Asked on Oct 21, 2012

Clematis will it Live or will it not?????

TaniaC
by TaniaC
I posted some picture on Z 's page of what my yard looked like in the Fall and I took some pictures of my Pretty Flowers.. One of the pictures was of the Clematis that I just purchased this year... I paid $20 for it and wasn't all that impressed when I got it but I was insured that It will grow just fine it just takes a while for it to MATURE!! Douglas Hunt gave me some Good advice since I mentioned that the stem had broke as seen in the pictures and it looked like it was going to die on me when all the leaves started to shrivel up and go brown and the stem also lost it's greenery OH NO I thought...We were in this awful drought so I tried watering it every chance I could get ... I didn't want to plant it in the ground because I didn't think it would make it so I just placed it on top of the soil and kept watering it in the original container it came in and all of a sudden One Day It started to re shoot and a NEW Green Stem appeared and then it started to bud and Flower ...I was so EXCITED!!!! WOOOO HOOO!... Well the last PURPLE flower just fell off last night with some high winds we had and now I was wondering since it still being in the pot it came in, It Has ROOTED itself into the ground.. Should I dig it up and re plant or Should I wait til SPRING to do it... Douglas Hunt says Re Plant it Now before the ground Freezes... I wanted to show Some more pictures of my Dilemma to show you My Poor pathetic CLEMATIS!!! and also show you what MY NEIGHBORS CLEMATIS looks like ....HERS is Just STUNNING and she planted it in a bottomless pot at the side of her Back shed...And Look How pretty it is still Blooming:))))..:... What do you Think NOW Douglas Hunt Now that you have seen these picture WILL IT LIVE OR DIE???? Help Please !
This Is the Last FLOWER on My Clematis and the HIGH WINDS took it last Night :(((((
Still in Original Pot But has ROOTED itself into the Ground...
See Where The Stem Broke? It Looks all DEAD at the bottom.
This Is where the NEW stem Sprouted... IS there hope For Her YET????
A CLOSE UP Of New Stem...
All The PRETTY PURPLE FLOWERS GONE!!! :((((
NEIGHBORS CLEMATIS!!! I'm SOOOOO Jealous!!! and Her FLOWERS are HUGE!
LOOK how pretty her flowers look
I WANT MY NEIGHBORS CLEMATIS ....LOL! Hi BRENDA NEIGHBOR ...I LOVE YOU!♥
  38 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Oct 21, 2012
    Your clematis has shown a strong will to live, Tania, by rooting right through the pot, and I don't think there's any reason for that to stop now. But, as Four Seasons points out, it is is never going to look like your neighbor's clematis because that is a different variety. Clematis should be transplanted when they are dormant, as in having lost all their leaves. My suggestion that you transplant it now was based on your having a good six weeks of time before the ground freezes. If you don't think that's the case, wait until spring, but do it as soon as the ground can be worked, before your plant leafs out. Also, remember that clematis are slow to get established. Your plant is likely to not do much next season. Your "Jackmanii" is in the group of clematis that should be pruned hard in early spring (again before growth begins). Cut the stems back to a pair of strong buds 6 to 8 inches above the ground.
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Oct 21, 2012
    @Douglas Hunt The weather here is weird... One minute it is 75-80 degrees and the next it is in the 30's .... I never know when the hard freeze is coming... I'm wanting to go get a BIG Pot from the Nursery and Cut the bottom out as did my neighbor but then again I'm scared that in 2 or 3 weeks we will get a HARD Freeze and it will kill the plant??? When you said to cut the stems back 6 to 8 inches above the ground, I don't think I'll be able to do this cause Where the stem Broke is 16 inches up and the New Stem Growth re sprouted at 48 inches """ Should I still Cut it Back to 8 inches???"""""... Oh and BTW Do You Know the Name of the Clematis that MY NEIGHBOR HAS???
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Oct 21, 2012
    A hard freeze will not kill the plant. It is going to die back to the ground during the winter. Putting it in a bigger pot will help provide some protection to the roots and help it make it through the winter, but, ultimately, it will be happier in the ground. I'm sorry but I don't know which clematis your neighbor has: there are thousands of cultivars.
