How to plant Blue Light clematis

Clematis has long and firmly won the sympathy of gardeners and landscape designers. These unpretentious climbing plants are ideal for vertical gardening of premises, terraces, gazebos, vertical elements of garden design. The variety of their varieties allows each owner of the site to choose the most suitable variety that meets his wishes and needs. Large-flowered clematis are most popular due to their spectacular appearance - they can be used to decorate a garden plot, regardless of its area, as well as a balcony and a separate flower garden. One of the most common varieties of large-flowered vines is the Blue Light clematis. Like other clematis, it is distinguished by its undemanding nature and resistance to various diseases. Combined with the ability to bloom twice a season, these qualities make it very popular among domestic gardeners. This article will focus on the rules for caring for Blue Light clematis, which will allow you to plant and grow it without any problems in a garden plot or on a balcony.

Briefly about clematis

The appearance of Clematis "Blue Light" can be judged by the name of the variety, which is translated from English as "blue light". The petals of these delicate flowers are light blue in color, harmoniously combined with the green background of the foliage.

Like other clematis, "Blue Light" refers to flowering vines - its shoots can climb up the walls of buildings and vertical supports using leaf petioles that cling to the surface of the support. This ability of clematis allows it to be widely used for vertical gardening. With its help, it is possible to effectively decorate garden arches, gazebos, verandas, fences and trellises. Clematis also successfully takes root on supports of natural origin - its shoots picturesquely twine around the trunks of conifers and deciduous crops. With the arrival of autumn, clematis vines look especially impressive against the background of yellow tree crowns. They also look good in combination with other flowering plants, including as part of decorative compositions and bouquets.

The optimal place for growing clematis should be well lit, and also have shelter from through and strong winds.

Clematis "Blue Light" description and characteristics

Clematis "Blue Light" refers to perennial climbing plants. Its stems can grow up to 2 m, rising high up the vertical supports. Clematis varieties "Blue Light" are among the earliest varieties: the buds of the first wave of flowering bloom on the shoots of the last year. The flowering period is divided into two phases: the first begins in May and ends in June; the second lasts from July to October. Thus, one of the advantages of this variety is the ability to maintain its decorative properties throughout almost the entire season.

During the flowering period on the shoots of Blue Light clematis, voluminous double flowers bloom, whose diameter can reach 15 cm. Their petals are lilac in color with a lavender tint, which gives them both a spectacular and pacifying look. The dense core of the flowers is painted in cream tones, which creates a shimmering effect that fully corresponds to the name of the variety. Thanks to the lush bloom, Blue Light clematis vines resemble lavender waterfalls rushing from fences and other vertical supports to the ground.When planted in a flower bed, these plants become similar to the jets of fountains located in the middle of a pond or pool. In a word, the appearance of this variety of clematis fully justifies its name.

It should be borne in mind that for the second wave of flowering, which occurs in late summer and early autumn, the formation of flowers of a smaller diameter is characteristic. However, even during this period, flowering remains abundant and lush, therefore, the appearance of blooming Blue Light lianas remains spectacular. The flowers of the second wave bloom on new shoots that have formed in the current season.
Clematis of the Blue Light variety is known for its undemanding character and the ability to successfully take root on soils of different composition. Despite the love of sunlight, this unpretentious blooming vine will also feel good in partial shade. This variety does not need pruning, which significantly reduces the work of caring for it and contributes to even greater popularity among gardeners. The only important factor that must be taken into account in the process of growing Clematis "Blue Light" is proper soil moisture. Stagnation of moisture in the soil is dangerous for this plant, therefore it is recommended to avoid it by choosing dry areas with deep groundwater.

The use of clematis in landscape design

The varietal variety of clematis allows each owner of a garden plot to choose a variety that will fully embody his design fantasies and create an original and unique garden ensemble. Clematis semi-shrubs can be used to decorate miniature hedges, recreation areas, terraces, and be planted as curbs. Clematis vines give a wide scope for creativity for those who wish to try their hand at vertical gardening. Blooming ribbons and carpets of vines can transform the most ordinary-looking building into an exquisite element of the garden landscape.

