Some of the most beautiful clematis thrive wonderfully in pots. To ensure that the flower beauties give their best, important aspects of professional planting and care come into focus. Here you will find the gardening tools for the optimal cultivation of a clematis in a pot.
How do I plant clematis in a pot correctly?
To plant clematis in a pot, you need a pot with at least 30 liters volume, pot plant soil, gravel or grit, a climbing aid and mulch. The clematis should be positioned 7-10 cm deeper than in the nursery pot and close to the climbing aid.
How to plant clematis in a pot with skill
In order for the growth and flowering of a clematis to proceed as desired, the perfect pot must not have a volume of less than 30 liters. An opening in the bottom to drain water is essential, as waterlogging destroys any hope of a magnificent specimen. As a substrate, we recommend high-quality pot plant soil (€18.00 on Amazon), enriched with compost, sand and a handful of perlite. This is how you plant the clematis in the pot professionally:
- A 5-8 centimeter high layer of gravel or grit on the bottom of the pot serves as drainage
- Fill the bucket halfway with fresh substrate
- Plant the potted clematis 7-10 centimeters deeper than before in the nursery pot
- Ideally, insert the root ball at a slight angle towards the climbing aid
- Mulch with pine bark, expanded clay or bark mulch and water generously
Choose a location for the clematis in the pot where it stretches its tendrils towards the sun while the base is in the shade. Attach the lower shoots to the struts of the climbing aid so that the clematis can wind its way up.
Tips for the best care
So that the clematis spreads its paradisiacal flair in the pot, this care is important:
- Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist
- Always water the clematis directly onto the root ball and not over the flowers and leaves
- Administer a potassium-rich liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks from March to September
- Where underplanting is not necessary, renew the mulch layer regularly
Pruning is of fundamental importance for the proper care of a clematis in a pot. Spring-flowering varieties should only be cut back by half after flowering. A late-flowering clematis receives its annual pruning either in November/December or February/March on a frost-free day.
Overwintering clematis in a pot – this is how it works
The coldest winter does not cause any worries for the hobby gardener, as the clematis have a bright, frost-free winter quarters available. If this is not the case, slide a wooden or Styrofoam base under the bucket. In addition, wrap the planter thickly in bubble wrap and put a hood made of jute or garden fleece over the shoots.
Tips & Tricks
If you choose the right variety, the clematis in the pot will pamper you with an enchanting bloom twice a year. Magnificent hybrids such as the Clematis 'Königskind' or 'Mrs. George Jackman' bloom in both May/June and August/September. The beauties achieve this feat if they are simply cleaned out after the first flowering. The climbing artists only receive the actual main cut after the second flowering in November.
