Depending on the type and origin, the bell heather is not hardy or only partially hardy. The Cape heather or Erica gracilis, which originates from South Africa, dies at temperatures below about - 6 °C. The European Erica tetralix tolerates at least a light frost.
The bell heather is not hardy
How should I care for my bell heather in winter?
The bell heather does not tolerate a dried-out bale at any time of the year. So it needs to be watered regularly, even in winter. However, this is only possible outside on frost-free days. If your heather dies during the winter, it may not have frozen to death as you might think, but rather have died of thirst.
But don't water the Erica too much either, otherwise its roots will begin to rot. However, you do not have to fertilize all types of bell heather during the winter break. You can stop doing this shortly after flowering.
The ideal winter quarters for the Glockenheide
Bell heather is not one of the most expensive garden plants. Therefore, they are not always overwintered. It is easier and cheaper to buy new plants next year. If the bell heather is used as grave planting, it often stays there over the winter before it is then disposed of.
If you still want to overwinter your heather, perhaps because you have an unusually beautifully colored variety, then this can be done without too much effort. If you like, you can enjoy the bell heather in your apartment for a while before you bring the plant to the cooler winter quarters.
The winter quarters for the bell heather should be bright and frost-free. Temperatures around 5 °C to 10 °C are ideal. The Irish bell heather also tolerates slightly lower temperatures. A darker basement room is not particularly suitable; a cool conservatory or a frost-free greenhouse would be better.
The essentials in brief:
- Erica gracilis not hardy
- get them out of the garden before the first frosts
- bring to a bright, frost-free winter quarters
- ideal temperature in winter: approx. 5 °C to 10 °C
- only water so much that the bale does not dry out
- do not fertilize
tips
Before bringing your heather to the cool winter quarters, you can keep the plant in the (not too warm) apartment for a few weeks.