Repotting guide

When & how to repot King of Hearts Bleeding Heart (Dicentra 'King of Hearts')

Also called King of Hearts bleeding heart, dwarf rose bleeding heart.

More about king of hearts bleeding heart

About King of Hearts Bleeding Heart

Dicentra 'King of Hearts' · also called King of Hearts bleeding heart, dwarf rose bleeding heart · flowering

'King of Hearts' is a dwarf, compact bleeding heart hybrid with finely cut, glaucous blue-grey foliage and rich rose-pink heart-shaped flowers. It blooms heavily from late spring well into autumn, tolerates more sun and heat than older bleeding hearts, and stays low and tidy, making it ideal for the front of a shaded border or rock garden.

Mature size: 20-30 cm tall and 25-38 cm wide

Watch for — Root rot in wet soil: The small crown rots in heavy, waterlogged ground. Plant in gritty, free-draining soil and avoid overwatering.

How to tell king of hearts bleeding heart needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For king of hearts bleeding heart, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot king of hearts bleeding heart

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. King of Hearts Bleeding Heart's growth habit — low, compact mounding perennial with a slow-spreading rhizomatous habit, forming tidy cushions of foliage topped by arching flower sprays. — sets the pace. 'King of Hearts' is a dwarf, compact bleeding heart hybrid with finely cut, glaucous blue-grey foliage and rich rose-pink heart-shaped flowers. It blooms heavily from late spring well into autumn, tolerates more sun and heat than older bleeding hearts, and stays low and tidy, making it ideal for the front of a shaded border or rock garden.

What size pot to step king of hearts bleeding heart up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. King of Hearts Bleeding Heart stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot king of hearts bleeding heart

Spring or summer, while king of hearts bleeding heart is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting king of hearts bleeding heart

Repot dry. Do not water king of hearts bleeding heart for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty humus-rich, gritty, well-drained loam ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set king of hearts bleeding heart at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep king of hearts bleeding heart completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for king of hearts bleeding heart

King of Hearts Bleeding Heart wants humus-rich, gritty, well-drained loam. Prefers moist, organic, slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5-7.0) with sharp drainage. Add compost plus grit; heavy wet soil quickly rots the small crown. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting king of hearts bleeding heart — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot king of hearts bleeding heart?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for king of hearts bleeding heart. Repot king of hearts bleeding heart every 2–3 years into a snug pot of humus-rich, gritty, well-drained loam, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does king of hearts bleeding heart need?

When is the best time of year to repot king of hearts bleeding heart?

Should you water king of hearts bleeding heart after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot king of hearts bleeding heart into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise king of hearts bleeding heart after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting king of hearts bleeding heart. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.