I bought these plants but it's February...

Busy-Lizzie · 27 February

Gosh, looking at James Holt's post with a frozen fountain in Texas has made me wonder if I gave the wrong answer!

BenCotto · 27 February

Whereabouts in Texas are you? There’ll be significant variations between Corpus Christi and Amarillo.

That said, I’d get them in the ground now but first read up about their planting requirements. Clematis like a cool, moist root run but to have their heads in the sun. Plant the clematis at least 3” deeper into the ground than how it is in its current pot (if it has one) and add ample manure or compost. Water it well in and put a generous mulch on top. Don’t expect a significant flower display for three years.

Wisteria grow very, very large with substantial trunks so don’t grow them too close to your wall. They have particular pruning requirements which you’ll have to follow and I think you’ll have to wait at least five years before you see flowers.

Give both plants ample water throughout the first season. Given your temperatures that could mean a watering can-full per plant per day.

Fairygirl · 27 February

That's exactly the problem @Busy-Lizzie, and it's why I would be wary of planting anything not acclimatised or a decent size.

Like the UK, the US has huge variation in climate due to it's size, landscape, and the location of many states, but they're also experiencing those wild swings in conditions. Many of the states further north are similar to Canada in terms of general weather, and Arctic weather is common there anyway, but it's much harder when you get the excessively high temps and then that sudden change to really low temps. Just as we saw in the UK last winter - it's the swing of extremes that causes the problems.

CrankyYankee · 27 February

I can't see the photos either, but generally plants in plastic bags are bare root specimens purchased through the mail. @easombd58511 if your temperatures aren't expected to dip below freezing (32F) you can probably plant them out now. I know this winter has driven the colder temperatures south, so check your long-range forecast. If more cold snaps are possible, then if I were you I'd pot the plants up and leave them outside unless temperatures plunge, when you should bring them into a garage or enclosed porch to protect them from freezing. Once your soil temperature is consistently near 50-60F, I'd plant them. Your best bet is checking with a nursery near you that has a good idea of your planting dates. I did a search on general temperatures in Texas and it seems that the average nighttime temperatures across the state, massive as it is, are well above freezing in March. You should be good to plant them soon. I'm in one of those states that borders Canada, so I wouldn't think about planting those out until mid to late June, but our last frost date runs between May 26 - June 8. We're experiencing the opposite this winter - our temperatures are running ridiculously above normal. These wild temperature swings certainly make planting in the spring a moving target no matter where in the world you live!

BenCotto · 27 February

Here are the images

Fairygirl · 27 February

I would never plant that clematis straight out - it's very very small.

I thought you might be able help @CrankyYankee - but I couldn't remember whereabouts you were! I always think New England is in the south though. Funny how you can get a mental block about certain things. Sounds like April would be about the right timing though, assuming the planting site is ready and suitable.

I can't comment re the wisteria for the reasons I gave earlier.

CrankyYankee · 27 February

Now that I can see the images I have a better idea - they're plants from a big box store, not exactly quality nursery stock. I've purchased clematis the same way and planted them directly, but only when the soil is warm enough. I have had mixed results with the bagged bare root plants but I do have three out of four clematis that were purchased as such and are happily growing away.

@Fairygirl sometimes I feel like the rest of the US forgets about us up here! And even within our little region, climates vary.

Fairygirl · 27 February

It's the same up here @CrankyYankee. Folk - and I include the 'experts' in that, think that there can't be any great variation around the UK because it's small. They couldn't be more wrong. The east of Scotland is totally different from the west, and it's the same north to south, let alone adding England and Wales into the mix, where you also have those variations.
The recent changing weather patterns have massively impacted the north east of Scotland though - they've had some dreadful conditions over the last 6 months or more, much like our usual stuff on this side, and that affects commercial farming because that's the 'dry' side of the countryand is where grain crops etc are grown.
I have cousins in Canada, Vancouver and that general area, as my aunt moved there when she married, and it's like a more extreme version of northern Scotland, so I understand how different your location will be compared to those generally hotter states. Slower to warm up in spring, and quicker to cool down in autumn and into winter.

Hopefully your info will help the OP though - I always say, when in doubt - wait. More chance of success doing that

jamesholt · 27 February

Good morning from Texas everyone! Yes we are having crazy weather. Record cold in January killed a number of my plants and damaged a number of frozen water lines.

now we are having record heat. Texas wisteria is native here and planting it now will give it a head start into our hot summers. It grows in the wild here in swampy woody areas and so to mimick those conditions it needs to be heavily mulched and kept moist. I don't know what clemitis you have but I have several. I would definitely get it planted now before it gets very hot. It also does better in heavily mulched soil that can be kept moist. My evergreen clemitis was damaged in the very cold weather in January. The clemitis will survive the winter here better if you can put frost cloth on it next winter when the temps get below 15farenheight. I would treat it somewhat like the Japanese maples. Heavily mulch and protected from the strong winds in winter. If you have the japanese wisteria treat it the same way.

it has become somewhat invasive here in texas and can be seen growing wild in the same habitat as the Texas wisteria. I think the Japanese wisteria is more beautiful but it's not native and a bit more invasive.

deadendwaterfall · 27 February

Busy-Lizzie said:

I can see the photos but I had to download them. They look like the sort you can buy in English supermarkets. My 2 clematis from an SM are doing well but they took a couple of years to get going as they are sold a year younger than ones bought from nurseries.

I don't know about the Texan climate, how hot or cold it gets, but it is never that warm here in the UK in February. Those plants are fine in English winter temperatures, both hardy, especially the clematis. I would plant them. Dig in some compost first, water them and don't let them dry out.

With continued global warming, you never know what temperatures we might end up eventually getting on a February in the UK.

I bought these plants but it's February...

Posts