I think chopping it at this stage of the year is a risky strategy.
The best thing would be to replant it in a 60cm pot using John Innes no 3 compost and burying it 10cms deeper than it was in its original pot. If you are unwilling or unable to do that, just remove all the flower buds and feed it with specialist clematis food and regular good soaks. A good soak once a week is far better than a daily dribble.
In future, prune and feed it in spring as I indicated above and give it decent soakings to stop it getting thirsty and then occasional liquid tonics of tomato food between March and the end of June to encourage flower power.
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)."
I have used this on the nursery with good results in the past, Dave.
It is not a ' risky strategy ' to prune clematis hard back at this time, or any other time, of year.
On an almost daily basis any weak looking or single stemmed clematis are chopped hard back here, some of the material is used for cuttings.
I have just butchered back a large batch of potted clematis Purpurea Plena Elegans this afternoon, in another month or so they will be sturdier, bushier plants.
I forgot to ask you, Dave, what size was the plant you bought ? Was it in a 2 litre deep pot with good root system, or a small liner like they sell in Morrisons etc.?
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Excuse my ignorance but what is 1.1.1 fertilizer ?
Right I will chop it back, as you said, that believe it or not was my first instinct !
Thanks Richard
Forgot to say I dont have a greenhouse.
1.1.1. fertilizer has equal portions of nitrogen, phosphates and potash, plus trace elements. A good all round feed.
Sorry to labour this, can you suggest a make of fertiliser ?
Do I give a one off feed ?
I think chopping it at this stage of the year is a risky strategy.
The best thing would be to replant it in a 60cm pot using John Innes no 3 compost and burying it 10cms deeper than it was in its original pot. If you are unwilling or unable to do that, just remove all the flower buds and feed it with specialist clematis food and regular good soaks. A good soak once a week is far better than a daily dribble.
In future, prune and feed it in spring as I indicated above and give it decent soakings to stop it getting thirsty and then occasional liquid tonics of tomato food between March and the end of June to encourage flower power.
I have used this on the nursery with good results in the past, Dave.
It is not a ' risky strategy ' to prune clematis hard back at this time, or any other time, of year.
On an almost daily basis any weak looking or single stemmed clematis are chopped hard back here, some of the material is used for cuttings.
I have just butchered back a large batch of potted clematis Purpurea Plena Elegans this afternoon, in another month or so they will be sturdier, bushier plants.
I forgot to ask you, Dave, what size was the plant you bought ? Was it in a 2 litre deep pot with good root system, or a small liner like they sell in Morrisons etc.?
Large pot from Taylors Clematis
Taylors plants are top quality, Chris sells excellent plants.
Many thanks for your help Richard
Do you have a web-site ? you mentioned a nursery.