Clematis not flowering?

I tend to just stick them in as I do with everything lol.
However I do try to plant them deeper than when bought.
I have a few that are 2 - 3 yrs old and still no flowers.
Next time I shall follw your advice and plant in October and feed with suitable fertilizer. Thanks for this information - very useful :o)

Good blog... I shall be reading the comments :o)

Interesting blog.

I have some mature Clematis that grow against my south facing house wall. I remember being very careful about keeping the roots in the shade when I planted them. They increased in size gradually.
I was told by a grower when I bought some Delphiniums to keep them in a pot to build up a strong root system before putting them out. Sounds similar drc.

Im inclined to do as Hywel does....but thanks for the advice Drc.... i have two in pots, ready to go into the ground and i didnt know when to do this...now is the time then....

glad you posted this blog Denise, mine arent doing to well except the Alpinus one which has gone mad but still could do with a few more flowers, the rest of my clems which i have about 5 others not so good, but after reading this its early days but will feed them and hope for best, two of them seem to be growing but then the stems and leaves went brown and died, so cut them off, now new shoots but to late, anyway hope they do something next year, thanx ;o)

i bought a clematis seabold a while ago and its got buds on already dont know if they will open this year or not.. im hoping they will.....

I now never give up on a Clematis Sanbaz -both of the above took over 4 years to really flower? I am a great believer in shading the roots with their heads in the sun Linda - it works for me. Hope you see some open this year Hollyeves 2 of mine have new flowers this week.

i do shade the roots denise, but maybe some of mine dont get enough sun, but they do get sun part of the day, will give them a bit longer and see what happens,

Great advice Denise. Personally, I dig hole and stick them in...deep...and then water them well and feed them occasionally. I read one GOYer who advised taking off all the flower buds in the first year to promote healthy root growth. I'm sure that's very sound advice too, but who could bear to do it? not me!!

San, they do need to be kept moist all the time, and they really do like a good feed as well. I bet they'll be great next year, unless they wilt of course!!.....why oh why do I have an obsession with such an unpredictable plant? lol. Maybe that's part of the attraction...when they are beautiful like Denise's here, you feel you've really accomplished something!

thanx karen that happened with one it grew nice stems and leaves, then lots of buds,,, then it just wilted on me, i was gutted karen ;o(

I know exactly how you feel San! ;)

Some seem to get wilt when young and it stops when they get mature they 2 above did. I wouldnt worry about the sun yet Sanbaz as they get some and will grow towards more?

I think half the time wilting is caused by lack of water and wind damage Denise.

thanx denise,
karen we had nothing but rain again if you remember so not a lack of water here,so i will put it down to being young as denise said i think.

When planting clematis, I make a good large hole and mix some general feed and bonemeal (which promotes root growth) in the bottom. Plant slighltly deeper than in the pot, firm well, water generously and stand well back. Every spring, they get another good feed plus a mulch of garden compost if there is enough to spare. Some varieties seem to take longer to flower than others but they all get there in the end

See...there's another proper gardener! ;)

if I buy the small starter clems I pot them for at least a year before they go into the ground, I've learnt from experience that they will survive much better.
Your comment on wind and lack of water causing wilt is useful Karen, some of my even more reliable ones died back early, which I'm sure was due to not enough water, even though I did it regularly (my soil is extremely free draining :-(( )

Yes Grindle, and perhaps you would benefit from adding some organic matter around those clems then. My problems are more to do with wind!! ;)

Sanbaz true 'Clematis Wilt' is a fungal disease -Phoma Clematidina which can find its way into the plant - from stem damage, as it can be fatal its best to cut right back if you suspect wilt. But 'Non true wilt' is caused by damage such as pests like slugs and this happened to one of mine this year. Hopefully this is what happened to yours? and all will be well.

Karen I wonder what you mean by 'proper gardener' would you like to explain so as not to cause a misunderstanding. I consider myself a proper gardener (if there is such a thing) over 30 years and 5 of them I did from scratch!

Of course you are Denise, I was only kidding and it was about me myself not being a proper gardener! Not as a reflection on anyone else...I would never do that! So sorry if I have caused offence to anyone! I only meant that I don't plant my clematis 'properly' like they say to in the books!

Thanks Karen