Clematis: caring for a tropical vine in the middle zone

Briefly about clematis

Clematis, also called losinka or clematis, belongs to the Buttercup family and is a perennial herb or woody plant that grows in the subtropics or in the temperate zone north of the equator. Despite its southern origin, this beautiful climbing plant can not only survive in the middle lane, but also become a permanent inhabitant and the main decoration of the garden. Clematis liana is most popular with domestic gardeners due to the variety of colors and easy care. Liana has woody shoots 2-3 meters high, which are attached to the support with leaf stalks. The flowers are quite large, bell-shaped, can be simple and double. The color gamut is extremely wide: from white and pale pink to deep purple hue. Blooming lianas can not only decorate the garden, but also cover an old fence or an unsightly wall of a country house, masking it with their flowering veil. By combining clematis of different flowering periods on one site, you can observe their flowering throughout the entire summer cottage: plants with small flowers will begin to bloom in May, at the beginning of summer it will be the turn of their large-flowered counterparts, which will last until the first autumn frosts.

What are the varieties of clematis

For cultivation in central Russia, climbing varieties that need pruning before winter are suitable. Among them are the varieties "Viola", "Bella", "Star of India" that need strong pruning, as well as varieties that require less radical shortening - "Kid", "Hope", "Sunset", "President".

Cultivation methods for clematis

The easiest way is to plant a ready-made seedling purchased in a pot in open ground. Experienced flower growers prefer to prepare seedlings themselves, which requires special knowledge and skills.

Instructions for growing clematis

Clematis seeds differ in size, which determines the time of their germination: large seeds (5-12 mm) sprout after 6 months, medium and small (up to 3 mm) can sprout in a month. To begin with, the seeds are soaked in water for five days (the water must be regularly changed to clean water). After that, they can be planted in pots or containers with soil (a mixture of earth, sand, peat): the sowing depth, depending on the size of the seed, varies from 2 cm to 0.5 cm.The seedlings are placed in a warm place for a week and a half, where the temperature is maintained at range from 18 to 22 degrees. Then the seedlings are placed in a cold place for 3 months. An easier way to grow clematis from seeds is to place them in containers with soil in the fall and leave them in a greenhouse or on a glazed balcony without heating. In spring, the seedlings are transferred to a sunny warm place - seedlings should appear within 3 weeks. When planting a seedling in open ground, it is necessary to ensure that the hole is sufficiently deep: the main buds of the sprout should be 10 cm below ground level.The distance between the vine seedling and other plants should not be less than 20-30 cm.In the first year of the plant's life, it needs weekly watering , regular loosening of the soil and removal of weeds. Pruning of shoots is also shown - three times per season, flowers from a young liana should be removed at all, in order to avoid weakening the seedling. From the second year, you can apply top dressing - up to 4 times per season.Nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, bone meal, humus are suitable. An adult clematis also needs regular watering - in dry summers 1-2 times a

week, loosening the soil and weeding.

When to plant clematis

The most suitable time for planting clematis in the ground in the middle lane is mid-May.

Where to plant clematis

Clematis is quite photophilous, but direct sunlight can burn the petals and damage the rich color of the flower. A way out of the situation would be to place the planting in a slightly shaded corner of the garden. Also, a tropical liana does not tolerate drafts, so it is better if other rather tall plants grow nearby. The soil should be low-acid, loose, drained, prepared with fertilizers. Excessive moisture, especially groundwater located close to the surface of the earth, will prevent the strengthening of plant roots - the depth of their penetration into the ground is about 1 m.Therefore, small hills of natural or artificial origin are shown for planting clematis. Another important condition for the successful cultivation of tropical liana is the availability of the necessary support. This can be a store-bought arch, stand, canopy, as well as the wall of a gazebo or other summer cottage building. At first, you will need to give the shoots the right direction, as well as tie them up in order to avoid random interlacing.