Bleeding hearts thrive in part shade and prefer fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil. During the first year, water regularly during dry periods keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. As they are woodland plants they do especially well with a top dressing of leaf mould and fresh compost in the spring to keep the soil fertile and the plant vigorous. They tend to decline or even disappear in mid-summer, however if they are kept well watered during the spring then their dormancy may be delayed until late summer or early autumn. Prune them to ground level once the foliage dies off and turns yellow in colour.