just have to insert a finger or a thin wooden stick to the bottom of the pot. Once you extract it, see how much dirt has stuck to the finger or stick: if it is a lot, it will not be necessary to water; On the other hand, if it comes out practically clean, it will be time to take the shower.
Pests
The Erica is very resistant to pests and diseases, although it is necessary to watch the mealybugs and Mites, especially in dry environments and / or during the summer. Both can be prevented if from time to time we spray the plant so that the humidity is high, although sometimes they still appear and with preventive treatments, so here is a remedy to eliminate them:
Things you will need: 96º alcohol and a brush.
Mode of application: moisten the brush of the brush with alcohol, and then apply it to the plant, as if you were 'painting' it.
Another option is to fight these parasites with a chemical insecticide that contains chlorpyrifos or pyrethrins. It is important that you wear gloves and follow the instructions specified on the packaging, for the safety of the plant itself and yours.
Rusticity
It stands out for being very resistant to cold and intense frosts. In fact, it is suitable for areas where winter is very harsh, with minimum temperatures of up to -25ºC. So now you know, if you want to be able to enjoy some beautiful colored rugs, this is your plant.
Uses of Erica
Erica is very decorative, a quality that makes it increasingly visible in gardens. In gardening it is used to delimit paths and also
to create shrub beds, or as potted plant. But in addition, it has other equally interesting uses, which are:
Wood is used to make pipes, cutlery and other objects.
In its natural habitat, it serves as cattle feed.
In rural areas it is used as fuel, since the strains - from which the leaves sprout - have a high calorific value.
If there is an easy-to-care plant that is also very ornamental, it is undoubtedly Erica. Do you dare to have one?
Full path to article: Jardineria On » Plants » Erica, a sunny plant with little demand
The other day it was very hot and I watered all my plants with a hose, because I don't have land I have them all in pots, I have 2 ericas, one white and one pink, when I hose them I do it in the form of rain and the other day the white erica appeared to me all withered and yellowish has some green leaves ,,, Will I go to die? Did I make the mistake of watering it as rain? I would like to be happy, thank you. White
Hello Blanca.
It is advisable to avoid watering overhead, since the plants cannot absorb the water through their leaves.
If it is green, it will recover. Remove those that look yellow, and treat them with a fungicide to prevent them.
Luck.
Hello, I'm Daniela. My little plant was beautiful until the ants invaded it. I was able to save it but it is as if it is dry as if it is dying but still it is blooming. What I can do.?
Hello Daniela.
Normally ants appear when the plant has aphids. I would recommend that you do a treatment with an insecticide that has 40% Dimethoate, following the instructions specified on the container.
Greetings, and good luck.
Hello white, I am a rose from Argentina, the province of Tucuman, I have an Erica, she is dying, I have her in a flowerpot.
Thank you very much in advance the plants are my living jovi x them since my depressive state is serious they help me a lot
Hello Maria Rosa.
The first, a lot, a lot of encouragement 🙂
Iron sulfate can be found at nurseries or garden stores.
Another option is to fertilize with fertilizers for acidic plants, or water with water to which the liquid of half a lemon has previously been added.
How often do you water it? It is advisable to water little, 2-3 times a week at most.
A greeting.
Hi Sabrina.
The ideal would be to have it in the same place at all times, since the conditions are not the same outside as inside, and it would take time for the plant to get used to the changes. But if there is a risk, for example, that it will be stolen or that a strong wind will destroy it, then it is highly recommended to have it at home.
A greeting.
Hi Sabrina.
The Erica leaves are perennial, so if they fall it is because it has a lack or excess of watering. You can check the humidity of the soil before watering again, inserting a thin wooden stick to the bottom: if it comes out practically clean, it is because the soil is dry.
Greetings 🙂.
Hello
Buy an erica now in autumn, I live in Sweden but the temperatures have dropped, as is customary here, they have been with a minimum of 6 degrees and the maximum of 13, but it will drop even more, my question is I have to transplant it and have it inside the apartment already that I have it on the balcony? I would appreciate it if you answered my email.
Hello rosa.
The name of the botanical genus is Erica, and it is composed of several species, such as Tree heather or the Erica Grace. The common name is heather.
Greetings 🙂.
Hi Emilio.
How often do you water it? And what water do you use? Erica is a plant that has to be watered with water whose pH is acidic, between 4 and 6, because if the water has a lot of lime, it immediately has problems.
Likewise, it is important not to overwater to prevent the roots from rotting, so you should check the humidity of the substrate before watering. To do this you can insert a thin wooden stick to the bottom (if it comes out practically clean, it is because the earth is dry).
