With lavishly flowering tendrils, clematis climb meter-high facades, adorn trellis arches and decorate trellises. To ensure that the queen of climbing plants holds court in your garden for many years, elementary aspects of care must be taken into account. You can find well-founded answers to the most frequently asked questions about the skillful cultivation of a clematis here.
How do I properly care for a clematis?
In order to properly care for a clematis, you should pay attention to a sunny to partially shaded location, a good supply of water without waterlogging and regular fertilization with special fertilizer. In addition, pruning according to the cutting group is important for the growth and flowering of the plant.
How do I plant a clematis correctly in the bed?
The pivotal point of proper planting is the correct planting depth. Dig a hole twice as deep as the root ball is long. Place the potted young plant 7-10 centimeters deeper than it was previously in the nursery pot. At least 1-2 pairs of buds go underground. Ideally, you should align the root ball slightly diagonally towards the climbing aid.
What should you pay particular attention to when caring for a clematis?
So that a clematis doesn't just have a short stint in the garden, care should ensure a balanced water and nutrient balance. Regular watering is just as important as well-dosed fertilization from spring to autumn with a special fertilizer for clematis. In addition, pruning plays a central role in successful care. Belonging to one of three cutting groups within the Clematis species provides clues as to the right time.
Where do clematis bloom particularly beautifully?
So that the clematis shows what flower magic it is capable of, the location should be chosen like this:
- Sunny to partially shaded location without blazing sun at midday
- Protected from strong winds, drafts and pelting rain
- Nutritious, humus-rich soil with first-class drainage
It is an advantage if the root area is shaded a little. Where the location does not naturally meet this requirement, experienced clematis experts plant a shallow-rooted underplant, such as blue cushions, asters or chamomile.
Is the planting distance the same for each clematis?
The species affiliation defines the planting distance of a clematis in the bed and pot. While a Clematis alpina is content with 50-80 centimeters, a majestic Clematis montana requires up to 150 centimeters. The impressive Clematis vitalba should be planted at a distance of 200-400 centimeters. A lower value of 30-35 centimeters is accepted in the pot, as only the relatively short hybrids thrive here anyway.
What should the earth be like?
The impressive growth power and flowering ability of a clematis is based primarily on a soil whose structure meets the highest demands. A high nutrient content is one of the basic requirements, as is a pronounced humus content. A slight lime content is desirable, which you can create by adding a handful of sand. Loosen compacted soil with compost, horn shavings and bark humus to prevent dangerous waterlogging from forming.
Is there an ideal planting time for clematis?
The optimal planting time for clematis in the garden is from August to October. At this time the soil is warm to the sun at 14 to 22 degrees, so the roots establish quickly. The young climbing plants then start their first season with a vital growth lead. For clematis in pots, the time window for planting in spring opens from June onwards, as the substrate in the planter warms up more quickly.
How long does the flowering period last?
The multifaceted Clematis family scores with a rich diversity of species, equipped with different flowering times. To enjoy the lavish splendor of colors from early spring until deep into autumn, simply combine the following clematis species and their varieties:
- Clematis alpina and macropetala: flowering period from February/March to May/June and re-blooming in August/September
- Clematis viticella and montana: flowering period from May/June to August/September
- Clematis florida and orientalis: flowering period from June/July to September/October
Some autumn-flowering clematis are also decorated with shimmering silver seed heads, especially the yellow-flowering Clematis tangutica.
How should clematis be trimmed properly?
The divergent flowering times result in corresponding time corridors for pruning, coupled with adequate pruning. In order to maintain an overview of the more than 400 Clematis species, the experts created 3 cutting groups. Belonging to one of these cutting groups defines both the time frame and the scope of this central care measure. The following overview serves as orientation:
- Pruning group 1: spring-flowering clematis cut after flowering in June, only if necessary by half
- Pruning group 2: Clean out twice-flowering clematis after the first flowering. The main pruning takes place in late autumn.
- Pruning group 3: radically cut back summer-flowering clematis after flowering in November/December
While an early-flowering clematis does not necessarily require pruning, a bold cut of summer-flowering species and varieties down to 20 or 30 centimeters is essential for a lush abundance of flowers next year. Regardless of the cutting group, each clematis is cut to a height of 20 centimeters in late autumn of the planting year.
What mistakes should be avoided when watering?
The sunnier the location, the thirstier the clematis. Therefore, water the climbing plant regularly and extensively without causing waterlogging. Since there is always a risk of clematis wilt in connection with moisture, the plant must not be irrigated via flowers and leaves to provide water. Always apply irrigation water directly to the root area.
