#PROPAGATING PURPLE HEART PLANT HOW TO#
#PROPAGATING PURPLE HEART PLANT FULL#

Repot in spring, when you see roots growing through the drainage holes. Move up to a pot only 1 or 2 inches (2.5 - 5 cm) larger to give it a little room to grow. If your plant becomes straggly with long gaps between leaves, don't be afraid to prune stems back to about 6 in (15 cm) long. Don't toss out those cuttings - you can easily propagate them for more plants. Pinch your plant. Pinching off new stem tips will promote branching and keep Tradescantia pallida compact. Give it some direct sun, but shade it from hot, noonday sun in summer to avoid scorching its leaves. It will grow in lower light, but the leaves will be more green than purple. Let the sun shine in. Grow your plant in bright light year-round for good foliage color. Also check the soil every couple days so that it doesn't dry out. But if you move it outdoors for the summer, keep it shaded from direct sun during the hottest part of the day. You can keep your plant indoors year-round. They grow in the leaf axils, making a stunning contrast to the dark foliage. In summer, you can expect small, pink 3-petaled flowers to bloom. It's a good idea to place Purple Heart Plant where you won't brush against it. You'll want to handle this plant carefully its fleshy stems are brittle and may break off. Or hang it in a basket and let the long, sprawling stems cascade over the side. Pot Purple Heart Plant in a small decorative container for an eye-catching table accent. Usually, in 4 to 6 weeks you can expect some sprouting.Bunches of rich purple, lance-shaped leaves make this a beautiful house plant year-round. Lay the cutting on pre-moistened horticultural sand and cover it with an inch (2.5 cm.) more of the material. Take a section of the root that includes at least two nodes. Rinse the root clean and look for growth nodes. Excavate carefully to find a good, healthy thick root. Before taking root cuttings, water the plant thoroughly the night before. Each portion should be planted in loose soil or in containers and kept moderately moist.įor cuttings, you may take a portion of a root. Dig up the plant carefully and use a sharp, clean soil saw to cut the plant in half or thirds. Bleeding hearts react well to division and, in fact, grow much better if divided every 5 years or so.

#PROPAGATING PURPLE HEART PLANT HOW TO#

How to Propagate Bleeding Heart Plants with Cuttings or DivisionĪnother method of propagating bleeding hearts is through vegetative means. Transplant seedlings gently and keep moderately moist until they establish. Outdoor seeds will not germinate until soil and ambient temperatures warm in spring. Germination usually takes place in a month. Cover with soil.įor indoor seeds in pots, wrap the pots in plastic wrap and put the containers in the freezer for up to 6 weeks, then place containers in a warm location to germinate. Plant seeds half as deep as the seed’s width. You may also sow directly into a prepared garden bed. A good potting mixture with plenty of peat and vermiculite will be perfect. Lightly pre-moisten the soil in which the seeds will grow. Propagating Bleeding Hearts from Seedīleeding heart propagation from seed is fairly straightforward. Cuttings should be taken while the plant is actively growing but after it has flowered.

#PROPAGATING PURPLE HEART PLANT FULL#

These can be transplanted once they have two sets of true leaves into a prepared garden bed in partial to full shade. Some species of bleeding heart will self-sow, so be on the lookout under the parent plant for babies. You may also choose to plant the seeds in pots and take them indoors, but they will still need several weeks in the freezer before they will germinate. The seeds need a period of cold exposure to break dormancy and release the embryo. The best time to plant seeds is in late summer. You may also choose to propagate the plants with seed but results will be variable and the process much slower. If dividing in fall, wait until the foliage has died back. Division can occur either in fall or in early spring.

Such activity will rejuvenate the plant while also allowing you to grow more. This is when to propagate a bleeding heart by division. The plants will bloom for years but often flowers slow down as the plant gets older. With its lacy, fern-like foliage and pillowy, heart-shaped flowers, bleeding heart is one of the champions of the low light landscape. These are simple ways to grow more bleeding hearts to share with friends and family. Cuttings and division will give plants truer to the parent plant and a quicker bloom time. As perennials they come back year after year but how to propagate bleeding heart plants? Bleeding heart propagation is easy through seed, cuttings, or division. These whimsical plants appear during spring in shady to partially sunny locations. Few plants match the old-fashioned charm and romantic blossoms of bleeding hearts.

Propagating purple heart plant