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Clematis for Pots and Containers

Clematis for Pots and Containers

Clematis

Tips for Growing Clematis in Pots

Use a large pot, bigger the better as the roots need room to grow and the soil needs to hold moisture. 18″ depth and diameter are needed.
Use good quality compost and add a slow release fertiliser.
Top dress each year and add more slow release fertiliser.
Repot when the compost is totally denuded of goodness, perhaps every 5 years.
Plant deeply as you would in the garden, to avoid clematis wilt.
Water regularly and avoid drying winds and strong sunshine.
Support the vine with a good quality, firm framework.

Adventures in Clematis Propagation
‘Adventures in Clematis Propagation by billums who tried this successfully the year before last, but only with one little pot. Last spring I tried again on a much larger scale.

You just take a Clematis vine and run it through a pot of soil and it will take root. Not much effort involved if the damn squirrels would quit digging the vines out of the pots.

You do have to do this right when the vines first pop up and are still flexible enough to bend into a “U” shape to run through the pot without breaking.’ CC BY 2.0

‘Which’ Recommended Clematis Varieties for Pots

Chantilly is a small flowering rain resistant white clematis.
The Vagabond grows 4 feet tall in a pot and has a long flowering season.
Early summer flowering Rebecca has deep red flowers and like most varieties suitable for pots, only needs a light pruning in early spring.
Crystal Fountain is one of my favourites looking like a quilled, double flowered clematis in a pale lilac.

Pots suitable for Clematis

  • Select good looking pots and containers. Only the skeleton will be visible in winter.
  • Unusual containers may be created from reclamation or recycling activities.
  • Ensure you create drainage holes.
  • Pots need to hold healthy hairy roots at least 12″ long.
  • A wide pot can also support some annual trailing plants to disguise the pot edges.
  • If using terracotta pots line the inner walls with polythene to reduce evaporation.
  • Are you ‘Pushing your luck’ with so many good clematis grown in the ground. I’ve moved away from pots and containers for my clematis.

Clematis

Rampant and Strong Clematis Unsuitable for Pots

Clematis Venosa Violacea
Clematis armandii
Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’
Clematis montana and its relatives

 

 

Creepers From Boston and Virginia

Creepers From Boston and Virginia

Virginia Creeper

Do you want your walls to look like this in Autumn. If so then the Parthenocissus family are the plants for you.

Description of Virginia Creeper

  • Parthenocissus quinquefolia or Virginia creeper is a woody, climbing shrub that can reach great heights when supported by a building.
  • The flowers are small and greenish, produced in clusters in late spring, and mature in late summer or early fall into small, hard, toxic, purplish-black berries up to half inch long.
  • The large leaves are five fingered hence the quinquefolia name tag.
  • The plant clings by suckers and after the first few feet it will not need any support. The plant should not harm sound walls but to remove kill the plant first and let the suckers die back.
  • Creepers can kill other supporting plants by smothering and stopping light getting to them.

Virginia Creeper

Other Creepers

  • Boston Ivy Parthenocissus tricuspidata is not an Ivy but a Grape or Vitacaea, Very similar to Virginia Creeper the leaves are less palmate but colour well.
  • Chinese Creeper Parthenocissus henryana (AGM) is also referred to as the silver vein creeper and is renown for grand Autumn colour aswell as veined leaves. It is less rampant and more delicate than many other ornamental grape vines.
  • Parthenocissus inserta supports with tendrils more than suckers and scrambles over walls and hedges
  • Parthenocissus thomsonii has a slender habit and purple growths early in the year.

london 11.11 050

Creeper Growing and Problems

  • The fast growth has blocked out windows on this London creeper
  • Birds love the fruit but they are only produced in quantity during a hot dry summer
  • Insects will like the living accommodation provided
  • Grow from seed or cuttings
  • Be ready for regular trimming once established.