To update on my clematis. One died a month or so ago and I may have been overwatering it. However I have now planted the Montana Ruebens outside, and I am about to plant out the Blue Dancer in the next day or two. First picture is Montana just before planting outside, second is Blue Dance & Freckles although we now think it may wrongly named. How did your clematis fair Sparkles?
Wow look at all this clematis growing success. It's very inspirational. So can I ask a question about potting mix for clematis please? I have bought a few very small plants for £1.77 from a supermarket. I was amazed at the varieties they had. I got Jackmanii, Piilu, Pope John Paul 2, Ville de Lyon, and Nelly Moser. I ignored the previous advice and put 3 others in the ground about 2 weeks ago - Star of India, Mrs G Jackman and Westerplatte. They are doing well, even though on a north facing corner, and seem to be growing up a string we tied to the fence. Mrs G Jackman has two buds even though I thought nothing would happen until next year. Westerplatte has flopped a bit, I don't know why. Star of India is growing, no buds yet. I know they may not survive as everyone said don't put straight into ground. So just in case I got these extra and I have lots of space if eventually going into the ground against the fence.
So when potting them please can you advise on what to use. I have the following bags of compost already and don't want to get anything new:
- Organic compost
- Irish multipurpose compost
- John Innes no. 3
- for drainage: silver sand and perlite.
What would be the best combination for clematis to go in pots for a while. Need option to leave in the pots as not sure if I will move them to ground or not. Thanks in advance clematis experts!
Wakeshine, if you haven't already, make sure to plant climbers about 8-12 inches from the fence, otherwise there isn't room for their roots to develop and they won't get any rain. Also, they like cool roots, even if they prefer sun on the rest of the plant.
Some clematis will be happier in pots than others and it needs to be an extra deep pot at that. If you have a look at Taylor's listings (http://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/) they tell you which are ok to keep in pots. From my research, I don't think that the Jackmanii will be happy long-term in a pot, but I'm no expert.
Thank you SparklesJD. I will have to measure them and check but I think I did plant them about 8 inches away from the fence. I hope that's enough space for it. It's quite cool in that area I think as it mainly gets morning sun. I had recently planted a rose in front of it - it's a china rose - Old Blush China. Together I hope they grow. Thank you for the taylors link, I will double check everything. I will put Jackmanii in the ground! It's a big one I think.
Will wait to hear back from someone about potting mixture.
I have now put two of my plug clematis out - one in soil along with a good helping of compost and perlitte with some added bonemeal (just a spoonful) and intend to feed both for the rest of the year with a small amount of general food added to the watering can. The other (Montana) is in a huge pot, against a wall and climbing up a trellis. I took a tip from Richard as I realized that young plants can be attacked by slugs, so sprinkled a few slug pellets around the base of the plant, but have hidden them as best as I can from the birds. The Montana has been in the outdoor pot about 10 days and is already climbing up the trellis. Wakeshine I wouldn't let any of your new plants flower this year - just nip the new shoots so that the plants thicken rather than wasting energy on producing flowers now. You are lucky to have such a good deal - the only way I could justify spending money on clematis (£10 + over here) was to buy these plugs at something like £5.99 for 4 through a GW offer. As they were plug plants I kept them in a cold greenhouse for about 6 months (putting them in larger pots as necessary) to give them a good, sheltered start before putting them outside.
I try to feed most of my plants whilst they are growing from small to good established plants and I would certainly feed these if they were mine Sparkles. I use a blue granule feed that is sold fairly cheaply either in a box or sachets. When I planted them out I mixed a small amount of bonemeal with the compost/perlite mix. I fed my clematis plugs on average once a week/fortnight, and will continue feeding them until growth slows down for the winter. However we all do things differently and perhaps others would disagree with me. From what I have read on this Forum the Montana is the most prolific grower of the 4 clematis that I was sent, and apart from Montana I don't think any of mine are the same as yours. I can see that they are outside - are they in a sunny position?
Posts
To update on my clematis. One died a month or so ago and I may have been overwatering it. However I have now planted the Montana Ruebens outside, and I am about to plant out the Blue Dancer in the next day or two.
First picture is Montana just before planting outside, second is Blue Dance & Freckles although we now think it may wrongly named. How did your clematis fair Sparkles?
Last edited: 26 July 2016 20:24:47
They're all still alive. They're not as tall as yours, GD.
