Heather in winter containers- multi purpose compost?

[sukitea]

Saw some lovely conatiners with heather, cyclamen, pansies and want to do something like that. Is it ok to plant heather in multi purpose compost or does it have to be ericaceous? Any tips for heather in gerneral? Last time I tried it it looked horrendous a month in?

[Pithivier]

Multipurpose is fine. Just add a handful of horticultural grit to aid drainage.

[JT05]

It mix in some ericaceous with the grit and compost. After flowering it is important to clip the old flower heads off. This keeps them compact and stimulates new growth.
On heather moors they are eaten down by sheep and deer, sometimes the rangers burn off that year’s growth in order to keep the heather in good condition.