  • Leida R Leida R on Oct 21, 2012
    @Douglas Hunt thanks for the tip on the cutting of "the stems back to a pair of strong buds 6 to 8 inches above the ground". That sure helps me as I also have 2 Clematis Jackmanii that I bought in the Spring 2012. Btw, they both have done very well until now. I wish I could share some pics I took of them when they both flowered, but my computer is again not allowing to post pics. : (
  • Leida R Leida R on Oct 21, 2012
    @TaniaC thank u for having post this as I just learned 2 things from Doug on it.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Oct 21, 2012
    @Leida R: Clematis are known for not doing well in Florida. I'm glad you have experience to the contrary.
  • Leida R Leida R on Oct 21, 2012
    Thanks @Douglas Hunt that's what a friend of mine who also came from NY (just like me) tells me. He also tell me that they don't usually flower as much as mine 2 do. For example: my 2 flower one time after another. In other words, is a constant thing. He says that they are not usually like that. Is that true???
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Oct 21, 2012
    I'm not sure about the bloom time for all of them. Jackmanii is known as a late bloomer, I think, but the rules are different in Florida, as you're finding out!
  • Leida R Leida R on Oct 21, 2012
    @Douglas Hunt / @KneeDeep Ponds, Inc., one more question, one of my flowers on 1 of my Jackmanii plants had a 5 petals flower to it instead of 4 petals, would u know the answer to that?
  • KneeDeep Ponds, Inc. KneeDeep Ponds, Inc. on Oct 21, 2012
    Your neighbor has a Clematis Henryii (hybrid botanical name) and as Four Season Nursery said you have a Jackmanii. Both are woody vines and the blooms your plant produced this year are typical of a young plant. Next years plnt will produce more because there will be more new growth where the flowers are produced. Your neighbors on the other hand produces flowers on old wood. Glad to see you have it on a trellis. If you are going to leave it where it is I suggest you pick up a bale of straw and insulate it for the winter, you guys get pretty cold up there. Just loosen the bale and use the entire bale to cover you don't want snow and ice to set on top of or around the root ball. This should protect it until spring. If the landscapers in your area are still planting I don't see any reason for you not to do what Four Season recommended right now. Just make sure you dig down deeper than the pot by a few inches so you get the roots that have grow below the pot. I would still do the straw bale after you've planted it as insurance against the snow and ice. Just remember one thing...when you buy a plant from a nursery or garden store you are getting a baby not an adult...they are small and tender and the roots want to be in the ground. When a branch breaks just go back to the next healthy bud joint and prune back to within a 1/4" of the bud and a new shoot will appear that will produce more flowers. Good Luck
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Oct 21, 2012
    Leida, I think Jackmanii can have four to six petals. Excellent tips, KneeDeep.
  • Leida R Leida R on Oct 21, 2012
    Thanks, Doug!!!
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Oct 21, 2012
    OK Here is what I did @Douglas Hunt and @KneeDeep Ponds, Inc. and @360 Sod (Donna Dixson) and @Leida R ... I went ahead a popped her out of the ground and Dug a hole... After I dug the hole I Cut the bottom off the planter and put it in the hole. I then put the roots and soil of the clematis in the planter and filled and covered it with soil... I then Covered the soil with a blanket of Mulch.... I noticed that the stem is still green inside where it was broke so that is a good sign and the roots look really healthy.... So Here is crossing fingers XXX and wishing me luck That it makes it through the winter....:)))
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Oct 21, 2012
    You are good plant Mama Tania
  • Leida R Leida R on Oct 21, 2012
    @TaniaC, GREAT JOB!!!
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Oct 21, 2012
    @TaniaC: That planter is not helping your clematis. It is confining the roots. Since you've uprooted it, better to give the roots room to spread. Also, make sure to keep the soil level even with where it was in the pot. The mulch should not touch the plant itself, so pull it away from the stalk. Yes, green is good!
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Oct 21, 2012
    @Douglas Hunt Even If I cut the whole entire bottom out of the planter??? Is this still going to confine the roots???The planter just acts as a ring around the outside of the plant... It's all dirt straight DOWN VVVVV NO BOTTOM IN THIS PLANTER
  • Leida R Leida R on Oct 21, 2012
    This is one of my Clematis Jackmanii. Pic taken on Aug. 31, 2012
  • KneeDeep Ponds, Inc. KneeDeep Ponds, Inc. on Oct 21, 2012
    Good tips Douglas. Especially about the mulch.