I'm thinking of planting out the Montana Ruebens this weekend, as it's getting a bit cross in a pot!
Wow look at all this clematis growing success. It's very inspirational. So can I ask a question about potting mix for clematis please? I have bought a few very small plants for £1.77 from a supermarket. I was amazed at the varieties they had. I got Jackmanii, Piilu, Pope John Paul 2, Ville de Lyon, and Nelly Moser. I ignored the previous advice and put 3 others in the ground about 2 weeks ago - Star of India, Mrs G Jackman and Westerplatte. They are doing well, even though on a north facing corner, and seem to be growing up a string we tied to the fence. Mrs G Jackman has two buds even though I thought nothing would happen until next year. Westerplatte has flopped a bit, I don't know why. Star of India is growing, no buds yet. I know they may not survive as everyone said don't put straight into ground. So just in case I got these extra and I have lots of space if eventually going into the ground against the fence.
So when potting them please can you advise on what to use. I have the following bags of compost already and don't want to get anything new:
- Organic compost
- Irish multipurpose compost
- John Innes no. 3
- for drainage: silver sand and perlite.
What would be the best combination for clematis to go in pots for a while. Need option to leave in the pots as not sure if I will move them to ground or not. Thanks in advance clematis experts!
and apologies for adding to GeurnseyDonkey's post but I didn't see the point of starting a new thread when this one seemed about a similar thing..!
Wakeshine, if you haven't already, make sure to plant climbers about 8-12 inches from the fence, otherwise there isn't room for their roots to develop and they won't get any rain. Also, they like cool roots, even if they prefer sun on the rest of the plant.
Some clematis will be happier in pots than others and it needs to be an extra deep pot at that. If you have a look at Taylor's listings (http://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/) they tell you which are ok to keep in pots. From my research, I don't think that the Jackmanii will be happy long-term in a pot, but I'm no expert.
I have no idea about the soil, sorry!
Last edited: 02 August 2016 21:43:13
Thank you SparklesJD. I will have to measure them and check but I think I did plant them about 8 inches away from the fence. I hope that's enough space for it. It's quite cool in that area I think as it mainly gets morning sun. I had recently planted a rose in front of it - it's a china rose - Old Blush China. Together I hope they grow. Thank you for the taylors link, I will double check everything. I will put Jackmanii in the ground! It's a big one I think.
Will wait to hear back from someone about potting mixture.
I have now put two of my plug clematis out - one in soil along with a good helping of compost and perlitte with some added bonemeal (just a spoonful) and intend to feed both for the rest of the year with a small amount of general food added to the watering can. The other (Montana) is in a huge pot, against a wall and climbing up a trellis. I took a tip from Richard as I realized that young plants can be attacked by slugs, so sprinkled a few slug pellets around the base of the plant, but have hidden them as best as I can from the birds. The Montana has been in the outdoor pot about 10 days and is already climbing up the trellis. Wakeshine I wouldn't let any of your new plants flower this year - just nip the new shoots so that the plants thicken rather than wasting energy on producing flowers now. You are lucky to have such a good deal - the only way I could justify spending money on clematis (£10 + over here) was to buy these plugs at something like £5.99 for 4 through a GW offer. As they were plug plants I kept them in a cold greenhouse for about 6 months (putting them in larger pots as necessary) to give them a good, sheltered start before putting them outside.
L-R: Montana ruben 'mayleen'; cirrhosa 'jingle bells'; sunset; alpina 'willy'.
Should I be feeding them do you think? Was thinking about giving them some bonemeal.
SparklesJD I don't really know...I hope someone can help you and I hope they perk up soon. Are they getting enough sun?
Can I ask you guys what potting mix did you use? Did you mix any sand in?
I try to feed most of my plants whilst they are growing from small to good established plants and I would certainly feed these if they were mine Sparkles. I use a blue granule feed that is sold fairly cheaply either in a box or sachets. When I planted them out I mixed a small amount of bonemeal with the compost/perlite mix. I fed my clematis plugs on average once a week/fortnight, and will continue feeding them until growth slows down for the winter. However we all do things differently and perhaps others would disagree with me. From what I have read on this Forum the Montana is the most prolific grower of the 4 clematis that I was sent, and apart from Montana I don't think any of mine are the same as yours. I can see that they are outside - are they in a sunny position?