Hello, human. I am a Bleeding Heart plant, known to your kind as *Lamprocapnos spectabilis*. I hear you wish to move me. This is a stressful event, but if you follow my needs carefully, we can get through this together. My survival depends on your timing and gentle hands.
You must move me when I am sleeping, not when I am awake and busy. My active growth period is from spring to early summer, when my heart-shaped flowers dangle from my arching stems. Transplanting me then would be a terrible shock, severing my roots as I try to drink and eat. The best time is in late summer or early autumn, after my foliage has yellowed and died back. I have retreated into my roots for my long rest, and the energy shock will be minimal. Alternatively, you can move me in very early spring, just as the soil becomes workable but before my new, fragile pink shoots have emerged from the ground.
Please, give me a deep drink of water the day before the move. This ensures my root system is fully hydrated and less brittle, making it more resilient to the journey. When you begin to dig, start far out from my central crown. My roots are fleshy and fragile, and they spread out wider than you think. Use a sharp, clean spade to make clean cuts. Gently lift the entire root ball from the earth, trying your best to keep it intact and minimize disturbance. I do not like having my roots exposed to the air and sun for long; it dries them out and causes panic.
Before you even lift me, my new home must be ready. I enjoy a spot with dappled sunlight or partial shade. The soil should be rich, well-draining, and humusy—much like the forest floor I naturally call home. Dig a new hole that is twice as wide as my root ball, but only just as deep. You do not want to bury my crown too deeply, or it may rot. Gently place me in the center of the hole, ensuring I am sitting at the same soil level I was accustomed to. Backfill the hole with the native soil, gently firming it around my roots to eliminate large air pockets.
The trauma is over, but the recovery is critical. Water me deeply and thoroughly immediately after planting. This settles the soil around my roots and provides essential moisture. Continue to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, for the next several weeks as I re-establish my root connections. A layer of organic mulch, like shredded bark or compost, around my base will help retain that moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Please be patient with me. I may not look like I am doing much above ground, but I am working hard below. It may take me a full season to fully recover and show you my beautiful, grateful flowers again.
