Clemitas growth

Posts

• Obelixx Posts: 30,090

  April 2019

  First of all you need to remove those little plastic ties and give it a decent structure of wires or trellis to climb up and attach it loosely with garden twine or hemp string.
  
  Secondly, it looks like the stem has split and that may be wind damage bending and breaking it but is more likely to be slugs or snails which love fresh young clematis shoots.   I suggest you water it thoroughly, give it a generous handful of slow release rose or tomato food if you can't find specialist clematis feed and then give it a slug pub - plastic cup or yogurt pot or similar buried in the soil but with a  rim of about 1cm above ground and then fill it with beer.  The slugs and snails will head for that and die happy.  Replenish every day till you stop finding corpses.
  
  As you clematis matures it should send more stems up from the roots band become more vigorous but this requires good care and feeding and watering.  You also need to know which clem it is in order to prune it properly at the appropriate time of year.  If you haven't a label, wait for flowers and post a pic and maybe we can help identify it.
  
  Be aware also that some clematis can take 2 or 3 growing seasons to get their feet well in the ground and develop the roots system that will sustain all the glorious top growth so be patient and look after it.

  Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
  

  "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."

  Plato
  

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• BobTheGardener Posts: 11,385

  April 2019

  It really needs burying about 4 inches deeper - you shouldn't be able to see those roots at the bottom of the stem.  Alternatively, raise the soil level in that bed if you can.
  

  A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  

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• andrewhartfield2000 Posts: 4

  April 2019

  Thank you. 
  I sort the soil level out.
  The clematis is a bit far forward of the trellis, I should be able to move it.
  It was blown over when in the pot and we'll the cats have been chasing around the garden ☺
  
  Found the name after more digging around. It is a Jackmanii.
  The only pruning instruction is 'pruning till old wood'

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• Obelixx Posts: 30,090

  April 2019

  OK.   Since it hasn't been in a long time you can try watering it very thoroughly, leave it to soak for half an hour then dig up with all the roots and re-plant about 3 or 4 inches/10cms deeper.   That will protect the roots from any dry periods and also encourage new shoots to form to give more flowers.  Make sure you water it well after moving it and during any dry spells.
  
  Clematis don't do well if left to go thirsty and they also need good feed - like roses.
  
  It will produce deep purple flowers from July to September and is in pruning group 3 which just means that you cut it down in late winter/early spring then feed it and watch it all grow again with an eye on it for snails and slugs.  It will appreciate a good mulch of well-rotted compost or manure every autumn, a generous feed of slow release fertiliser in early spring and occasional liquid feeds of rose or tomato food from spring to mid summer.  .
  
  
  

  Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
  

  "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."

  Plato
  

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• andrewhartfield2000 Posts: 4

  April 2019

  Thank you again.

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• andrewhartfield2000 Posts: 4

  May 2019

  Managed to put the advice into action today.
  Now I look forward to flowers

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