Category: Plants

Are you looking for information on how to grow a climbing bleeding heart and the perfect conditions to provide this plant with?  We look at all the information you need in this article.

The climbing bleeding heart originates from China.  It is a vigorous vine with lots of delicate cascading golden yellow flowers from mid-summer to frost. It has delicate leaves that look like a fern.

This plant thrives in well-drained evenly moist soils with a good amount of sunlight.  During winter, it completely dies as it grows as an annual. You can plant it on the patio, garden, or next to a fence.  Its vigorous growth causes it to grow fast with plenty of foliage.  However, it can become invasive so choose where to grow it well.

Propagating Bleeding Heart Vine

It is easy to propagate climbing bleeding heart by using cuttings or seeds.  Here is how to grow it from a stem cutting:

• Clip a stem cutting at 3 or 4 inches long making a straight cut below the leaf node.  Remove the lower leaves and keep the rest.
• Place the cutting end in water or plant it in moistened soil.  Place it on a heated surface or near a sunny window sill.

• If you planted it, remember to water it as often as it needs water.  The roots should appear in about 2 weeks.  Give the plant at least one month before you replant it in moistened rich soil.  Keep it in a sunny location that receives part sun and part shade.
• Mist the plant daily or once in two days with the rule being not to let the plant dry out.  The plant will begin to get more established with more roots and grow fast.

Check Out The Right Hedera Helix Watering Schedule

Growing Climbing Bleeding Heart Vine From Seed

These plants produce seeds that you can save up for the next planting season. The black seeds inside the fruit can be used for propagation.  You will plant the seeds in the spring when the temperatures are favorable around 55 to 64 degrees F.

Germination takes at least 6 to 8 weeks although it may begin at least 20 to 30 days after sowing given the best conditions. To help the seed germinate better, nick the seed and soak them for a day or so to soften the thick outer layer.

Place the seed on top of the germination soil – a good one is a mixture of sand, peat moss, or vermiculite. Thinly cover the seed with the soil and place it in a sunny spot. Keep the plant warm using a heating mat and keep the soil moist but not soggy.

Transfer the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough and have at least two sets of leaves.

Potting And Repotting Climbing Bleeding Heart

The best time to transplant this plant is during the dormant period before the spring growing season begins. You can also re-pot your plant when it has outgrown its current pot.

Ensure that the new pot has enough drainage holes to let out the extra water and eliminate root rot.  Always repot your plant into a pot that is slightly larger than the original pot.

Growing Climbing Bleeding Heart Vine – Care And Maintenance

This plant is best grown in USDA zones 9 and above.  It is easily damaged by temperatures ranging below 45 degrees.  It is commonly grown as an indoor plant as it does well in partial sun and shade.

To grow it successfully you will need to provide it with care as follows:

Light

These plants require adequate light in order to thrive. Keep the plant in a south-facing window when growing indoors.  Gardeners in USDA can grow this plant in zones 9-11 outdoors in a particularly sunny area without covering them. They can also grow in cooler climates.  It is possible to grow the vine outdoors during summer and bring it indoors during winter.

Water The Plant Occasionally

To thrive, this plant will require frequent watering during dry weather.  It requires consistent moist soils but is not soggy.  The vines are very thirsty and require at least one inch of water per week.  A fully-grown vine can take up to 3 gallons of water weekly.  If your home is dry, mist the plant daily to keep it healthy. During winter, water this plant at least twice a month.

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Soil

This plant needs well-draining soil that is moist and rich.  Do not allow the soil to be soggy.  This plant can tolerate many kinds of soil like sandy or loamy soils as long as they are enriched with organic material.

Fertilization

This plant needs a slow-release fertilizer every two months during the blooming season.  You can also use water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks or so with a balanced fertilizer of 5-10-5.  This plant appreciates calcium so you can add lime from time to time.

Pest And Disease Management

The climbing bleeding heart is not susceptible to many pests. However, it is common to see mealy bugs and spider mites. Use insecticidal soap spray to eliminate these pests and keep the plant healthy.  Reapply the spray every 10 or so days until all the insects are eliminated.

Pruning

Prune your climbing bleeding heart by removing the extra leaves that have wayward growth or those damaged by winter.  Prune them before the spring so they can start growing afresh. You can also trim them as often as you wish.

Final Remarks, Climbing Bleeding Heart

The climbing bleeding heart will easily thrive if you provide it with the best growing conditions. If you live in a place where it freezes, you will need to move this plant indoors as it cannot survive the cold temperatures.  All in all this plant is very friendly!

