Clematis Care: For Vigorous Climbing Vines!
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With proper clematis care, you can have beautiful, vigorous climbing vines with exquisite flowers. There are several hybrids that produce large colorful flowers. When purchasing clematis, choose healthy vines that are at least one foot tall with multiple vigorous stems. To enjoy continuous blooms from late spring through autumn, plant a combination of early, mid-season, and late bloomers.
Container Planting Compact varieties of clematis can be planted in containers. Choose pots that have a size of at least 1-1/2 ft. x 1-1/2 ft. Use potting mix to fill the container and plant the clematis carefully about three to five inches below the top of the soil. You need to water your container clematis very often, especially during hot summer months. Check the soil regularly. When cultivating in containers, remove only half of the tired flower heads when pruning. Let the other half alone. Planting two or three cultivars with different flowering periods is a good idea. If your container clematis is new, use liquid fertilizer at watering time. Rose feed is good. For established container clematis, replace the topsoil each spring. Time it when winter- or spring-blooming plants are done with flowering, or when you are making room for new plantings. For summer bedding plants, replace about three inches of the soil with good potting compost. Be careful not to damage the root system of the clematis. Irrigation Newly planted clematis vines should be kept moist. Water them deeply at least once a week for the first two seasons. If you do not give good care to their water needs, the roots will dry out and you will have a major problem. For this reason, you should not plant the clematis without first immersing the roots in water. Evening time is best for watering the clematis. Pruning The new clematis vines require pruning during its first spring. Prune it down to a height of one foot, prior to the opening of the leaf buds. For the ensuing years, most varieties should be pruned down to two feet to two-and-one-half feet from the soil. Again, you should do this before the buds open. Cut out any weak and dead stems and those that have blooms on growth from last season. Carefully read the nursery tag that came with your clematis plant and follow the instructions. Prune lightly (or not at all) after flowering those that bloom before the longest day or summer solstice. In the northern hemisphere, that will be on or about June 21 of each year. In the southern hemisphere, that will be on or about December 21 of each year. Late blooming clematis will need major pruning. Remove all the stems down to soil level either in late winter or in early spring. If you observe the flowering habits of the clematis, you will know when to prune them. Keep your clematis moist and well-fed while it is growing. Prune correctly and timely. That is proper clematis care! More on Clematis Care!
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