Clematis in the wild has 14 species and is distributed almost throughout the globe. Most of them are woody, but there are also grassy specimens. As for garden varieties, which are about 3 hundred, they are mostly hybrid. More often found in the form of vines with beautiful flowers in different shades. Gardeners use them to decorate individual flower beds, fences or arbors. These predominantly perennial plants reproduce more often in a vegetative way, but the cultivation of clematis from seeds is often practiced. True, some varieties require further vaccination.
Types of Clematis
Garden clematis, numbering about 300 different varieties, are divided into 6 groups.
- The first, called Jacqueman, includes fairly large creepers, reaching 4 meters or more with large flowers, mostly purple hues that appear in the summer.
- The second group, Patens, is very spectacular (up to 15 cm in diameter), often double single flowers. They appear on last year's shoots, can be both light and bright purple shades.
- The Florida group combines plants with a very different, mostly light color. These clematis bloom in late spring or early summer.
- Lanuginoza is a medium-sized liana (up to 2.5 m).
- Clematis with bell-shaped flowers are combined in the Integrifolia group. Among them are found both curly and ordinary shrubs. Bells, mainly large, appear on shoots in the summer.
- Medium-sized pink-red creepers are Vititsella.
Natural clematis
In addition to garden ones, wild clematis are often found in decorating the exterior.
- The common clematis, naturally growing in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Western Europe, is a heat-loving climbing shrub. In winter, it requires shelter, because it does not tolerate frosts.
- Alpine clematis, being from Central Europe, is more resistant to harsh climate. It is a medium-sized woody vine.
Clematis cultivation
With the right approach, the shrub quickly takes root in a new place and delights others with its delicate flowers for the first year of planting in the ground. Beginning gardeners, as a rule, consider growing clematis from seeds a troublesome business and prefer to buy young shrubs. Most clematis root well if you dig the shoot with earth. Therefore, reproduction by layering is often used. This must be done in the spring before flowering, in order to get new formed bushes to frost . Planting clematis with seeds, depending on the time of year, is carried out either directly in the ground or in separate containers for wintering indoors.
Propagation of various varieties
As a rule, the cultivation of clematis from seeds is successful if you select small-flowered species that are closest to wild ones. The more complex the hybrid, the less likely it is that the event will be successful. Some large-flowered varieties can not be obtained at home in principle. They are bought in nurseries in the form of seedlings or young shrubs.
One of the most common clematis in a temperate climate is Manchurian clematis. Growing from seeds of this variety is quite successful, since it is as close as possible to a wild-growing variety. Liana is cold-resistant and, although her flowers are not too large and catchy (mostly white), she looks very elegant.
Fans of bright bells can recommend clematis Tangutsky. Growing from seeds of this variety is a more complex process, but quite possible. Gardeners appreciate it for frost resistance, flowering time and the ability to plant in pots or tubs. The Tangut clematis is a climbing vine, so it needs a steady support. Yellow bells on clematis appear in late May and continue to delight others until the fall, sometimes intermittently.
Another popular cold-resistant clematis is Helios. Growing from seeds of this variety is quite popular. But this should be done either in the house or in closed ground, since this clematis is frost-resistant only in the formed plant.
If you sow the seeds of clematis with large double flowers, then they will surely sprout, grow, but do not repeat the beauty of the mother bush. Such clematis require complex vaccination, and with generative reproduction in everyday life they simply degenerate. So it’s better to buy ready-made shrubs.
How and when seeds are harvested
Depending on the plant variety, they can ripen in the summer or early fall. If you are thinking about how to grow clematis from seeds, they should, of course, first be collected and prepared. Their size and appearance largely depend on the plant variety. But even on one shrub large, medium and small seeds can appear. Therefore, the first thing to do after collecting them is to sort by size. Large and medium should be planted separately, and small ones should be discarded. Sometimes they use planting material bought in a store. In this case, sorting is not required. Clematis seeds can be planted in the spring in the open ground or in the fall in the room (greenhouse). In order for the germination to be good, and the seedlings are strong and resistant to diseases, it is necessary to stratify (harden) the material. In spring planting, this is achieved simply by proper storage (in a dark place at a temperature of about +5 degrees), and in winter it is best to pre-hold them in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. In this way, an imitation of the natural environment will be recreated in which clematis is planted with seeds in late summer or early fall (they fall from plants), after which they winter, covered only with leaves and snow.
Soil and watering
The cultivation of clematis from seeds is best done in special boxes. In the spring they can be left on the street, and in the winter they will fit perfectly on the windowsill or loggia. The soil for seedlings needs nutritious. The ideal option is a mixture of humus, sand, earth and ash. Clematis sprout quite a long time - from 3 weeks to 3 months, depending on the variety and conditions. All this time, the soil must be moistened periodically, but not overfilled. For those who first carry out the seeding of clematis, it is recommended for the experiment clematis Manchu. Growing from the seeds of this particular variety gives a guaranteed result (of course, if the seedlings are not transfused and not frozen). And even with a successful combination of circumstances, you can take on more capricious varieties.
The ideal planting depth should be 2-3 times the size of the seed itself. From above it is best to fill it with clean river sand and lightly tamp. Running through sand makes it easier to break out.
Transplant to the ground
If clematis is sown in autumn, then by mid-spring they will be ready to move to a permanent place. This should be done only after the threat of night frost has passed, since young plants are unstable to cold, regardless of their variety. The landing site should be chosen based on the fact that most clematis love light, and it is better to leave their root part in the shade. Well, and, of course, we must not forget that the vines curl, and therefore, they need good support. When choosing a landing site, you must also ensure that it is as protected from the wind as possible, as clematis are sensitive to drafts.
Growing clematis from seeds in spring suggests that seedlings will be ready for fall. It is best to leave young shrubs in a box and keep them warm until the end of winter. But you can plant in the ground in the fall. In this case, it is necessary to warm the clematis well so that they do not freeze. This is done with straw or film, depending on climatic conditions.
Graft
Many experienced gardeners are interested in how to grow clematis from seeds with large double flowers. Some consider this event knowingly doomed to failure and simply prefer to buy a shrub. For others, this may be a matter of principle. Capricious varieties of seeds, as a rule, are not grown, but are planted on more resistant species. It is better to do this in pots, covering the plant with a jar, which is removed after the cuttings grow together. They are planted in a permanent place only next spring. Clematis is inoculated in any of the ways, the main thing is to do it quickly so that the places of the slices do not have time to dry. More successful results give greener cuttings.
Potted growing
Most types of clematis feel good if they are planted not in open ground, but in a container with soil. In this case, for the winter, the plant can be sheltered in warmth, and with the onset of spring, it can be taken outside. A pot for clematis should be selected large (at least 20 liters). To form a plant, it is necessary to use a stable support. Every 3-4 years the vine is transplanted. Lomonos in pots should be regularly watered and fed.
Clematis - beautiful decorative creepers, with the help of which they decorate any open space. They are not very whimsical, there are even frost-resistant varieties. And you can grow them both in open ground and in flower pots.