FAQ’s

What is the right hedera helix watering schedule you can adopt when growing this plant?  Let’s learn all about it in this article.

Hedera helix also known as the English Ivy is a much-loved plant by gardeners.  It does well in USDA zones 4 to 11 and is a low-maintenance plant.

English ivy grows effortlessly as long as its provided with adequate light and water.  This plant is a climber and can become unstoppable when given the right growing conditions. It is a good plant for cascading from a hanging basket or trailing across mantel.

Propagating English Ivy

It is easy to propagate English ivy with the simplest method being through cutting.  Simply slice a few cuttings and put them in a few inches of water, removing the bottom leaves so they don’t rot. Within a few weeks, new roots will form. When the roots have grown a few centimeters, it’s time to transplant it into a suitably sized pot.  To get a full bushy look, plant multiple cuttings – at least 3 or 4 in one pot.

Growing ivy indoors is not as easy as most people think.  You will need to provide perfect indoor growing conditions for these plants that will help them thrive.  Once you get it right, it will grow fast and is less susceptible to pests.

You can choose to grow other types of ivy plants.

Check Out What To Plant Around Sago Palms? – 4 Great Options!

The Right Hedera Helix Watering Schedule

One of the best growing conditions is getting a perfect hedera helix watering schedule in place.  English Ivy requires watering as often as possible depending on where you are growing it. The right hedera helix watering schedule is not the same for every gardener, rather it is set personally depending on the USDA zone it is growing in.

To know when to water your plant, check for the following:

• Check if the soil has moisture before adding more water.  Use your finger to test the top soil – if its dry, it needs to be watered.  Water your plant by pouring water onto the soil until the excess drains from the container. Use room temperature water instead of the normal cold.
• Mist the plant daily.  This helps discourage spider mites which are commonly attracted to this plant.
• Keep the temperature at about 50 to 70 degrees F and water frequently to keep the soil moist, however, be careful not to let the soil become soggy.

Rea more about Causes Of Rubber Plant Spots On Leaves And How To Fix It

Avoid Overwatering The Hedera Helix Plant

When watering this plant, avoid giving it too much until the soil is too wet.  It’s best to keep it a little dry rather than water it too much.  Ensure the pot you are growing your plant in, has enough drainage holes.

An overwatered English Ivy has brown leaves that are dry on the edges.  The brown leaves are a result of the plant’s roots becoming too wet. Overly wet roots are not able to deliver nutrients to the rest of the plant inhibiting the growth process.

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It is best to keep your plant dry than wet.  However, there are problems that come with underwatering.  Let’s look at them below.

Hedera Helix Does Not Like Underwatering

Did you know underwatering a plant attracts pests and diseases? A dry plant is a stressed plant – the same way your body feels when dehydrated. A stressed plant is susceptible to disease, pests and mostly spider mites.  These destructive pests suck the remaining juices out of the plant leaves leaving them dead.

These mites are tiny and hardly noticeable.  However, when you notice a web-like structure on the underside of the leaves, then it’s an indication of spider mites. These mites are dangerous as they reproduce very quickly.  To get rid of these pests, spray them off the leaves using neem oil solution or insecticidal soap.

Other Growing Conditions For Hedera Helix Watering

Besides the hedera helix watering, there are other growing conditions this plant needs to thrive.  They include:

Adequate Light.  Keep this plant in a place where it receives bright but not direct light. It also thrives under fluorescent lighting ensuring it gets adequate light indoors. If you notice your leaves changing color to pale green, it could be a result of poor lighting/.  Be sure to adjust the light and water your plant adequately. The leaves of this plant are attracted to the light and tend to grow toward it.  You will need to rotate the pot occasionally to prevent your plant from getting a lop-sided look.

Fertilize Your plant.  English Ivy requires fertilization at least once per month starting in the spring all the way into the fall. During this time, the plant is in an active growth season and will take the fertilizer in so well. You can use a liquid fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Do not fertilize the plants when the temperatures are too high or too cold as this will slow down the plant from growing.

Well-drained Soil. Your potting soil should be rich and well-draining to be able to retain the amount of water it needs and drain the rest.  Homemade potting mix can be made using equal parts coarse sand, moist peat, and a small amount of lime. Do not compact the soil before planting your ivy, once you start watering, the soil will compact itself.

