Oh, Cajun, nice save on the WM plant, it is gorgeous. Be patient, it will bloom. Don't apologize for the 'largeness' of your Optimara. I too love huge plants. I have some questions about your lights. What is the length of the fixture? Did they come with plugs or did you have to add them? Where did you get them? I' am looking for 24, 28, 20, or 36 inch fluorescent fixtures that are already wired with cords and plugs, and having a difficult time, not wanting to pay an arm and a leg. As far as distance, some of the plants in the second shelf are 'reaching up' a little, which means they could use more light. A fixture that goes all the way across would also make sure the plants on the end get ample light too. Thanks for sharing, I always enjoy seeing pictures of others' successes. Barbara

Your photos are excellent examples of how Sweet Autumn clematis can light up the night. And the wonderful fragrance is a bonus! Thanks for sharing.

I can't see it real well, so I personally would let it get just a little bigger until I could be sure. As far as longer leaves if the plant is growing happy where you have it then it could just be the way it grows. Not all plants "spread out". If you give it a little less light (yes too much light could be a factor in "tight growth") and it still grows the same, then that is the way it grows. Your plant looks, in my opinion, well grown. Looks like nice thick leaves also. I do have a plant that looks similar to yours and no matter where I put it nothing changes. It is a good plant and will grow the way it wants to. So says the plant! lol Yep your nut pick will take care of that sucker only. Nothing to prevent another one from growing somewhere else. Some plants sucker a lot and some never seem to get one. Keep popping them off if you don't want them. Just make sure they are rounded leaves and that they are not the start of a flower stalk. That would look different. A flower stalk will look like tiny eensy weensy little round balls. AND flower stalks come from the same place suckers do. Just make sure what you are taking off is really a sucker and not a flower stalk. As far as a flower stalk,,,,,,,,,,If you look at a blooming violet, look behind the blooms and sometimes on the stalk just behind the blooms you will see two little skinny leaves. Very small and slender and then the rest of the flower stalk goes down to the plant. They say you can propagate from those also but I have never tried it. A violet can bloom at any age. I have seen them (in pix) in bloom before they are separated from the mother leaf! So it is hard to say when they will bloom. As far as telling the plants general age based on a photo OR in person you really can't. The plant can be very old (10 or 15 years) and it can look new and fresh because it has been "started" over many times. If the neck got too long from age you just re-start it! Good luck!!!! Rosie

It is a pretty flower, thanks for showing. I dislike the Ma's andRob's names for their plants. I dislike the idea of violence associated with plants.They seem to have a very juvenile sense of humor. Too bad, because they seem to be pretty good hybridizers. So for reds, I look to the Mac's series or the Lyon's and leave the Rob's and Ma's for the specialists. Just my 25 cents.