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Oct 21, 2012
    WOW Thanks For Sharing @Leida R I can't wait til mine have lots of blooms I just love that Bright Purple
  • Leida R Leida R on Oct 21, 2012
    I'm so taking advantage of this post. Thank u for all this info on the Jackmanii!!!
  • Leida R Leida R on Oct 21, 2012
    Thanks!!! My grew a lot (I think) in just about 4 months. Well, considering they don't grow too fast, and I bought them I believe sometime in April.
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Oct 21, 2012
    I'm Learning a lot too.:))))
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Oct 22, 2012
    @TaniaC : Plant roots don't grow straight down, they grow out as well. If you like the way the ring looks, cut most of the sides off, too, and put it around the plant like a necklace. But no more than an inch or so should be in the ground.
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Oct 22, 2012
    OK Thanks @Douglas Hunt ....Gosh! now I have to go did it back out again;;;(((((((
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Oct 22, 2012
    Sorry to make more work, but your plant will be happier in the long run, and that will make you happier, too.
  • KneeDeep Ponds, Inc. KneeDeep Ponds, Inc. on Oct 22, 2012
    Just think of it this way TaniaC...you now know how to do it right and will only have to plant the next plant only one time...and if you are in doubt always watch what landscapers are doing in your area. They only make money when they plant a plant once and here are four rules to follow when you are planting in your yard 1 buy the plant 2 take the plant home 3 plant the plant (the hole should never be deeper than the root ball and should be twice as wide) 4 enjoy the fruits of your labor
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Oct 22, 2012
    Thank you @Douglas Hunt ... It is another beautiful Day out side today so I am spending it in the Garden anyway...:♥ @KneeDeep Ponds, Inc. I L♥ve your 4 rules to follow..:)))) And Yes I will most definitely enjoy every minute of it..;))))
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Oct 22, 2012
    Happy planting, Tania! Here's to that clematis looking great next year.
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Oct 22, 2012
    @Douglas Hunt If it survives the winter and come back in full bloom next year I promise, You will be the first to be notified ... Thank you so much and everyone else for all your help with my pretty PURPLE BABY...:) Cheers peace☮ and Love♥
  • Sharron W Sharron W on Dec 03, 2012
    I LOVE my Clemantis, although I don't have a Jackmanii anymore, I left it at the last house.... and they are pretty tough...I think it'll do fine and you'll be surprised by all the growth next year...My Henrii was cut back HARD and so help he he's got a bud ready to open ANY DAY...LOL and it's December...
  • Sharron W Sharron W on Dec 11, 2012
    LOL also your Neighbor has a different variety...the flowers on Henrii are huge...but also white... They like their feet in the shade and their tops in the sun...
  • La Mac La Mac on Jun 22, 2013
    I planted a clematis and it is not doing so well. I think it is not getting enough sun. It said to give it partial shade. So my question can they take full sun?
    • Chesto48 Chesto48 on Aug 24, 2015
      Yes,full sun but mulch the roots to keep them cool. Love my clematis!!
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Jun 22, 2013
    Hey @Douglas Hunt Just wanted to let you know My Clematis is doing fine...It made it through the winter and all this Crazy weather we've had in Southern Illinois... It didn't flower like I hoped But Maybe Next year it will have more blooms... Thank You so much for your expertise.... I was Hoping that more of the blooms would have been at the bottom of the trellis but it seemed that all the Blooms Congregated at the top and none at the bottom... Don't know why that is??? Maybe it will be fuller next year... also Maybe you can answer @La Mac's Question... Thanks :)
  • Mary M Mary M on Jun 22, 2013
    Beautiful, cant grow here in 100 degree heat.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jun 23, 2013
    So glad it's doing well, Tania.
  • TaniaC TaniaC on Jun 23, 2013
    Thanks For all your help @Douglas Hunt ♥
  • Annie Doherty Annie Doherty on Sep 28, 2016
    Tanya if your clematis has rooted itself into the ground, I personally wouldn't dig it up, I would cut the plastic flower pot off and top up the soil. You already have a trellis so it should keep growing well, as mentioned by posters above they love roots in the shade and head in the sun, it's beautiful you obviously saved it.:-)