The combination of an attractive appearance and unpretentious character has made Blue Light clematis a favorite of domestic gardeners and landscape designers. Its flowering vines shining in shades of blue are able to revitalize and decorate any area, even the most modest and unassuming. Clematis is a rather livable neighbor for other crops - it feels equally well in the company of conifers and shrubs, ornamental cereals, and other flowering plants. Due to their bright color, Blue Light clematis are often used for landscaping lawns: they can be harmoniously combined with other flowers, or they can act as a solo component that stands out against the background of green grass. The delicate tones of the petals do not contradict other colors, shading and complementing their decorative qualities.

Clematis "Blue Light" planting and care

Despite the unpretentious nature of the Blue Light clematis, there are still a number of recommendations for caring for it, which will allow you to grow it without any difficulty on your garden plot.
The composition of the soil is not of fundamental importance for the successful cultivation of this flowering liana, however, it also has its own preferences. So, you should avoid placing clematis plantings on soils with a high level of acidity, as well as on heavy and salty soils. The best option for growing Clematis "Blue Light" is a fertile loamy land with a loose structure - it is important that the ground is good moisture and air permeability. In order to create favorable conditions for growing clematis, you can improve the composition of the soil on the site. This can be done by adding a nutrient mixture that is easy to prepare at home. To do this, you need to mix the turf from the site with sand and compost in the following proportion: 3 parts of turf, 1 part of sand, 1 part of compost.

Instructions for planting Blue Light clematis in open ground include the following steps:

1. First, you need to inspect the planting material - the root system of clematis seedlings should not be dry. If the roots are dry, it is recommended to place them in water and leave them there for several hours.
2. Young vines need vertical support to grow stronger and climb as they grow. Therefore, before planting the seedlings, support pegs with a length of about 2 m should be dug in next to the planting holes.Even if you plan to use clematis in the future for landscaping the walls, the planting holes and supports should be at a short distance from them so that the rainwater flowing down does not flood the clematis plantings.
3. In order for young plants to quickly adapt and take root in a new place, it will not be superfluous to take care of additional nutrition for them. For this purpose, a little nutrient mixture should be poured into the planting holes shortly before the procedure itself. To prepare it, you need to mix sand and humus in equal proportions, and also add 1 liter of wood ash and complex feeding (100 g). The resulting substrate is placed on the bottom of the planting hole in the form of a slide.
4. On top of the nutrient mixture, you need to carefully place the clematis seedling, straightening its roots and placing them on the sides of the slide. Then the hole is filled with a soil mixture so that the root collar of the seedling is at a depth of 7 to 10 cm.This point is important, since deepening helps protect the roots of a young and still immature plant from overheating in summer and from freezing in winter.
5. After planting, the beds with clematis must be thoroughly shed with water, and then cover the soil surface with a mulch layer. Mulch will play the role of a protective layer that will prevent overheating of the root system of the seedlings, and will also help to retain moisture in the soil. Weeds that are dangerous to the health of young plants will also not be able to germinate on the site due to mulching.
6. In regions with hot summers, it is necessary to create shelter for clematis seedlings from bright sunlight. This role can be played by other plants - for example, marigolds and calendula. Perennial crops with a not too powerful root system, which will not sink deep into the ground, taking away nutrients and moisture from clematis, are also suitable for these purposes. These include various varieties of irises, as well as phlox.

In general, for the safe cultivation of Blue Light clematis, the simplest procedures are sufficient - watering, loosening, weeding and fertilizing.

Caring for young Clematis "Blue Light" involves abundant watering, but it is not recommended to carry it out too often. Mature plants need less water. Watering them often, but a small amount of water is not recommended, it is better to do it less often, but in a larger volume. The fact is that the roots of clematis go to a fairly large depth, so moistening the upper layers of the soil will not give them the required volume of water. When watering, you cannot direct a stream of water to the base of the plant - in this case, there is a high probability of rotting of its root collar and the entire system. The watering rate for an adult plant is 3 buckets of water. This procedure should be carried out no more than 1 time in 3 or 4 days.

