Clematis

Hi, newest member and probably the oldest question.How do I take cuttings from a clematis? As my husband and I are retired both through ill health it now dawns on me how priveliged we were when at work. Off to the garden centre on a weekend fill a trolley thro, the checkout and home. After 4 years retired I now save seeds and grow them and I now love my garden. I bought an 8ft greenhouse when I left work and am just learning the does and dont,s of how to manage it.No doubt I will be a pain with my lack of knowledge. Terri.

 

As I recall, clematis strike well from soft wood cuttings or even tip cuttings.

For a soft wood cutting, find a piece of this years growth, cut off piece with a least two preferrably three leaves including the tip. Cut the stem below the lowest leaves, remove the leaves and plant in a mixture of 50:50 compost and vermiculite right up to the next leaf joint.

I think they may even strike in water - but have never tried that.

 

Hi Fran, thank you for the info. I had put two or three cuttings in pots,but after reading your advice I,ll go and start again.Thank you again.Terri.

 

Let us know how they do eh?

 

Just had a word with my daughter who works for a Clematis Nursery. She says cuttings are fairly difficult to do, have to be cut between two nodules and strike better when in a 'misted environment'. Rooting powder helps prevent fungus. Also said it's a bit late in the year now - but hey, why not give it a try. Will be glad to know if you beat the specialists. :rolleyes:

 

We had a Clematis Specialist in our Garden club giving a talk..... ( more likely selling a lot of Clematis ) lol non less then �£ 7 - �£ 11 each and gets �£40 for 2 ..well 1 hour,plus free tea and bikkis lol... not including travel of course, from the club fund. He said put them in pure sand... leave a 4-5" stems either side and bury the bottom part, exposing the part leave ...on bottom heat, it worked, but did it in May. I go for the Perennial type now too, which you can divide, but only get about 6" tall...maybe more suitable for many.

Ladybird

 

I've managed to root cuttings of the large hybrid types, but they seem to take all summer to root, and make a good root system by autumn.
The problem is they make very little or no growth in that year and tend to rot or not have any dormant buds to grow away from the following year.