Pot them up into gallons. That's the recommended method anyway for itty-bitty Clems. Miracle Gro potting soil works just fine. Around here, they can be planted in the fall and do just fine, but I'm not sure about your zone.

Thanks! Actually last fall I bought 2 clematis on sale at the local hardware store. I didn't have the garden bed ready, so I buried them, pot and all for the winter. I planted them out about a month ago. And they are growing to beat the band!

Jenny P

You might want search on the Clematis forum - there are some recent posts their regarding this and there is lots of great other info also.

I think it is generally recommended that you pot up the smaller clematis for at least the first year. Make sure that you plant them deep (in the pot and then again when you plant them in the ground) - at least two inches below the current soil line in the pot.

Also be sure to fence them, even in pots if you leave them outside. Rabbits love to chomp on clematis and will kill a small, unestablished one. This has happened to me more than once. :o(

Put something in the pot for them to climb on like they do at the nurserys. The reason im saying this is a clematis can grow rapidly and wrap its self around all kinds of things that may be hard to untangle when you decide to pick a new spot for it, and they usually don't need pruned untill blooming is finished. It would also be helpful for you to know what pruning group the particular clematis that you bought is in. so you know how to prune it. There are 3 different pruning groups that require different care when pruning. I agree that you should post your question to the clematis forum they are friendly and very knowledgable. -Jessica

Thank you
I did look on the clematis forum, and found some good information there. I know that these are both pruning group 3, which I read is best for a beginner in my region.

I ended up planting them into coffee cans that I drilled holes into. Apparantly my DH decided I had to many pots in storage, and cleaned them out for me! So coffee cans will have to do for now. I can always pot them up into a larger pot later if needed. I did make some little trellis things out of bamboo for them to cling to. I do have to say that the root systems on these little plants was amazing!

Hopefully I will be able to get my new bed all prepared yet this summer. And will be able to plant these in the ground later. So they don't have to over winter in the pots. I have a new arbor, and a spot picked out. I just need to prepare the beds! I am trying to decide if I should do the cardboard, layering with compost and such method. OR if I should give in to the DH who loves to run the tiller, and let him till it up. OR if I should do a combination of the 2 methods. Let him till, add some amendments, then cover it with cardboard and mulch. Let it sit and plant into it sometime in September, or even wait til spring. I am really not in a hurry.

Jenny P

You will not have to ask your questions on Clematis forum, I asked same questions last year and received many useful advices. Do make a search there. Shortly:
1. Plant them in 1G pots more deeply than they are potted now. The crown should be 1-2" below the soil surface level.
2. Pinch all new growth. The young Clemmie should concentrate on root growth. Pinching will stimulate this process and you will get bushier plant.
3. Keep the soil moist but not soggy all the time.
4. Protect pots from heavy rains. I had to feed my baby Clematis with Iron after 2 weeks of rains we had last June, they were extremely chlorotic.
5. Enjoy! Bluestone Clemmies are small, but very vigorous. 3 out of 5 bloomed for me in their first year!
Here are some pictures of my Bluestone Clematis that I bought at their last year sale:

Arctic Queen

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Duchess of Albany

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Crystal Fountain

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Oh how pretty! I have only started growing clematis this year. I put in 2 Jackamani, on an old television antennea tower. Sounds weird I know! But it was sitting in my yard, ugly as heck. So I put a garden around it, covered it with some green fencing, planted the 2 clematis and a climbing rose on 3 sides of it. Then because I knew this year would be bare, I put some climbing annual vines on the empty side.

The clematis I picked up last fall on a close out, planted them this spring, and they are looking good so far.

Now I am wondering if I should pinch them? I looked at them yesterday and thought I saw some buds forming. The vines are about 3' tall.

Jenny P

Jenny, folks from the Clematis forum highly recommend to pinch baby Clems first 2-3 years. If you have buds forming, wait for the blooms, then prune vines down to first or second leaf axil (hard pruning) and fertilize with rose or tomato fertilizer. In my zone I can get second blooming flush this way. In your zone summer is shorter, so I am not sure that you will have enough time to get another blooming. But you will help your plants to establish by stimulating root growth. If you will not pinch them, it will take more time and your plants will be leggy.

Thanks, I will do that. I won't be going to check on them today, it's way to wet out there! Almost 3" of rain since I emptied the rain guage last night.

Jenny P