Clematis Question Please

[chickadeedeedee]

I've been outside weeding the flower beds and doing some planting. I have found at least six clematis plants in random areas. Judging from their size, I would believe they germinated last year from seeds set by the clematis we planted.

How old does the plant need to be before it starts to flower? We have several varieties of clematis so don't know whose seeds sprouted. Perhaps they even cross pollinated and we'll have a new variety!

Thanks.

[plocket]

Hia C3D - it depends on the variety. I've had alpinas flower the following year, but some take longer. And some set from seed more easily from others too. I'm afraid you are just going to have to play the waiting game, and that could be a few years :

Px

[chickadeedeedee]

Hi there Miss Plocket and thanks for taking the time to reply.

I have no idea who these are but I suspect they are the Fall flowering clematis. I'm on my way out the door and will see where I can transplant them so they can take their sweet time and do what they need to do.

Thanks again.

C with 3 Ds

[plocket]

I hope they flower sooner rather than later C3D because I'd love to know what they are. The only clem that's ever self-seeded in my garden is the Tangutica. I've not been growing them all that long though so there's still plenty of time

Px

[chickadeedeedee]

I hope so too Plocket. But I have patience. There was a rose that germinated in the lawn. After two years we thought it big enough to transplant and after another 3-4 years it bloomed! It blooms only once a year and is loaded with bright pink flowers. I think the plant is now about 10 years old and huge. The most amazing thing about the volunteer rose is it has maybe 3 thorns on the whole bush!

We also have volunteer hosta, silk trees, and many more plants. Usually once or twice a year we put the extra plants out in the front yard for people to adopt. Free to good home. LOL!

I'll keep you posted on their progress. Thanks again.

C3D

[plocket]

I love the idea of "volunteer" plants - nice name! I look forward to news in the future

[4pygmies]

So do I! What a great way to describe self seeders.

[sweetleaf]

4pygmies said:

So do I! What a great way to describe self seeders.

It is, isnt it?

[chickadeedeedee]

Wish I could take credit for the term but that's what we call them here. If there are too many they become weeds. LOL! Our Silk Tree and Silver Maple trees are weeds. Hundreds of seedlings everywhere!

[maggyd]

Can someone tell me what they water there Clems with? mine this year have been very poor the flowers on them that have flowered have been very small! I know they like a handfull of lime scattered around the base (which I havent done for a few years now) I must get some more! But is they anything else that would perk them up?

[Sleepy]

Nov 3, 2008 23:36:30 GMT 1 @maggyd said:

Can someone tell me what they water there Clems with? mine this year have been very poor the flowers on them that have flowered have been very small! I know they like a handfull of lime scattered around the base (which I havent done for a few years now) I must get some more! But is they anything else that would perk them up?

It's a bit of an over-simplification , but plants use 3 main nutrients:

K - Potash - for flowering
P - Phosphates - for rootgrowth
N - Nitrates - for leaf growth

So, to promote early good root growth use a nutrient source high in phosphates.

You can encourage better leaf growth with one higher in nitrates.

But to promote flowers you should use one higher in potash

Chempak do a range of products that bias themselves in the direction of choice.

www.chempak.co.uk/product1.html

www.halcyonplants.co.uk/index.php?page=product_details&product_id=135

[maggyd]

Its one high on Potash then Sleepy as they werent short one growth or leaves just tiny flowers on three plants and I know one might be a miniture bt not all of them.

[Sleepy]

Nov 3, 2008 23:58:23 GMT 1 @maggyd said:

Its one high on Potash then Sleepy as they werent short one growth or leaves just tiny flowers on three plants and I know one might be a miniture bt not all of them.

Exactly:

www.halcyonplants.co.uk/index.php?page=product_details&product_id=135

[plocket]

Hia Maggy! Sleepy has been very specific with his excellent science lesson (which I never remember!). I would add that clematis are hungry plants and will be happy with anything extra. I have a wormery so feed my clematis with the juice from that, I feed with chicken manure pellets two or three times a year and also water with a high-potash feed when I remember. Rose or tomato food is high in potash so if you have those you don't have to buy anything special. I should also point out that you can now buy special Clematis food. I'd hunt around if I were you because it usually works out more expensive than a general high potash food.

[maggyd]

Thanks Plocket no wonder my Clems are poor! Ive been starving them I cant remember when I paid attention to just them! the whole garden gets scattered with chicken pellets and general purpose but since we got this little gannet (teddy) two years ago anything he sees that is possibly edible is eaten and the smellier the better . Thanks for your advice. maggy.

[plocket]

Poor Clems!! Teddy eats chicken manure pellets? Naughty Teddy! ;D You could try putting netting or something around the bottoms of the plants, and putting the pellets inside the netting. Mind you he'll probably try and dig for the pellets then!

[chickadeedeedee]

Clematis are heavy feeders? I didn't know and don't remember if we ever specially fed them other than a general feeding in the spring to all the plants plus top dressing the beds with compost a few times a year. Thanks for the information.

The volunteer clematis plants are all the fall flowering variety. BIG and beautiful!