Clematis gentianoidese

 

Do you grow C. gentianoides, I have plants, but find that I struggle with them. Usually when I get plants they are grown in very rich compost and there is usually a lot of root damage. I have found that they do not survive the winter in a cold greenhouse if left in this compost. I usually wash off all the old compost cut away any black roots, dust with yellow sulphur and pot on into my open alpine mix, which is suitable for my collection of NZ clematis. I find growth seems to be slow when using this mix but the plants survive the winter. Do you think extra feed is required, stopping in August? When to prune? How to get more flowers?

 

Any info from anyone who grows this plant successfully would be most helpful.

 

My latest plant was obviously propogated in one of the jiffey bags, I have carefully removed this bag, as invarably I find that if left intact the crown of the plant rots over winter. The use of these bags or the rockwool prop cells may be an advantage to the grower, but for the gardener I find they are a nightmare as invarably they suck up too much moisture at the crown of the plant causing rot at this point.

 

Best wishes

 

Roy W Nunn