QuestionQUESTION: I recently bought a huge bleeding heart hanging basket. Not realizing, until after I purchased it, that it prefers to grow in a shady/cool area. The only area that I have available to hang it, is in direst afternoon sun. Around dinner time the shade covers it. Are these acceptable conditons for it to grow in, and if not, am I able to transplant it into a shaded area, even though it is in a basket? It is such a gorgeous plant I would hate to lose it due to my negligence. Thank you, Tom
ANSWER: Hi Lisa,
Thanx for your question. I think the bleeding heart you're talking about is a bleeding heart vine Clerodendrom thomsoniae. The garden bleeding heart is Dicentra sp. Anyway, the bleeding heart vine will nto tolerate a hot afternoon sun. You should be able to move the entire basket to a shadier area. There are metal rods you can buy with a hook on them for hanging baskets and you can set these up in your yard, under a tree or you can fashion a container that will accommodate the rod so you can hang the basket on a porch or patio or deck. Remember to keep it well watered and if necessary, if it gets blisteringly hot, bring the plant indoors to an airconditioned room where the plant will get some sunlight. I hope this helps.
Tom
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QUESTION: Thank you, Tom. I ended up moving it to a branch under a huge pine tree that we have in our front yard. It is doing much better now than it was where I had it, in the hot sun! Thank you for you answer to me!
When fall approaches will I be able to transplant it to a shadier part of our garden?
AnswerHi Lisa,
Thanx for the additional information. You will not be able to leave the plant outdoors if it starts getting cold. Allow it to grow in it's hanging basket and bring it indoors. You can move the basket to another location once it isn't as hot and sunny. I hope this answers your question.
Tom