Bought Clematis in a box- HELP!

3 years ago

I live in Zone 5 in NY. I saw beautiful boxes of clematis seedlings in Sam’s club in March- and couldn’t resist snatching them up. I was good and stored in a cool dark place for a few weeks but I just started “winter sowing” a few annuals and vegetables and pulled out the clematis and potted them up. They have decent roots and one long pale tendril of a stem coming out of each root ball. Now what? Should I put them outside under glass? The nights are still in the 20’s and 30’s here- daytime fluctuates between high 30,s and 60’s. I feel like I blew it but didn’t think keeping them in the dark was any better. I have successful winter sowed many plants here in the the spring. Any advice Would be appreciated.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
this has nothing to do with your winter sowing.. just forget about that.. with this ... odnt complicate it all trying to compare such ....

are they fully dormant or active??

if dormant.. just put the pot in the garage or shed... and let them stay dormant.. easy peasy ...

if they are active... tell us.. show us ... and we can go from there ...

i would not force them into early growth ... and in my z5MI ... they wouldnt be actively growing for at least another month ... and you are going to have all kinds of slow motion hardening off to deal with.. if you get them too far along too early ...

ken
Sam CO z5
3 years ago
I've had decent luck with those bagged clematis potting them up and growing them in a south window in the house until they can be hardened off and planted outside. It's not ideal, but since it sounds like they are growing already, its better than keeping them in the dark. I don't buy them in bags anymore, since overall, It seems they take much longer to get established than getting them already potted (even in tiny 2.5 inch pots). Yours will probably be fine potted up until they are ready for outdoors.
Related Discussions
just bought 15 boxes of amaryllis from home depot
Q
Comments (11)
If you use the pollen from a virused bulb you run the risk of spreading the virus to a healthy plant. But, you can use a virused plant for seedpods. If you put pollen from a healthy plant onto a virused plant the experts say the seeds will be fine. I have some seedlings from about 3 years ago: A virused Tangellino x a healthy Blossom Peacock. These seedlings have had their leaves for the better part of 3 years now and no sign of virus. I made this cross before I knew that Tangellino was virused and to this day, my one and only (aside from offsets) Blossom Peacock is still healthy even though I didn't know enough to take precautions. In those days I only dabbed pollen on once and may very well have used my finger so maybe that's why it didn't spread. I also have a couple of crosses from a virused Estrella x a large noid white (which I swiped the pollen from a nursery so I have no idea to the health of that bulb) and virused Estrella x a healthy Fairy Tale. All seedlings look fine. I'm sure you can mate two virused plants and they seeds will be fine also. The bottom line is you're better off not trying to hybridize with virused plants, but sometimes if you have a rare plant you might want to try. If anyone out there has grown virused seedlings from seeds that have one virused parent then please let us know. Donna P.S. One more thing to keep in mind.. when you are dabbing pollen on a virused bulb, if you use a Q-tip as I do.. only stick the Q-tip in the bag of pollen ONCE and then dab your plant and then THROW the Q-tip away. If you dab again use a clean Q-tip each time..DO NOT dip that Q-tip back in bag of pollen or you run the risk of contaminating the rest of the pollen. And Eric, make sure you take the time to do as Kristi suggests and do a search on this forum for information on this virus. You'll find a lot of interesting reading and see that some of us can get really hot under the collar over this important subject. You need to educate yourself since you are putting a lot of time, effort, and money into your new hobby. Everyone should be aware!!
...See More
boxed clematis
Q
Comments (2)
I would plant each in a 1 gallon pot. Move outside as the weather permits, but care for them in the pots until you have roots coming out of the bottom of the pot. Probably this Fall, but maybe next Spring. When they start developing vines pinch off the tips.
...See More
Clematis from Big Box store
Q
Comments (13)
yes, i really do want to be taken seriously. if you haven't already, please take a look at the links i provided. it's something that, honestly, i didn't think much about until i saw that frontline episode about wal-mart. and then i did a little more research --- and began to catch-on that this box store business model is a scam. you know the saying: "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is"? well, after looking into a bit, i began to realize, that yeah, the bargains being offered are being subsized through other means. five of the ten riches americans are walton (wal-mart) family. and, yet, in spite of this --- the _taxpayers_ are expected to subsidize their employees. and communities often use all sorts of packages to lure the box stores to open their doors. who pays for these packages? the community. and then the money spent in the box store flows out of the community, and into the coffers of the corporation. i know, it's not apparent at the check-out that you're actually paying more --- but you are. and maybe it means cuts in education --- while a new road is being built to the newest box store location. or maybe it means cuts in funding the education of children --- while more box store employees enroll to receive public assistance such as healthcare. and while you, personally, may have more to spend elsewhere --- the employees of the box store have less. the employees that manufacture the products sold in box stores have less (as their jobs move overseas to keep the lowest prices the boxstores demand). our landscapes are ripped-up and destroyed with new box stores. and then the box store closes, and builds a bigger box in a new location. and maybe it means the transformation of our downtowns, into ghost-towns. the local businesses close. the irony is that maybe a portion of _their_ taxes were being used to subsidize the box store. i think we need to be careful that we are not exchanging the heart & soul of our community for the pursuit of lower prices (which, we ultimately subsidize with our tax dollars). i know you don't really notice it, and you see the lower prices, and think it's a good deal. i used to think like that, too. but the more i've looked into it, the more i've started to catch-on to how this is really a scam. --robbie--
...See More
I inherited a clematis... help!
Q
Comments (4)
I was just out "deadheading" the old flowers when guess what I found?? A new bloom! yay! :) It is pretty high up there so when I get the ladder to get the rest of the old stuff off I'll try to get a pic... btw - I'm so new to gardening.... in "deadheading" should one take off the whole little bud there or just the seeds on the end? if I just take off the seed part does a new flower grow there? Thanks again everyone!
...See More
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Sam's advice is good. I've grown scores of clematis over the years, including boxed or bagged clem roots that are available almost everywhere in early spring. In fact, some of my most desirable and difficult to find clems have been obtained this way!

