Many flowering perennials have to be cut regularly for maintenance reasons, but not the Bleeding Heart. The exotic-looking flowering perennial withdraws into its rhizomes immediately after flowering, so you don't have to cut it back. Only faded shoots can be removed.
The Bleeding Heart is also good as a cut flower in a vase
When to Cut the Bleeding Heart
A regular pruning is not necessary for the Bleeding Heart. However, you can prolong the flowering period of the perennial by regularly removing faded stems. This prevents the plant from putting its energy into developing fruit and seeds - instead it simply produces new flowers. The yellow, withered leaves after the flowering period - and after the plant has already retired - can also be removed.
cut cuttings
In addition to these caring pruning measures, you can also use a knife if you want to multiply the Bleeding Heart and therefore cut cuttings or root cuttings.
cut cuttings
The best time to cut cuttings is also just after flowering.
- Cut off shoots about 15 centimeters long.
- These should still be green.
- Remove the lower leaves.
- Place the seedlings in a jar of fresh water.
- Place the jar in a bright, sheltered place.
- Change the water daily.
- The cuttings will root within 15 to 20 days.
- Then you can either plant them directly outdoors or
- in a pot with a sand-peat mixture.
Make sure that you overwinter the young plants adequately, i.e. protect them with a layer of mulch, (239.00€) leaves or brushwood if there is a threat of frost, or overwinter them in cold house conditions.
Cut root cuttings
In winter or late autumn - best in October / November - you can also multiply the Bleeding Heart by taking root cuttings. Choose a frost-free day for this measure.
- Carefully expose the thick roots of the plant.
- Cut off fairly thick pieces about three to five centimeters long.
- Clean them from adhering soil.
- Fill a planter with a moist mixture of sand and humus soil.
- Plant the root cuttings horizontally in there.
- Keep moist and overwinter at around 12°C.
- In the spring, the rooted cuttings can finally be planted outdoors.
tips
Of course, you can also plant the freshly cut root cuttings outdoors, but then rooting and growth will be much slower.