Clematis in a pot

We just ordered a Clematis “Rooguchi”. Looks a bit different.

 

@ricky101 I've never taken a cutting from my clematis but I will definitely give it a go. I hope you find one.

@Jocko that's an absolute beauty. Please let me know how you get on with it.

 

Will do.

 

I have now planted clematis at my fence line, three years in a row and they do not come back the next spring so I am toying with the idea of growing one in a pot.

Our winters as you know are bitterly cold and for months, not just a night or two so how would one over winter a clematis please?

 

We always put a thick layer of peaty compost over the base of the clematis but you also have to be very quick to spot and protect the new shoots in spring as the slugs and snails can often get there first, leaving no trace of any shoots at all.
Were the roots rotten etc when you dug them up ?

Perhaps @Jocko can offer more tips as he is a lot further north than we are.

This site lists ones that are hardier than most, though they do say all Clematis come from areas with cold winters.
The 27 Best Cold Hardy Clematis Varieties | Gardener’s Path

 

Our winters are very benign here. Being near the sea and on the outskirts of the city we have little frost and practically no snow.

 

@ricky101 I will check out that list for sure. I really love the looks and rich colour of clematis and that is why the efforts to try so hard.

I haven't dug up anything this year, just noted that nothing came back. I guess that's a job for this weekend!

Cheers and thank you

 

@CanadianLori just thought we would mention something you probably know and thats to plant them in the soil much deeper than what they are in the pot which would naturally help protect against your hard winters ?
This site has some good guidlines -
How to plant Clematis - Step-by-Step planting advice| Ashridge NurseriesHow to plant Clematis - Step-by-Step planting advice| Ashridge Nurseries

We also have had a fair few failures with clematis over the years, but some like Jackmanii seem very strong, we had to move ours this spring after several years in the same ground and thankfully its come back in full bloom , what did surprise us was apart from the immediate root ball, it had put out several very stout roots, 6-8 ft long !

 

Well, I dug up the area where the clematis was originally planted and did not find any form of root ball. Only a few roots which I suspect are not clematis at all as they are only the width of spaghetti cooked well beyond al dente. I stuck them in a pot but now I think I'm going to toss them as I realize it is probably just creeping myrtle which I have been trying to get rid of!

I jammed a clump of daisies in the hole and called it a day.

I will still be looking out for a clematis and keep it in a pot this time. Maybe try to overwinter it in the center of the little greenhouse. Or, dig a hole for the pot to sit in and cover the whole thing with a cold frame. I need to do a little pondering.

 

Hi @CanadianLori

Many Clematis seem to be uk rated Hardy H6 -15c to -20c - is that lower than you normally get in winter ?

Assume your plants grow and flower well in their first year, just that nothing comes up next year ?
What varieties / groups have you tried ?

 

@ricky101 I'm a zone 5A - half way between 5 and 6.

I was worried that being in pots, the cold would have a more severe effect?

 

Hi Lori, Clematis are hardy (and popular) in Finland where the climate is very similar to yours. Apparently the key is the soil, it should not be too dry nor too wet. A kind of medium steak of the plant world

Sometimes Clematis just give up and die away without further notice. Once they are established, nothing kills them so I class them as pot luck plants.

 

Thank you @Selleri I feel a little better now. I'll look out for one and cross my fingers!