A greeting.
Erica will support the sun, but not clay soil. What you can do is dig a 50 x 50cm hole, and fill it with substrate for acidic plants (like this one they sell here). And from there, water it with lime-free water.
Hello, my erica is marking herself, she gave flowers, and it was hot and she was so beautiful, I don't know what to do, she is marking the tng with half a spare,
Hello Evelyn.
How often do you water it and what water do you use? I ask you because it is a plant that does not support lime in water or puddles.
My advice is that you water it no more than 3 times a week, with rainwater or, failing that, with soft water. If the tap has a lot of lime, dilute the liquid of half a lemon in 1l of water.
By the way, if you have a plate under it, remove the excess water after 15 minutes of watering.
A greeting.
hello I have two ERICA plants in a cement pot for 15 days, they are on a terrace with a lot of sun, a few days ago it is turning yellow and drying some leaves that they will need?
Hi Patricia.
They may be burning. Although they like to be in the sun, sometimes those that are bought in the nurseries are too "spoiled", so that when we put them in direct sun the leaves burn.
To prevent it from getting worse, I recommend that you put it in semi-shade, and that you water it every time the ground is dry or almost. To find out, you can insert a thin wooden stick to, when removing it, see how much soil has adhered to it: in the event that it is little - or none - you can water it.
A greeting.
Hi, I loved the post.
I wanted to know if you could recommend something to me to save my plant, the leaves dry out, new ones came out but they started to dry out at the tips and I don't know what to do.
Irrigation followed
I am from Buenos Aires and we are in summer, it is a plant that I have outside but at noon I enter the house in a cooler place.
The plant is already half a year old.
What I did see is that it has a little black bug that gets into the ground. I don't know if it could be some plague.
I also got to see cobwebs and a green spider that I couldn't get out of him.
Thanks and regards!
Hi Sabrina.
I'm glad you like it 🙂
It is very likely that the leaves are drying as a result of the attack of the worms.
To avoid making the situation worse, you can treat the soil with Cypermethrin 10%, following the instructions specified on the package (one sachet will suffice).
For spiders, you can treat the plant with an acaricide.
You will find these products in nurseries and garden stores.
A greeting.
Hello Monica.
Super interesting article, thank you!
We are thinking of putting several ericas in planters on our terrace. It gets a lot of sun, but we are from the north of Spain, so it is not scorching either. The doubt is that the planters are on a glazed balcony, so the plants would be almost stuck to the glass and the sun would shine through it. Would they be at risk of being burned by the "magnifying glass effect"?
Hi Amaya.
We are glad that you liked the article 🙂
Unfortunately yes, they could get burned poniendo Perhaps putting an umbrella or an umbrella that you like as a decoration may be a solution.
A greeting.
Hi July.
If there are ants there are probably aphids. The yellow colored traps will prevent the aphids from doing more damage, but I recommend treating the plants with insecticides such as Chlorpyrifos 48%. Follow the directions specified on the package and put on gloves.
A greeting.
Hello, I would like to know the name of my little plant since I bought it in a nursery and I forgot to ask, I do not know how to upload a photo so someone can tell me the leaves are like grape green and chubby and at the end of the leaf it has little peaks like little fingers
Hello Monica, thank you for the interesting information about this beautiful plant. We live in Chile and we want to plant ericas on the edges of an entrance to the house, we have helix jasmine planted on the wall, then hydrangeas and in front of the hydrangeas we want to plant different colored ericas, at what distance can we plant them? Thank you very much for your guidance.
Good afternoon Monica,
Your blog is very good!
I have several Ericas planted in a flowerbed, right on the ground.
Two of them got the red leaves, the others are fine.
I have seen my cat urinate in that place, could it be the cause of the color change?
Thank you!!
Hello Laura.
Yes, cat urine is very strong for plants. It is better to avoid that they approach them, putting some metallic cloth, or citrus peels (oranges, lemons, limes,…).
Greetings.
These plants are slow growing, so it is normal that they appear not to grow. In any case, it is advisable to pay them in spring and summer with a liquid fertilizer for plants, following the instructions for use. This will make it grow a little faster.
We can't tell you. If you have a stem that is alive, green, and in good shape, it is possible that it will sprout again. But check to see if it has aphids, as these attract ants.
Hello. Very good your article. Do you know if I could get it in Colombia? and with what name?
Thank you
Hello thatgratorrado.
Erica is a very common plant in nurseries and garden stores. Perhaps you can find it better by its other name: heather.
Luck!
