Bleeding Heart Plant

Location

Place your Bleeding Heart in a spot with shade or light shade. Keep it away from full sun as it might make the plant stop growing early.

Soil

The soil should be full of rich plant stuff, damp, and should drain well. Add compost or dead leaves to the soil to make it better before you put the plant in.

Watering

Water the plant often, so the soil stays moist, but avoid too much water. Let the top inch of soil dry out before watering next.

Mulching

Put mulch around the plant’s base to help keep the soil wet, keep soil temperature steady, and keep weeds down.

Fertilizing

Bleeding Heart plants don’t need much fertilizer, but if your soil isn’t great, use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer for plants in early spring.

Pruning

Cut the plant back after it blooms if the leaves turn yellow or die to keep the place looking neat. This also helps prevent sickness.

Winter Care

When it gets cold, put more mulch down after the ground freezes to protect the plant.

When It Arrives

When your Bleeding Heart plant comes - give it lots of water to help the soil settle around the roots and ease any shock from moving.

During the First Year

In its first year - your Bleeding Heart needs steady water to get set. Water it when the top inch of soil dries out. This might mean you water it once or twice every seven days, depending on the weather. Ensure water does not pool around the roots. Too much water can make the roots rot, harming the plant. Use your finger to test how moist the soil is. This way - you learn when to water it next.

After the First Year

Once your plant is used to its new home, it can handle some drought, but it still likes moist soil. Water it less often, letting the top layer of soil dry more between times you water. In hot, dry weather, you might need to water more to keep the soil wet. But when it rains a lot or is cold and the soil stays wet, water less. After the plant has flowers and the leaves start to die back, usually in mid to late summer, cut down on watering. Keep the soil just a bit wet, but not soaked - during the plant’s rest time in winter.

When It Arrives

Don’t feed it right away, give it time to get used to its new home and begin to grow.

During the First Year

After your plant has settled and starts showing new growth (which should be a few weeks in), you can use a slow-release fertilizer that’s balanced. Check the package for how much to use. Spread the fertilizer around the bottom of your plant, but don’t let it touch the stems or leaves. After, water the area well so the fertilizer mixes into the soil.

After the First Year

Bleeding Heart plants don’t need a lot of fertilizer, so feeding them once a year in early spring when new green shows up is enough. A basic 10-10-10 mix works well for Bleeding Heart Plant. Or, you can use something natural like fish compost or decayed plants to feed them. This is softer.

Watch how your plant looks. If it has full, green leaves, your feeding plan is working. If the plant looks weak or its leaves look light, it might need a bit more fertilizer. If your garden soil already has lots of decayed plants in it, you might not need to add more fertilizer. Soil with a lot of organic matter gives out fertilizer slowly on its own.

When to Prune

Bleeding Heart blooms in spring. After blooms fade and leaves turn yellow, often in mid to late summer, think about trimming. If by late fall leaves look bad, trim to avoid disease and clean your garden.

Steps to Prune

Use sharp, clean shears. Clean shears with alcohol before and after to stop disease spread. Look for yellow or dead leaves and old flower stems. These are what to cut. Cut flower stems down to where they meet leaves or the main stem to save plant energy. Trim yellow or dead leaves down to the base or where the leaf looks good. This makes the plant look better and lets air move around it better.

After trimming, water the plant lightly and add a bit of fertilizer if needed to help new growth. When plant goes to sleep (all leaves yellow and dead), cut the whole plant to about an inch or two above ground. This keeps things neat over winter and makes sure new spring growth comes in well.

Extra Tips

Since Bleeding Heart Plant aren’t very tough, don’t cut healthy parts during growth season as it can weaken the plant. Take away all cut pieces around the plant to keep bugs and disease away.

What is the best location to plant a Bleeding Heart?

Plant Bleeding Heart Plant in locations with lots of shade. Too much sun can make them stop growing too soon.

How often should I water my Bleeding Heart?

Give them water when the top part of the soil feels dry, about once or twice a week - depending on the weather. Make sure the soil stays damp but not too wet.

Do Bleeding Heart Plant require a lot of fertilizer?

They don’t need much fertilizer. Use a slow-release fertilizer - even mix of nutrients once at the start of spring when new bits start to show.

When is the right time to prune this plant?

Cut them back after they have finished blooming and the leaves turn yellow - usually in the middle to end of summer, and again when they start to die back in late fall.

What type of soil is ideal for Bleeding Heart Plant?

They like soil rich in plant matter, moist, and that lets water through. Adding compost or decayed leaves to the soil before planting helps.

Can Bleeding Heart plants be grown indoors?

Yes, you can keep them inside but aim to mimic their outside needs - like shade and cooler air. Keep them away from places that are too windy or too hot.

How should I handle a newly arrived Bleeding Heart plant?

When you get a new Bleeding Heart plant, water it well to help the soil settle and to help it recover from the shock of moving. Don’t feed it right away - wait until it begins to grow new parts.