Air layering clematis with a mineral water bottle: simple and easier to root than water propagation from cuttings

On August 1 last year I air-layered a clematis 'Pink Champagne', and it actually grew quite a lot of roots in one go (37 days in total), visible right through the wall of the mineral water bottle, so I cut it off and planted it while I had the time.

The new plant obtained by air layering is very sturdy, with 6 offshoots

I couldn't bear to throw away the half mineral water bottle I had taken off (a hole was burned in the bottom, and the side wall was cut open with a utility knife), so I continued air layering in the afternoon.

Score the clematis stem with a small knife at the spot where you want roots to form, then carefully slip the clematis into the plastic bottle through the side wall, and tape it together with a bamboo stake. As for scoring the stem, this absolutely does not mean cutting it through; if the stem were cut through, wouldn't that make it a cutting? For layering propagation of flowers with thicker stems, such as roses, the stem generally needs to be ring-barked, but because clematis stems are too thin, ring-barking easily breaks them (I've tried it), so I simply make a few small cuts on the stem with a small knife at the part where roots are needed (just breaking through the brown outer skin is enough), with the cuts staggered high and low.

Fill in peat, press it firm, then water thoroughly

Done. From now on, just keep the peat in the bottle moist, and care for the mother plant with normal routine maintenance.

The flower blooming right now