The other day it was very hot and I watered all my plants with a hose, because I don't have land I have them all in pots, I have 2 ericas, one white and one pink, when I hose them I do it in the form of rain and the other day the white erica appeared to me all withered and yellowish has some green leaves ,,, Will I go to die? Did I make the mistake of watering it as rain? I would like to be happy, thank you. White
Hello Blanca.
It is advisable to avoid watering overhead, since the plants cannot absorb the water through their leaves.
If it is green, it will recover. Remove those that look yellow, and treat them with a fungicide to prevent them.
Luck.
how does it reproduce? for seeds or slices, thank you.
Hello Ana.
It reproduces by seeds, which are sown directly in the seedbed in spring.
Greetings 🙂.
Hello, I'm Daniela. My little plant was beautiful until the ants invaded it. I was able to save it but it is as if it is dry as if it is dying but still it is blooming. What I can do.?
Hello Daniela.
Normally ants appear when the plant has aphids. I would recommend that you do a treatment with an insecticide that has 40% Dimethoate, following the instructions specified on the container.
Greetings, and good luck.
Hello white, I am a rose from Argentina, the province of Tucuman, I have an Erica, she is dying, I have her in a flowerpot.
Thank you very much in advance the plants are my living jovi x them since my depressive state is serious they help me a lot
Hello Maria Rosa.
The first, a lot, a lot of encouragement 🙂
Iron sulfate can be found at nurseries or garden stores.
Another option is to fertilize with fertilizers for acidic plants, or water with water to which the liquid of half a lemon has previously been added.
How often do you water it? It is advisable to water little, 2-3 times a week at most.
A greeting.
Hello, I have an erica with fuchsia flowers, can I have it at night inside the house? during the day I take it out
Hi Sabrina.
The ideal would be to have it in the same place at all times, since the conditions are not the same outside as inside, and it would take time for the plant to get used to the changes. But if there is a risk, for example, that it will be stolen or that a strong wind will destroy it, then it is highly recommended to have it at home.
A greeting.
Thanks for responding.
My plant is losing its leaves, here it is winter.
I don't know if it's normal, or could it be drying out?
Hi Sabrina.
The Erica leaves are perennial, so if they fall it is because it has a lack or excess of watering. You can check the humidity of the soil before watering again, inserting a thin wooden stick to the bottom: if it comes out practically clean, it is because the soil is dry.
Greetings 🙂.
Hello
Buy an erica now in autumn, I live in Sweden but the temperatures have dropped, as is customary here, they have been with a minimum of 6 degrees and the maximum of 13, but it will drop even more, my question is I have to transplant it and have it inside the apartment already that I have it on the balcony? I would appreciate it if you answered my email.
Thank you very much
Elizabeth
Hello, Elizabeth.
The Erica withstands freezes down to -25ºC, so you can leave it on the balcony without problems 🙂.
A greeting.
I am doing a herbarium with my grandson for the faculty and I would like to know the common name and scientific name of Erica
Thank you very much
Hello rosa.
The name of the botanical genus is Erica, and it is composed of several species, such as Tree heather or the Erica Grace. The common name is heather.
Greetings 🙂.
My erica is turning brown… .what can I die of ???? Thanks a lot
Hi Emilio.
How often do you water it? And what water do you use? Erica is a plant that has to be watered with water whose pH is acidic, between 4 and 6, because if the water has a lot of lime, it immediately has problems.
Likewise, it is important not to overwater to prevent the roots from rotting, so you should check the humidity of the substrate before watering. To do this you can insert a thin wooden stick to the bottom (if it comes out practically clean, it is because the earth is dry).
A greeting.
Hello Rosa, I want to plant a white Erica in a clay soil and where in summer it has a lot of sun
I can do it?
Should I supplement with some compost?
Hello Oscar.
Erica will support the sun, but not clay soil. What you can do is dig a 50 x 50cm hole, and fill it with substrate for acidic plants (like this one they sell here). And from there, water it with lime-free water.
Regards!
Hello, my erica is marking herself, she gave flowers, and it was hot and she was so beautiful, I don't know what to do, she is marking the tng with half a spare,
Hello Evelyn.
How often do you water it and what water do you use? I ask you because it is a plant that does not support lime in water or puddles.
My advice is that you water it no more than 3 times a week, with rainwater or, failing that, with soft water. If the tap has a lot of lime, dilute the liquid of half a lemon in 1l of water.
By the way, if you have a plate under it, remove the excess water after 15 minutes of watering.
A greeting.
hello I have two ERICA plants in a cement pot for 15 days, they are on a terrace with a lot of sun, a few days ago it is turning yellow and drying some leaves that they will need?
