Clematis in a container?

[noslimbody]

I want to grow a clematis in a container on decking. What size container should I get and which clematis would be a good idea? Ideally I want to plant two, one on each side of a doorway, perhaps one which flowers in the winter and one during spring/summer. Oh, also they would grow up a wall, south-facing, gets lots of sun.
TIA

[Ferguson]

Container - large as you can conveniently manage I would suggest.

I don't know individual varieties, but some are very vigorous, and will need lot of trellis to cover; some prolific small flowers, others great big gaudy flowers.

We have some Alpina varieties, which are small, subtle flowers. Will need feeding I think, and roots SHOULD be kept cool, which may be difficult in containers. Maybe even double containers, with one inside the other with cool gravel in the gap (but I just made up that idea, so don't know if practicable!)

Go to a clematis specialist website, and there must be several. Or start at RHS, or BBC and go from there.

[LadyGardenersQuestionTime]

Taylors Clematis are a good mail order clematis supplier, categorise their clematis by size time of year etc, and have good advice about planting in a pot.

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

I bought this last year that is doing really well in a big container alongside a patio rose. It didn't get too big.

[bigTillyMint]

Wynken, how big is the container? And is it in full sun/shade? I am looking for more climbers!

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

I"ll measure it tomorrow but I think it's about 1m x 0.4m filled with a mixture of shop compost, home made compost and chicken manure. It gets a fair bit of sun in the summer, from about lunchtime from memory - not the entire day though .

It did look very pretty last year when it and the rose (star performer ) were out. Also chucked Cosmos Purity in with it and these flowered prolifically later in the summer after the rose and clematis were past their best. There's spring bulbs coming through now that will be out shortly and cyclamen still going strong from the winter with a few other bits I stuck in over the winter.

[ShoeWhore]

Your issue might be keeping the roots cool enough (as Ferguson says) - possibly a bit tricky in a pot in a south facing situation.

I take it there is no possibility of cutting a hole in the decking and planting into the ground beneath? That would give the clematis ideal conditions tbh - nice cool roots and plenty of sun above.

Clematis montana would work well in the ground but not so sure about it in a pot (it's very vigorous)

Jackmannii would work as your summer flowering clematis.

Or you could consider a winter and summer flowering jasmine as an alternative? Or honeysuckle is also pretty?

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

That's a point, I should add th trough is made of wood so doesn't get as hot as some materials. I lobbed a hosta in that shaded the clematis roots I remember now. Monty or who ever on GW often puts stones around the base to shade.

I got a Jackmanni half price in January and it's by the shed, grown lots in a few months - I thought they got very big ? The one I got gets to about 5ft I think the label said.

My trough is on a raised deck so am training the rose and clematis against the railings behind.

[bigTillyMint]

Oh, so a big pot (like 50cm diameter) won't be big enough, will it?

We already have jasmine (which is lovely, but grows like a weed!) and I have just planted some honeysuckle.

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

I think it will be fine if you buy one that says it is suitable for pots .

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

Here

[ShoeWhore]

I've grown Jackmannii in a pot and it did fine - didn't get as big as they do in the ground though.

[bigTillyMint]

Ooh, thanks - lots of lovely ones on there!