Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Problem Montana Clematis flower and foliage size.

roys4248roys4248 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hello. I have a clematis montana in a container against a wall that gets afternoon sun. The first two flowering seasons it has done well flower and leaf wise and has spread well. This year there are flowers and leaves but they are really small. It has no signs of disease or infestation it's just really puny. Does anyone know why and what I can do? Thanks.

Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    How big is the container,they tend to be big greedy plants,has it had plenty of food and water,?
  • roys4248roys4248 Posts: 4
    It's 13x13x11ins tall and I gave it tomato food when the flowers had opened (about three weeks ago) and I scraped back as much compost as I could and topped it up with new stuff. It's had plenty of water - it's not stopped raining here for the last two weeks. 
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    I would say that's not nearly big enough for a montana - they are huge plants which put on an immense amount of growth in a year.

    Any chance of planting it in the ground?  If it's on a patio, could you lift a slab and plant it?
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • roys4248roys4248 Posts: 4
    The coverage is about five foot square at the moment. I have a space problem  - it's in a backyard on concrete and it's growing on wire fencing attached to the wall - I think I could slide a bigger pot under it and that might help. I'm wondering, as it's adapting it's scale to the pot and if I should just leave it to get on with it until it gives up and plant something a bit smaller ?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm afraid it's a classic example of wrong plant wrong place.
    There are hundreds of clematis that can be grown in containers, even one that small, but a montana isn't one of them. 
    You'd be better giving that to someone who can plant it in the ground, and buy a more suitable one for your site.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @roys4248, I've done exactly the same as you, even though I knew I shouldn't! So far my montana is doing okay and must be at least 3/4 years old now. It was a gift and I didn't have anywhere else to put it. I plan to leave it in the pot for now and will ditch it when it gives up the ghost.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • roys4248roys4248 Posts: 4
    Thanks everyone for your comments - at least I don't have to wonder about it anymore. Lizzie27 looks like we're both going to keep our fingers crossed. Thanks again!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If you insist on keeping it in a pot that small you are effectively starving it so, no matter how much rain there is, you need  to water frequently from spring thru to autumn and  feed it generously every spring with slow release granular fertiliser and

    Happy montanas get to between 5 and 10 metres depending on variety and will produce a big root ball to help them seek water and nutrients so you could easily double or treble the size of your meagre pot and still not have it get to its full potential.  
    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
Sign In or Register to comment.