1. If you can stand it and have some patience, repot your clematis in a next size pot for this year. Clematis need to establish really good root systems and it sometimes takes anywhere from 2-3 years. Growing it in a pot the first year encourages the roots to grow.

2. Clematis likes cool roots, so much it very well.

3. Fertilizer: I've used tomatoe fertilizer (most popular a few years ago), chicken manure (contains more phosphorous than steer manure, and feeds your soil), and the new thing is alfalfa fertilizer.

4. Know your clematis group - there are 3 groups, and you can check them out by googling "clematis groups". I checked and yours is a Group II - repeat bloomers; prune immediately after flowering to the next good node.

5. Support: I have planting mine against my chain link fence; by my deck to which I stapled some fencing for climbing; and by use of trellising. They climb by "twining" so you may have to give them a little help with "stray" stems.

I saw some humongous pots of this clematis (with humongous flowers) at Horn's this week. I don't know how much they were - they probably wanted my first born child for them. But they really are gorgeous! Congratulations. It's easy to get hooked on them. I have a few - 'Nelly Moser', 'Dr. Ruppel', Jackmanii (a very good grower even in partial shade), 'Polish Spirit'. I used to have C. tangutica because I wanted a yellow flowering clemmie. It was just too rampant and I pulled it out. However, there are some cultivars of tangutica that aren't probably as rampant as the species. I love some of the "bell-shaped" flowering clems, like Rogoochi. And there are also some beautiful "shrub" clematis as well. The possibilities are endless if you fall in love with these guys.

Susan

Thank you for the advice. Sounds like a plan for me. Another question? When I plant the clematis in a pot, will I need a small trellis in the pot also? And what would be the best potting mix to use? Can I leave the pot outside through the winter? And what type of mulch would I use in a pot? That's all for now. (I think) :)

I bought one this year also but I want to wait until my house gets painted before I put up a trellis for it. I thought it would probably be several weeks before I could plant it so I potted into a larger container with "Dawn's Mix" which is a cousin of "Al's Mix" on the container forum. I looked better by the next day.

My neighbor planted one on our property line last year and then virtually ignored it. I wondered if it would come back because it was very small when it was planted. It survived the winter and looks good. In fact, I put landscape fabric down and mulched it today. It is almost ready to bloom. The neighbor on the other side has a really pretty one. It is now a rent house so I hope they don't mess it up.

I am going to add some more of them because I think they are really pretty. I am thinking of letting one climb a tree. Have any of you tried that?

Growing one up a tree would look awesome. I wonder which would be the best to use? I have a bald cypress that would look good with one, but the only problem I would see, is that the trees would dominate the water and nutrients. And how exactly would a clematis climb the tree? Would something have to be placed around it for the climber? I know folks grow clematis through their shrubs. Makes it look like the shrubs are blooming instead. Does anyone have some ideas for easy to make trellises from stuff lying around the house. I don't have lots of money to spend. I have blown my budget already. I'm thinking I may want another clematis already. Part of the reason I haven't grown any before is my garden is lacking in 'vertical' structures. I have a chain link fence but my neighbor loves his Round-up so he won't have to weedeat. I had an old heavy doorjab frame that I was going to toss, but got an idea to use some eyelets and string some wire through it, for a trellis. Because it is not very 'fancy' I am going to use it in the backyard. My new clematis is going in the front. I am excited but a little worried. We shall see.

I haven't thought this out completely but I was wondering about a potted one sitting next to a tree. My trouble is that I only have one tree that isn't huge and it has honeysuckle that loves it. We have to give it a haircut almost every year to keep it under control. Most of my trees have their lowest limbs at 12 feet or higher so I don't know if it would be happy. I understand that they like their roots shaded and their heads in the sun. The one I described earlier is in full sun, but my climate is different here than much of Oklahoma.

I am having fun thinking about all of the things I want to buy and plant when all of my painting and renovation is done. Of course, I am not sure it is ever done because as soon as one thing is finished, I am ready for the next. I thought I wanted a climbing hydranga but have been reading about how people wrap them, insulate them, cover them, etc. and keep them that way all winter. I don't want anything in front of my house that has to be wrapped to survive. I may have to settle for several clematis.

I hear you. Gardening is a constantly evolving hobby. An impatient person can learn from gardening. I bought this house 19 years ago when I was 22. Back then, I had so much to learn. I am still learning. When I bought the house, it looked like a little house on the prairie. No trees, no flowers, no shrubs, and nothing but stickers for a lawn. It looks so different now. I even have before and after pictures. It has been a slow process. Oddly enough, this year when I 'remodeled' my front flower bed, it was the first year I have ever bought any type of shrubs or hedges. Even all the trees in my yard, I grew myself, except for my bald cypress and I adopted it when my dad had to take it out, for a driveway he was building. I have a green thumb, but I am getting into some new stuff, therefore, I have found this awesome forum for advice. Thanks to everyone who has helped. You make gardening even more fun.

Hardin, just put some mulch in your pot - actually, when mine were in a pot I didn't mulch them at all. When they get in the ground is when you need to mulch them. You could use some fencing wrapped around the trunk (about 3" from actual trunk) to get your clematis started, but I don't know much about whether the plant would do well in the ground among tree roots or not.

I have planted mine under other vines and shrubs and they do very well climbing through the branches and stems. With that kind of support, you really don't need a trellis or anything like that.

Soonergrandmom - there is a guy who is really, really into growing clematis. He lives in North Carolina and grows all of his in pots. Clematis is very hardy and will do well overwinter in pots. That said, you still have to make sure you water them occasionally, or the roots will die. Other than that, you don't need to do anything, just let them sit outside in their pots until spring, and then either pot them up to the next larger size pot, or plant them in the ground.

My Dr. Ruppel is just blooming like crazy right now, as is Nelly Moser. I keep telling myself I'm going to dig and get rid of Nelly Moser because it gets that viral leaf spot so bad following the flowering. But, I just leave her alone. There are so many much improved clematis cultivars out there today. You might check out the clematis forum here - there are some really good growers there!

Susan