Take Home

You will need to establish a consistent helix watering schedule that you can follow to ensure your plant is well-watered not over or under-watered. This plant is prone to drying out so for this reason avoid keeping it dry for long.

It is important to note that the leaves of this plant are toxic and should be handled with care.  They can cause skin irritation and are toxic if swallowed. Wear gardening gloves when handling this plant to protect your skin.

FAQ’s

Are you wondering what to plant around sago palms as companion plants and the best growing conditions to provide them with? Sago palms are not real palms but cycads.  This plant looks like a tiny palm tree with glossy, stiff fronds but it is not a real palm tree.  It is one of the ancient plants that has been here for a long time since prehistoric times.

They are native to Japan and are grown in USDA zones 9 to 11.  This means they are more suited for tropical climates and sub-tropical regions cannot survive in freezing temperatures.

You can grow this plant indoors but be careful how you handle it as it’s poisonous.

So What Plants Can You Plant Around Sago Palms?

There are many companion plants you can grow with the sago palms, they include

Palm Trees

Sago palms do well when grown around other palm trees and give your garden a tropical feel.  However, the type of palm tree that would fit best with your sago palms largely depends on your choice.

Queen palms are some of the largest palm trees maturing when they are at least 25 to 50 feet tall. This plant has a thick trunk with overreaching foliage.  Sago palms look outstandingly beautiful when planted about 15 feet behind the queen palm in groups of 3 or more.

You can also plant them in the front of the queen palms an ideal location where they can be seen and not overshadowed by these tall palm trees.  They thrive in the USDA zones 9 to 11.

The mediterranean fan palm is a smaller palm tree that grows up to 15 feet tall.  They are best planted in groups so you can plant the sago palms on both sides of the fan palms. These palms are best grown in USDA zones 8 to 11.

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Succulents – What To Plant Around Sago Palms

Succulents are a good plant to grow around your sago palm.  They give that Southwestern feel that most people yearn for. The Red Yucca plant is one of the succulents that do well when planted around sago palms.  It has pink-colored flowers that bloom in the late spring all through summer.  When the flowers fade, you are left with the plant that has plenty of thin foliage that resembles blades of grass.  This plant grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet.  It does well in USDA zones 5 to 10.

The Bulbine is another succulent that has grass-like foliage and does well when grown around sago palms.  It has yellow flowers that appear on the tall stalks and blooms from mid-spring to fall.  The flowers for the Bullbine plant lasts longer than the red yucca.  It grows to a height of about 11/2 feet and spreads up to 2 feet wide.  This plant thrives when planted in a group rather than alone and will grow in USDA zones 8 to 11.

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Backdrop Plants

Backdrop plants bring out an excellent look for your sago palms that is inviting.  They give the feel of one large garden with a viewpoint like no other.

Crape myrtle. This plant can do well when grown together with the sago palms.  It matures at the height of about 15 and 30 feet tall. This plant is best if you have a large yard to grow it. It has clusters of pink, white or red flowers that appear from late summer to early fall.  When grown together with Sago palms, they do so well as backdrops.  These plants tolerate some sun and shade just like the Sago palm.

Indian hawthorn.  The Indian hawthorn can be used as a border shrub with the sago palm.  Planting it in the backdrop adds such beauty to the sago palms’ extending foliage bringing it to life.  You can add more outstanding beauty by planting smaller flowers such as cannas in front of the sago palms.

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Ground Covers – What To Plant Around Sago Palms

Ground covers are a great way to add plenty of foliage to empty spaces that surround your sago palms.

Dwarf chenille is one of the ground cover plants that you can grow.  It reaches a maximum height of about 6 inches only making it a perfect ground cover.  Its dense foliage remains thick and compact all year round plus its red flowers.  The red flowers bring such a beautiful contrast to the sago palms because they are so tightly arranged making them fill in a space beautifully. These ground covers do well in USDA zones 10 and 11.

Hostas boast of highly colored foliage that appears solidly blue, gold, yellow, or a mix of yellow and green.  Their height depends on the cultivar with some being as short while others nearly as tall as the sago palm. The short ones make the best ground covers and grow in USDA zones 3 to 10.

Final Remarks, What To Plant Around Sago Palms?

The above list will help you determine what to plant around sago palms.  Choose plants that bring out the beauty of your yard considering the size, shape, and location.  If you feel totally confused about what to choose, it’s best to contact the professional landscaping help that you need.

FAQ’s