Perennial clematis is represented by a variety of species and colors. In gardening, more than 230 species of this flowering plant are known, and only 50 of them are cultivated for home gardening. They attract gardeners with abundant flowering and simple care. Pink, blue, violet and other shades of clematis delight the eye with its abundant flowering from the very beginning of summer until the end of September (see clematis, photo presented )
Simple views and terry with a variety of combinations of shades and a
flower shape
, clematis can be
a hedge instead of a fence, colorfully decorate your terrace.
Growing clematis with small flowers is slightly different from growing large-flowered species. These curly shrubs and shrubs with proper care bloom for a long time and plentifully. Those that have small diameter flowers develop well on loose soil, subject to regular watering in the first year. Types of clematis with large flowers need reverent care for them. Originally from the subtropics, they cannot stand drought, like regular watering, but are light-loving.
In order for clematis to bloom long and intensively, you need to grow a wide bush, and the more shoots grow from it in the spring, the more flowers will be on the plant.
How to start growing clematis
Successful Clematis cultivation begins with the right choice of place. Therefore, the plant needs to provide a sunny, sheltered from the winds, but it should not be the sunny south side: overheating for clematis is as dangerous as prolonged drought. Clematis is a water-loving plant, so it must be regularly watered, then loosened, and mulched with sawdust or peat.
For winter, perennials are pruned depending on the type of clematis. Small-flowered flowers are removed from the support and the shoots are laid in a ring, covering well from the coming frosts.
Plants with large flowers are pruned above the soil itself, then in the spring the bush will let out strong shoots that will bloom for a long time.
If you purchased an annual small plant, it is better to plant it in the spring, when there are no frosts or in mid-autumn, covering it with a small layer of fallen leaves for the winter. When planting, it is well watered with water, making holes around the planted plant.
Clematis soon take root and give the first shoots. At first it will be 3-4 shoots, but in the second or third year, with proper care, the bush will expand. Already in the first summer after planting, the plant can please the first flower, it is nipped off for the correct formation of the bush.
Successful Clematis cultivation is possible on fertile soil. Plants do not like too hard ground, so humus and sand are added to the soil. Shrubs should also be fertilized regularly: with organic or mineral fertilizers 2 times a month.
Clematis is growing rapidly. Depending on the species, they produce shoots from 1 to several meters. Therefore, they need to put up supports, ladders almost immediately after the appearance of the first shoots in early spring.
Clematis Reproduction
In order to breed
clematis, reproduction is possible by seeds, cuttings and layering. Seeds germinate for a long period - from 1 year to 3 years. Therefore, the fact that the seeds do not grow, there is no reason to worry. It remains to wait. This option is more suitable for breeders.
Clematis is propagated by cuttings. Cuttings can be prepared from lignified stems, but not old. To do this, take the middle part of the stem, cut into several cuttings with 3-4 sleeping buds. Rooted in peat, sand, fixing the cuttings at an angle. Cover with a film or a jar. The soil around the cuttings is regularly moistened.
The most optimal option for breeding clematis is reproduction by layering. To do this, take a long shoot in the fall, bend it above the ground and pinch it with a dart in several places, cover it with earth or pebbles for rooting. So leave until spring, covering the fallen leaves. In the spring, already rooted shoots are disconnected and transplanted to a permanent place.
In order for the flowers of this perennial to please you every year, you must understand that growing clematis requires constant proper care.