Do clematis need to be fertilized?
Clematis are not food lovers. A balanced supply of nutrients is therefore one of the main pillars of comprehensive care. How to handle it correctly:
- Provide with special fertilizer for clematis from March to September according to the manufacturer's dosage instructions
- Alternatively, fertilize organically every 1-2 weeks with compost, horn shavings and comfrey manure
If the pH value of the soil falls into the acidic range below 5.5, add an additional portion of vital lime or rock powder.
What diseases can clematis be affected by?
There are two fungal diseases in particular that affect clematis. Both infections spread in warm, humid weather. Clematis wilt can be recognized by brown leaf spots with a yellow vestibule that spread and cause the entire plant to wilt within a few days. An infestation with powdery mildew results in a gray to mealy-white patina on the upper or lower sides of the foliage.
Which pests target clematis?
If a clematis is attacked by pests, it is usually one of the usual suspects in the hobby garden. First and foremost are aphids, closely followed by thrips and black weevils.
How do clematis overwinter in the garden?
The vast majority of local clematis prove to be hardy in the garden. If you are cultivating a frost-sensitive clematis or simply want to be on the safe side, protect the plant from frost and snow. To do this, the root area is piled up with leaves, brushwood, straw or sawdust. Long tendrils are covered with jute or garden fleece. However, potted plants should be relocated to a frost-free, cool winter quarters.
Can I propagate a clematis with cuttings?
When a clematis is in full bloom, it produces an abundance of vital cuttings. It is best to cut out several he althy shoots with a length of 12-15 centimeters between two leaf nodes from the center of the plant. After treating with rooting powder, place two thirds of each cutting in lean substrate. Watered regularly, under a transparent hood in a partially shaded place, a cutting takes a few weeks to several months to develop roots.
Which clematis thrive in pots?
These are the richly flowering hybrids that do their best even in a pot. With a growth height of 100 to 250 centimeters, they are content with the limited substrate volume of a bucket, as long as at least 30-40 liters are available. In addition, a climbing aid should be integrated.
Is clematis poisonous?
The plant genus Clematis is classified as a member of the buttercup family. This fact implies that the plant sap contains the toxin protoanemonin. This alkaloid is hazardous to human and animal he alth. The poison can cause painful inflammation on the skin, so protective clothing and gloves must be worn during all planting and care work. Additionally, pets should not nibble on a clematis.
Why isn't my clematis blooming?
If a clematis lacks the colorful flowers, there could be various reasons behind it:
- An unsuitable location
- Unbalanced nutrient supply
- Too little or too much water
- Pruning at the wrong time
If it is a young clematis, give it 1-3 years until it blooms for the first time. As a rule, clematis initially develop sufficient leaf volume in order to then produce the first buds.
What helps against brown leaves?
If brown leaves appear on the lower tendrils, action is urgently needed. This symptom indicates clematis wilting, especially on large-flowered hybrids. This is how you proceed now:
- In the early stages of infection, cut out all brown leaves
- Wilt sets in on the entire clematis, cut back to just above the ground
- Treat immediately with an approved fungicide
What to do if leaves turn yellow?
A lack of nutrients causes yellow leaves on clematis. Therefore, check whether you are providing the climbing plant with enough fertilizer. If so, the soil pH should be tested. Acidic soil inhibits nutrient absorption, even if enough fertilizer has been applied. In this case, the administration of rock powder or vital lime provides relief.
Trivia
With a flower diameter of up to 30 centimeters, the hybrids Clematis 'Madame Le Coultre' and 'Nelly Moser' have what it takes for the winner's podium. By the way, such a record is still missing from the Guinness Book of Records.
Beautiful varieties
- The President: world-famous classic with dark blue flowers
- Nelly Moser: twice-flowering clematis with pink flowers and red stripes
- Chalcedony: large-flowered beauty with double flowers in ice blue
- Rhapsody: award-winning, mauve-blue summer bloomer
- Dark Eyes: autumn-flowering variety with purple-violet flowers
- Jackmanii: lavish abundance of flowers until September in bright purple
- Mikelite: the ideal clematis for the pot with purple-red flowers in summer
- Kermesina: an Italian clematis with remarkable resistance
- Carnaby: the pink and pink flowering clematis impresses with its complete winter hardiness
- Caroline: develops her pink flower dress even in a sunny to partially shaded location