I missed your question to me - apologies @FayeG. A bit late, but no, it won't affect any stems currently growing. Your growing medium should be soil based if they're staying in pots long term, but you can add compost and grit as well. That will give you a good, free draining medium, with enough oomph to sustain them and retain moisture. Plastic pots are fine in most cases, but if you're keeping those patio types somewhere you want to see them [I'm assuming that would be the case] you'll want to get some attractive ones. Glazed pots are probably best. They don't dry out so quickly. Terracotta is fine if you coat it with PVA to waterproof it, and that can help prevent them cracking in serious frosts/ice, if you get that kind of weather in winter. Metal isn't great as it would get too hot in summer, so can be a problem. Your budget will dictate too.
If you're concerned about anything at any point, take some photos and post them on the forum too. Keep them smallish- around 1MB or less, as there's a massive problem with the photo uploading which has never been fixed. Good luck. I hope they do well for you
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@msqingxiao - thank you. I just read that entire post and it was really interesting. I didn't realise just how important good support is. Some came with initial supports (about 3/4 size of the plants) from the nursery. The small patio ones didn't. I will buy some extras off Amazon and consider this more now, so thank you for that.
@Fire - You are a star! Thank you so much for answering my questions, you have been so helpful. Done about half of them today as the digging got the better of me eventually and I gave up. Will finish them tomorrow and take some before pics and then some after pics when I start seeing some progress. I'm never sure about my soil... it's been raining but on digging quite deep as is necessary for clematis I was feeling it might be a bit dense... tried to ensure broken up below etc, threw a few bits of garden stones in here and there, mixed compost with my soil, bonemeal and some slow release rose food and I'll keep a close eye on them this year as I've realised from the great advice here that even if I do something wrong, they may well be able to be rescued.
I will definitely take advantage of your kind offer to help if I panic. Thank you
The supports that clematis, or any climber, come with are only there for transporting them, and for that initial support until purchased and planted. If you aren't planting them to scramble through other shrubs [their natural habit] you need trellis, or a large obelisk, or wires onto a wall or fence etc. It's worth checking the eventual size of the plants you buy, so that you can have that in place before planting them. Most of the large flowered ones reach around 2 metres in height, and with a large spread, and they'll just collapse and get damaged if they don't have enough support
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Regarding the "miniatures", bijou and filligree, being only a foot or two tall don't strictly need support, but they do still appreciate something (like another plant) to grow up 🙂 I might try growing them through a chicken wire dome next year, just to keep them out of harm's (slugs) way
You are a star! Thank you so much for answering my questions, you have been so helpful. Done about half of them today as the digging got the better of me eventually and I gave up. Will finish them tomorrow and take some before pics and then some after pics when I start seeing some progress. I'm never sure about my soil... it's been raining but on digging quite deep as is necessary for clematis I was feeling it might be a bit dense... tried to ensure broken up below etc, threw a few bits of garden stones in here and there, mixed compost with my soil, bonemeal and some slow release rose food and I'll keep a close eye on them this year as I've realised from the great advice here that even if I do something wrong, they may well be able to be rescued.
I will definitely take advantage of your kind offer to help if I panic. Thank you
@Fairygirl the comment above should have been directly addressed to you, too late to edit. Fire is also wonderful of course and has been helpful so it can apply to them also, but that response was directed to you thanking you for your offer of help and for answering my other questions, apologies.
@mikeymustard - I have put little support frames next to them just in case. I've used slug pellets (not my usual first choice but I've planted so many this year that I can't take a risk initially). They seem okay at the moment but the small ones look a bit sad only popping up a couple of inches, but it seems they'll soon start to show some growth so I'm trying to stay positive. Some wire sounds like a good plan.
Going to take some pics this week then some more mid summer and see how the first year went. Never been so ridiculously excited about plants x
Just a little update - After 2 weeks they all seem to have survived initial planting etc. Some seem to be coming along nicely, though they haven't grown very much yet. The miniature ones are a bit lacking in interest still. Not sure what to expect this year but will take some piccys at some point.
Without the help I got here I'm sure I'd have messed up so thank you again. Hopefully one day I'll be able to help someone else. Loving the nice weather we're getting this week.
Posts
A bit late, but no, it won't affect any stems currently growing.
Your growing medium should be soil based if they're staying in pots long term, but you can add compost and grit as well. That will give you a good, free draining medium, with enough oomph to sustain them and retain moisture.
Plastic pots are fine in most cases, but if you're keeping those patio types somewhere you want to see them [I'm assuming that would be the case] you'll want to get some attractive ones. Glazed pots are probably best. They don't dry out so quickly. Terracotta is fine if you coat it with PVA to waterproof it, and that can help prevent them cracking in serious frosts/ice, if you get that kind of weather in winter. Metal isn't great as it would get too hot in summer, so can be a problem. Your budget will dictate too.
If you're concerned about anything at any point, take some photos and post them on the forum too. Keep them smallish- around 1MB or less, as there's a massive problem with the photo uploading which has never been fixed.
Good luck. I hope they do well for you
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fire - You are a star! Thank you so much for answering my questions, you have been so helpful. Done about half of them today as the digging got the better of me eventually and I gave up. Will finish them tomorrow and take some before pics and then some after pics when I start seeing some progress. I'm never sure about my soil... it's been raining but on digging quite deep as is necessary for clematis I was feeling it might be a bit dense... tried to ensure broken up below etc, threw a few bits of garden stones in here and there, mixed compost with my soil, bonemeal and some slow release rose food and I'll keep a close eye on them this year as I've realised from the great advice here that even if I do something wrong, they may well be able to be rescued.
I will definitely take advantage of your kind offer to help if I panic. Thank you
If you aren't planting them to scramble through other shrubs [their natural habit] you need trellis, or a large obelisk, or wires onto a wall or fence etc.
It's worth checking the eventual size of the plants you buy, so that you can have that in place before planting them.
Most of the large flowered ones reach around 2 metres in height, and with a large spread, and they'll just collapse and get damaged if they don't have enough support
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I might try growing them through a chicken wire dome next year, just to keep them out of harm's (slugs) way
Going to take some pics this week then some more mid summer and see how the first year went. Never been so ridiculously excited about plants
Without the help I got here I'm sure I'd have messed up so thank you again. Hopefully one day I'll be able to help someone else. Loving the nice weather we're getting this week.