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Acer in container
Against better judgement bought as a gift 3x different 9cm pot Acers from an advert. Pleasantly surprised with quality. Small pots so care needed initially, not too wet etc. Could all three be planted in same container temporarily to better keep an eye on conditions, please? Anyone have advice in this field. Eventually will be in a container.
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I have had experience with plug clematis in the post David. I gave them a good watering and then planted them individually in their own terracotta pot, cossetting them but not overwatering. I kept them in a cold GH for a few months, repotting them into larger pots as they grew, but all the time pinching out the tops of the shoots so that the plants bush out rather than growing tall and spindly. Most of mine have successfully grown into maturing plants and have now been planted outside. One or two are in outdoor containers, but as I have been advised on here, it is best not to plant the most vigorous clematis in pots i.e. Montana.
There are many more knowledgeable clematis growers on here who could advise you in more detail, but I hope this will help you to decide what to do with your
plants. The photo shows the plug plants when they were almost ready to be planted outside. Personally I would wait until all frosts have passed next spring to plant out, if you have somewhere sheltered to keep them until then.
Thank you, look good. My plants of course are acers, of the palmatum dissectum type. maybe better to keep in individual pots. my idea was to put together in one container for now as, of course,very much slower growing than your clematis.
Hi David. Although they are slow growing as you say, I would keep your Acers in separate pots when you pot them on. Give the roots their own space to spread out and develop, free from competition for water and nutrients. Less chance of root damage from splitting them up too, as they might become entangled all in one pot. Easier to keep the name labels with the right plant in separate pots too
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Oooops sorry David, I think I got in a muddle there, so please disregard my post.
They are more vulnerable when small, so keep an eye to make sure that they don't dry out (as they cannot wilt), and keep them in a place with still air and shade. As was stated above, it's best not to plant them into a single pot. The other good bit of advice I received was to use soil-based ericaceous compost, not peat-based. They do not like the lightness of potting compost and won't get their roots down into it. You can get a good one from Westland, John Innes Ericaceous.
Thank you, just what I wanted, interesting about compost, as most would tend to go for the peat based ones.