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Clematis Group 2 Problem!

MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
in The potting shed
Hello, 

I bought two Clematis Blue Light last summer, with the intention of having them grow along a new fence we're having put up. We encountered problems with the fence, and need to have a digger come out and pull up Leylandii stumps, so it's been put on hold. My poor Clematis are still in their pots that they came in, folded up and looking most unhappy. I hope they'll revive with new growth in the Spring. 

I really want to plant them out to give them a fighting chance in the meantime, but having learnt that they are group 2, and grow off their previous year's wood, I realise it might be difficult to move them once they get going. Has anyone any suggestions of a temporary way to let them grow, but so they can also be moved when a suitable place has been prepared? 

Thank you. 

Posts

  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    I realise I've put this post in the wrong section, I should have put in under 'Problem Solving', but I don't know how to move it.  :/
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    No need to move,  most regulars look at discussions rather than categories.
    You can treat group 2 as a group 3 and cut right back, it will just flower later in the year with one flush of flowers instead of 2 some give you.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    If you are still waiting for building work where they will go, then your best bet is to re-pot them in larger (and preferably deeper) pots.  What size pots are they in now?
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I agree.  Re-pot in bigger pots with some good John Innes no 3 type compost and bury them a couple of inches deeper than they were in their old pots.  This will encourage extra stems to grow.   Keep them watered until you can get them planted in their final positions and, again, plant them a bit deeper than before.
     
    You can, as K667 says, prune them as tho they were group 3 and they'll have a later, single flowering season instead of two short ones.   As they are young I would cut them back to just above the lowest buds rather than all the way back.
    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
  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    Thank you @K67 and @Obelixx. If I put them in the larger pots, and just let them ramble along the ground, that would be okay? Brilliant to know I can cut them back if needed and at most lose one flush of blooms, I can live with that. :smile:

  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    BobTheGardener said:
    If you are still waiting for building work where they will go, then your best bet is to re-pot them in larger (and preferably deeper) pots.  What size pots are they in now?
    Hi Bob,

    This is them. Still in the original pots. Sorry it's such a bad pic, I cropped it in so you could see them better. I took this photo a few weeks ago. It's a horrible, wet and windy day here so didn't fancy going out to take a better pic in the dark. Hopefully this will give you an idea. 

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Those look like they may be 2 litre deep rose pots, so I would go up 2 sizes to 4l deep pots, like the ones in the googled link, below.  You can check the size against the pots they are in now.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    @BobTheGardener thanks for this! Would they be okay growing out of the pot with no supoort for now, just rambling along the ground? 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I think the slugs and snails may get the buds and new leaves, if they are let lay on the ground.  You could just leave the current canes in and try and re-pot the whole thing for now, then remove the canes when you finally plant out.  Personally, I would cut them back a bit too, which is always a good thing for young clematis of any group as it encourages shoots to form from low down and/or from the 'root crown', below soil;  The more stems you have emerging from the base, the more flowers you will get in the future.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    @BobTheGardener Graet thanks. I'll get onto it. Really hoping for some reasonable weather so I can get on with some of these jobs. We have weather warnings for the next few days. Really valuable advice form all of you, thanks so much! 
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