The bleeding heart, also popularly known as the flaming heart or the heart of Mary, belongs to the poppy family. The perennial with the showy, two-tone pink and white flowers is very easy to care for, provided the site conditions are right. The Bleeding Heart is also hardy, only the tender shoots in spring are very sensitive to frost and must therefore be protected.
Before winter, the root area of the Bleeding Heart should be covered
Hibernate Bleeding Heart outdoors
After flowering, the plant's leaves turn yellow and it retreats to its underground rhizomes. In this way, the Bleeding Heart prepares for winter and basically needs no further protection. You can, however, cut back the yellow leaves - but not before the perennial retires or it will be weakened - and cover the root area with compost and/or leaves. The latter also has the advantage that the plant is supplied with additional nutrients.
Protect shoots from frost in spring
Although the perennial is hardy in itself, the young shoots in spring are very sensitive to frost. In the event of late frosts in spring, the plants should therefore be protected by a cover (e.g. brushwood or leaves).
Overwinter the bleeding heart in a pot
The situation is different with Bleeding Hearts cultivated in pots. Since the roots in the planters threaten to freeze through quickly, you should wrap the pot with fleece or a bast mat and cover the substrate with brushwood, leaves or compost. Alternatively, overwintering under cold house conditions is also possible.
- Place the Bleeding Heart in the pot indoors or in the greenhouse.
- Choose a cool but frost-free and bright place.
- Temperatures around 10 to 12 °C are ideal.
- Possible locations are the stairwell or the (little heated) bedroom.
- Water the Bleeding Heart occasionally.
- Fertilization is not necessary.
- From mid-May, the plants can go outside again - with protection even earlier.
tips
Yellow leaves after the flowering period are not a sign of disease, but normal - the plant is already getting ready for winter. You can fill in the gap in the bed with later-blooming, annual flowering plants - otherwise the border could look pretty bare in midsummer.