To avoid the spread of water on the ground, you can dig a small depression around the clematis, keeping an interval of 0.3-0.4 m. Experienced gardeners practice the method of underground irrigation, which allows you to supply the roots of clematis with plenty of water. To do this, it is necessary to dig 3-4 plastic tubes with a fairly wide diameter into the ground at the stage of planting seedlings. They need to be placed so that they are directed at an angle to the center, to the roots of clematis.Thus, during watering, water is poured into these tubes (1 bucket in each) and goes directly to the root system of the plant. In the absence of ready-made tubes, you can make them yourself from plastic bottles. It is enough to cut off the bottoms from them and dig in with the neck down at an angle directed to the central part of the bush.

After watering, as well as after the rain has passed, the beds with clematis should be loosened. This procedure will prevent compaction of the upper layers of the earth and will allow the plant roots to receive more oxygen. The circulation of air will keep them from being exposed to too high or low temperatures. Loosening and weeding also protects young clematis from weeds. Loosening the ground around the seedlings should be done carefully, no deeper than 5 cm, so as not to damage the still weak roots.

You can reduce the frequency of watering and loosening by creating a layer of mulch. For this, peat mixed with well-rotted manure is suitable. Such a mixture will not only retain moisture in the soil, but also fill it with nutrients. In winter, the mulch layer acts as a frost protection.
The application of fertilizers at different stages of the development of Clematis "Blue Light" will allow it to bloom abundantly and for a long time and successfully cope with unfavorable environmental conditions. During the flowering period, the plant spends a lot of energy and needs additional nutrition to restore them. Nutrients are also needed for the annual growth of clematis green mass. Since this variety is a large-flowered variety, it is recommended to feed it every two weeks. Nutrient mixture consumption is about 5 liters per 1 bush.

Of greatest importance for the successful growth and development of flowering lianas is the introduction of fertilizing containing nitrogen, as well as phosphorus-potassium complexes. Nitrogen deficiency causes stunted shoot growth, a decrease in size and yellowing of leaves, as well as the formation of small inflorescences with a pale color. To fill the lack of this important element will allow the use of organic mixtures as fertilizer. These include slurry diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 10. Another effective organic fertilizer is bird droppings, which are diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 15. Organics are recommended alternately with mineral fertilizers. A popular solution is urea, prepared by dissolving 15-20 g of a substance in a bucket of water.

Lack of phosphorus is expressed in the brown color of clematis foliage, as well as in a decrease in the growth rate of shoots and root shoots. The source of this useful element is bone meal, which is added to the soil mixture at the rate of 0.2 kg per 1 sq. M. Superphosphate is also effective - 20 g of its extract must be diluted in a bucket of water.

If clematis are deficient in potassium, their peduncles begin to darken, the edges of the leaves turn brown, and the color of the flower petals fades. This happens due to a violation of the process of organic synthesis in plant tissues at the cellular level. Also, a lack of potassium causes an insufficient supply of water to tissues. The situation can be corrected by introducing a top dressing with potassium content. In spring, potassium nitrate is suitable for this, at the end of summer - potassium sulfate. To prepare a nutrient solution, you need to dissolve in 10 liters of water from 20 to 30 g of the active substance.

Another important element is magnesium, the lack of which is expressed in the yellowing of clematis leaf plates. The leaves look like a yellow-green mosaic as the veins on them remain green. If you do not take action, the yellow areas will gradually begin to die off, and the leaves themselves will eventually curl into a tube and then fall off. Similar symptoms also indicate an excess of phosphorus in the presence of magnesium deficiency. Most often this happens at the end of summer, provided that clematis is grown on sandy and sandy loam soils.Magnesium sulfate will help prevent yellowing and curling of the leaves: it can be applied to the soil, as well as foliarly.

Blue Light clematis does not need frequent pruning, but this procedure contributes to the healing and rejuvenation of flowering liana. During its implementation, it is enough to shorten the clematis shoots so that about 15 nodes remain from the base of the bush.

The Blue Light variety of clematis belongs to the most spectacular flowering lianas and is quite easy to care for, which allows you to grow it on any site without the use of special skills.