Comments on: Bleeding Heart

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:56:57 +0000

I planted a pink bleeding heart plant several several years ago and it blooms every year but it never got any larger or fuller than when I first planted it. The plant gets about 15 inches tall and consistantly has six stems every year. I have seen them in other areas and they look like bushes and are twice as tall as mine.

Hi Jim
My bleeding heart did that as well. It was growing next to a birch tree, when the tree died it started growing like crazy and almost took over the whole bed. There may be competition for moisture, nutrients and sun from other plants. You might want to fertilize them in the spring and see if that will boost their growth. Also,they don’t grow well in clay soil.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:14:42 +0000

I have a Bleeding Heart and I was wondering if I am able to take a cutting of it and root it?

Hi Jamie
Are you referring to the Bleeding heart vine or the perennial?

By: teai

teai — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:08:36 +0000

I have my first bleeding heart plant and i need to know if i am supposed to cut it down and how low before winter hits.

HI Teai
We’re refering to a bleeding heart plant not the vine. If it hasn’t died back by now cold weather will do the job. Once the stems turn brown, cut them down to the ground.

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:24:05 +0000

I live in the Buffalo NY area. I have lots of baby bleeding hearts. Can I pot them now, in August, to hold over the winter?

Hi Pat
You don’t mention where & how you are planning to winter over the plants. If you leave them outdoors in pots, the roots will freeze. Unless you are digging them up to give away or to transplant, I would wait till the spring.

By: Sheri

Sheri — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:20:03 +0000

I have two bleeeding heart plants that I started from a bulb I have had them for two years and have never pruned them or cut them back. One of them is so very BIG it is overtaking. When and how is the best time to try get another plant out of them and will it do ok? The wind broke stems off it last year and it still came back bigger in size than last year. can I divide is now a good time….I’d like to start another plant but not sure the best way to go about it….but it is HUGE! Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Sherri
Fall is a good time to divide bleeding heart. Once the foliage has died back to the ground. Spring is even better.

By: Sheri

Sheri — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:39:25 +0000

I have a bleeding heart, which has a northeast exposure. It gets morning sun and has bloomed beaufifully last late spring/early summer and this late spring/early summer. Both last year and this year after the blooms are gone, the entire plant turns yellow. Last summer I cut the plant down right away. I haven’t done that yet and I’m not sure what I should do. I see other bleeding hearts in my neighborhood and the plants remain green all summer. Please let me know what the problem might be and how to correct it.

Hi Sheri
Bleeding heart naturally dies back after bloom, especially if the summer is hot and dry. Evenly moist soil may keep it green and prolong bloom for a little while longer but it will turn yellow/brown by the end of summer. I cut away my yellowing foliage and plant some colorful annuals to fill in with color. You can also plant perennials such as hosta, babies -breath to fill in when your bleeding heart is gone. Perhaps your neighbors plants are in a protected cooler, shaded area that keeps them growing longer.

By: Gin

Gin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:24:42 +0000

Can I transplant my bleeding heart plant now without hurting it? It’s a big plant and is till green Thanks

HI Gin
Wait until it dies back-turns brown, then transplant it. If you transplant it now, the plant will suffer. It will wilt and look bad but most likely will survive.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:22:48 +0000

my bleeding hearts did not flower this spring and plant turned yellow by mid june. Lives in mostly shade and is well watered by sprinkler system. What am I doing wrong?

HI Debbie
Your bleeding heart may need more light to bloom. You don’t say how old it is. If it is newly planted then it may need another year to mature. Bleeding heart normally turns yellow and dies back when the weather warms up.

By: Glenn Schwanberg

Glenn Schwanberg — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:20:23 +0000

This is the second year for my bleeding hearts plant. The overall plant is growing and looking healthy but there are not a lot of buds and flowers. It looks sparce. Do they need a lot of fertilizer?

Hi Glen
Bleeding heart needs rich organic soil and once established do not need a lot of fertilizer. An annual application of compost or some type of organic fertilizer in spring should be sufficient. Your bleeding heart may not be blooming as much because it is not getting enough sun or if you fertilized the soil with too much nitrogen (first #). Also, they seem to bloom better as they get older, mine are 20 yrs old and I don’t feed them, but they are in well-drained, rich organic soil.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:24:46 +0000

I planted two bleeding hearts this year. One gets just a little bit more shade than the other – not much though. The only that is getting the shade is doing very well. The other one is turning yellow and looks like it is going to die. Should I replant the yellowing one?

Hi Bonnie
Bleeding heart prefers a semi-shaded area and will last longer in a shaded area. It usually, turns yellow and dies back to the ground in summer when temperatures heat up. An established plant will tolerate more sun than a newly planted one. It may grow better next year. If you want to move it, wait till the fall to transplant it.