Master the tricks of clematis care and enjoy branches full of blooms with ease

Vine

 Beautiful Life

Xiao Ke 

00:00/04:26

Clematis

When it comes to vines, you cannot avoid clematis. Known as the queen of vines, this "little iron" has diverse varieties, different sizes, rich flower colors, and simple yet charming flower shapes, and it is increasingly loved by enthusiasts in China.

But many flower lovers hesitate for a long time at the doorstep of getting into it. With too many varieties and no understanding of care, many beginners feel helpless... So today let us tackle these problems starting from basic care~

1. Pot selection for clematis

For 1-year and 2-year seedlings, generally choose a pot with a height of 20-25 cm. For 3-year seedlings, generally choose a pot with a height of 30-40 cm. The diameter of the pot opening is not important. Cymbidium pots and gallon pots are best. If the pot is too tall, drainage and aeration will be poor, so the bottom must be lined with crushed stone or expanded clay.

2. Soil for clematis

Clematis has fleshy roots and needs loose, breathable, well-draining soil. Ordinary garden soil is too sticky and has poor aeration, so clematis roots rot easily, and therefore it is not recommended for container growing. Those who do not want the hassle can use branded nutrient soil such as Miracle-Gro. But it is expensive and not very cost-effective.

The formula used by Hua Shao is peat : perlite = 4:1. Peat provides water retention and fertilizer retention and is very loose, while perlite ensures aeration. Add a small amount of rice husk charcoal (very cheap to buy online) to loosen the soil and improve fertility.

3. Watering and fertilizing

Watering clematis should alternate between dry and wet. Wait until the soil 2 or 3 cm below the surface is dry, or the pot soil feels relatively light, and then water. In addition to the base fertilizer added when repotting, during the two peak growing seasons of spring and autumn, we can add water-soluble fertilizer such as Huaduoduo when watering, about once a week. Concentration 1000 times. That is, 1 gram of Huaduoduo powder mixed with 1 liter of water. Use Huaduoduo No. 1 during the growing period, and Huaduoduo No. 2 during the bud stage and flowering stage to promote flowering. Just pour it into the flowerpot; spraying is not needed and can easily cause deformed flowers.

4. Pruning clematis

Prune appropriately after flowering, and a second flush will bloom in 40-60 days. A few varieties only bloom in spring, such as Montana and evergreen types; just cut off spent flowers and excess branches. A few varieties have fewer summer and autumn flowers, and the color and flower shape are not attractive, such as Pink Champagne, Doctor Ruppel, and Bee's Jubilee. For most other varieties, it is recommended to prune only the spent flowers after flowering, and around the end of July, cut off the nodes that have already bloomed, so that a concentrated autumn bloom can appear around October.

Type 1 varieties (no pruning): Macropetala, evergreen, and Montana; just remove dead leaves. Type 2 varieties (light pruning): prune starting from nodes without plump buds.

Pruning tip for Group F: Group F can be pruned very freely; no pruning, light pruning, or heavy pruning are all fine, but light pruning is recommended. Recently Group F has already sprouted; just cut off the branches that have not sprouted.

Type 3 varieties (heavy pruning): Type 3 varieties are treated as Integrifolia and Italian types. Integrifolia types are heavily pruned close to the ground, while Italian types are recommended to be pruned leaving 3-7 nodes on the branches. I will skip the photos to save effort; for Italian types, refer to Type 2.

Summary of key points for growing clematis:

Varieties: Late-flowering large-flowered group, Italian group, Texas group, and Integrifolia group, these 4 types of clematis are hardier and easier to grow.

Purchasing: Choose to buy from shops with high ratings, and never be greedy for cheap prices, to avoid buying counterfeit goods.

Planting location: Best outdoors, and ventilation and light must be good.

Growing medium: Branded nutrient soil or peat : perlite = 4:1. Ordinary garden soil is not recommended.

Flowerpot selection: One size larger is enough; do not be greedy for a big pot.

Watering: Alternate between dry and wet.

Fertilizing: Apply base fertilizer when repotting every spring, and use water-soluble fertilizer during the peak growing seasons in spring and autumn.

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