Some of the loveliest clematis thrive in pots. In order for the beautiful flowers to give their best, important aspects for professional planting and care come into focus. Here you get the horticultural tools for the optimal cultivation of a clematis in a pot.
How to plant clematis in a pot with skill
In order for a clematis to grow and bloom as desired, the perfect bucket must not be less than 30 liters in volume. A floor opening for water drainage is indispensable, because waterlogging destroys any hope of a magnificent specimen. As a substrate, we recommend high-quality potting soil, enriched with compost, sand and a handful of perlite.
- A 5-8 centimeter layer of gravel or grit (€46.95) serves as drainage on the bottom of the pot
- Fill the bucket halfway with fresh substrate
- Plant the potted clematis 7-10 centimeters deeper than before in the nursery pot
- Ideally, use the root ball at a slight angle in the direction of the climbing aid
- Mulch with pine bark, expanded clay (19.73€) or bark mulch and water generously
Choose a spot for the potted clematis where it will stretch its tendrils towards the sun while the foot is in the shade. Attach the lower shoots to the struts of the climbing aid so that the clematis can climb up them.
Tips for the best care
So that the clematis spreads its paradisiacal flair in the pot, it depends on this care:
- Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist
- Always pour the clematis directly onto the root ball and not over the flowers and leaves
- Apply a liquid fertilizer rich in potassium every 4 weeks from March to September
- Where there is no underplanting, regularly renew the mulch layer
Pruning is fundamental to the proper care of a potted clematis. Spring-blooming 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.
Hibernating clematis in a pot - this is how it works
The coldest winter does not cause the hobby gardener any worries, as there is a bright, frost-free winter quarters available for the clematis. Where this is not the case, slide a piece of wood or styrofoam under the bucket. In addition, pack the planter thickly in bubble wrap and put a hood made of jute or garden fleece over the shoots.
tips and tricks
If you choose the right variety, the clematis in the pot will spoil you twice a year with an enchanting bloom. Magnificent hybrids such as the clematis 'Königskind' or 'Mrs. George Jackman' flowers in both May/June and August/September. The beauties accomplish this feat if they are simply trimmed after the first flowering. The climbing artists only get the main cut after the second flowering in November.