Hi Patricia.
They may be burning. Although they like to be in the sun, sometimes those that are bought in the nurseries are too "spoiled", so that when we put them in direct sun the leaves burn.
To prevent it from getting worse, I recommend that you put it in semi-shade, and that you water it every time the ground is dry or almost. To find out, you can insert a thin wooden stick to, when removing it, see how much soil has adhered to it: in the event that it is little - or none - you can water it.
A greeting.
Hi, I loved the post.
I wanted to know if you could recommend something to me to save my plant, the leaves dry out, new ones came out but they started to dry out at the tips and I don't know what to do.
Irrigation followed
I am from Buenos Aires and we are in summer, it is a plant that I have outside but at noon I enter the house in a cooler place.
The plant is already half a year old.
What I did see is that it has a little black bug that gets into the ground. I don't know if it could be some plague.
I also got to see cobwebs and a green spider that I couldn't get out of him.
Thanks and regards!
Hi Sabrina.
I'm glad you like it 🙂
It is very likely that the leaves are drying as a result of the attack of the worms.
To avoid making the situation worse, you can treat the soil with Cypermethrin 10%, following the instructions specified on the package (one sachet will suffice).
For spiders, you can treat the plant with an acaricide.
You will find these products in nurseries and garden stores.
A greeting.
HELLO MÓNICA I LOVE YOUR PAGE AND THE COMMENTS THANK YOU
I'm glad you like the blog 🙂
Hello Monica.
Super interesting article, thank you!
We are thinking of putting several ericas in planters on our terrace. It gets a lot of sun, but we are from the north of Spain, so it is not scorching either. The doubt is that the planters are on a glazed balcony, so the plants would be almost stuck to the glass and the sun would shine through it. Would they be at risk of being burned by the "magnifying glass effect"?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Amaya.
We are glad that you liked the article 🙂
Unfortunately yes, they could get burned poniendo Perhaps putting an umbrella or an umbrella that you like as a decoration may be a solution.
A greeting.
Hello I have two plants erika girls still and without realizing it the ants ate them, I can still save them, only the stems remained ???
Hi July.
If there are ants there are probably aphids. The yellow colored traps will prevent the aphids from doing more damage, but I recommend treating the plants with insecticides such as Chlorpyrifos 48%. Follow the directions specified on the package and put on gloves.
A greeting.
Hello I have a little plant erica. And my baby divided it into 2, one has a root and the other does not. I can save the one that has no root
Hi Patricia.
No, the one without root will surely not prosper 🙁
You can plant it in a pot and water it to see.
A greeting.
Hello, I would like to know the name of my little plant since I bought it in a nursery and I forgot to ask, I do not know how to upload a photo so someone can tell me the leaves are like grape green and chubby and at the end of the leaf it has little peaks like little fingers
Hello Veronica.
You can write us by Facebook, by sending us a photo.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, thank you for the interesting information about this beautiful plant. We live in Chile and we want to plant ericas on the edges of an entrance to the house, we have helix jasmine planted on the wall, then hydrangeas and in front of the hydrangeas we want to plant different colored ericas, at what distance can we plant them? Thank you very much for your guidance.
Hello Martha Lucia.
As they are plants with rather shallow roots, you can plant them close, about 30cm.
A greeting.
Thank you very much Monica, your page excellent, it helps us a lot to those of us who are neophytes in these issues.
A greeting.
We are glad that the blog is useful to you 🙂
Good afternoon Monica,
Your blog is very good!
I have several Ericas planted in a flowerbed, right on the ground.
Two of them got the red leaves, the others are fine.
I have seen my cat urinate in that place, could it be the cause of the color change?
Thank you!!
Hello Laura.
Yes, cat urine is very strong for plants. It is better to avoid that they approach them, putting some metallic cloth, or citrus peels (oranges, lemons, limes,…).
Greetings.
HELLO, I PLANTED ERIKAS 2 YEARS AGO..BUT I DON'T SEE THEY GROW UP. … WHAT CAN IT BE DUE?
THANK YOU
Hello Maria Elena.
These plants are slow growing, so it is normal that they appear not to grow. In any case, it is advisable to pay them in spring and summer with a liquid fertilizer for plants, following the instructions for use. This will make it grow a little faster.
Regards!
The black ants ate them. Very few leaves were left. Will it give back its leaves and flowers?
Hi Susan.
We can't tell you. If you have a stem that is alive, green, and in good shape, it is possible that it will sprout again. But check to see if it has aphids, as these attract ants.
Greetings.