IME, these little starts are too small and too vulnerable to be planted out directly and should be grown on in pots until they are of adequate size and root development. If I do purchase clems in this manner I will grow them on until the root system fills a nursery 1G pot. And then plant them into the ground in fall or hold over until the next spring if not quite to that stage. And I do the same with any small potted clems - the 2.5 or 4" pots.

In my climate, cold is not a concern with these potted up starts so they are outside from the start.....but just not in the ground :-) In climates that still have the potential for some cold weather, I would wait until temps are consistently above freezing at night, then gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions. The roots in pots will be fine........it is the tender top growth that could be damaged and that is what needs to be hardened off.

And if they have top growth already - which it sounds like they do - light is essential!! Continuing to keep them in the dark will result in anemic, weak growth that will put your new vines off to a poor start.
mxk3 z5b_MI
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Yes, agree -- pot them up and set them in the window for now. They'll be fine.

ETA: You can also set them outside during the day and bring them inside overnight if weather permits -- they'll get better sun exposure that way.
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
3 years ago
Just to say, I bought a boxed Clematis over a decade ago and it's been a great Clematis all these years, good luck with yours!
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
3 years ago
Give them shade when you start putting them out. Since they started trying to grow (“ one long pale tendril of a stem coming out of each root ball”) they need light, but will sunburn if they get full outdoor sun before they have had a chance to slowly get accustomed to it. To give them bright outdoor light but not full sun, I often put plants out during the day on the north side of a structure if it above freezing, and bring them in at night. Warmer nighttime temperatures than daytime on young plants has been shown to encourage stocky, stronger stems.

Bought Clematis in a box- HELP!

Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Sam CO z5

Related Discussions

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

mxk3 z5b_MI

prairiemoon2 z6b MA

NHBabs z4b-5a NH

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US