Brightly coloured heathers

[pinkerton]

What do commercial growers use to colour the bright coloured heathers sold in nurseries and garden centres? My wife would like to colour last year's ones that have reverted to original colour.

[Nibble]

I've often thought it's some sort of spray paint.

[mrs_overall]

Mr O came home with some last year to put in the rockery. He had been talking to the stallholder who said they used vegetable based dye.
I don't know about yours, but the ones in my rockery are hideous and I can't wait for them to revert. Electric blue and bright orange are colours not normally associated with heather

[rockyracoon]

No idea what the growers use but you could try floral spray paint, your local florist may if you're lucky, sell you a can, if not there are a lot of suppliers online, just google.

[rockyracoon]

I agree Mrs O, I hate seeing any flowers spray painted. The only time I found it acceptable was on funeral tributes when I was floristing.

[rockyracoon]

This is the type of thing I was thinking of

http://www.easyfloris...spray-paint/p952.html

[daffy654]

I don't understand why anyone would want to plant artificially coloured heathers. The ones we have are pink, white and lilac and they are very pretty.

[mrs_overall]

I agree daffy. All the ones I have ever seen have been spectacularly fake looking in lurid colours

[pinkerton]

Thank you all. I think my wife wants to give them to people she doesn't like.

[Hawkwalk]

they use something that you can't get off the shelf but it is similar to food dye which will do the same job and wont harm the plants. Florist paint may harm them.