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I am planning to grow 2 clematis in containers and I'm not sure what size to use. Can someone give me some advice on this? What size container as in inches across and/or gallon size? I have some containers but I will buy new ones if necessary.
I am planning to grow 2 clematis in containers and I'm not sure what size to use. Can someone give me some advice on this? What size container as in inches across and/or gallon size? I have some containers but I will buy new ones if necessary.
Depending on what type of clematis you get, as a general rule clematis plants grow extensively long, spread out and deep root systems and the roots need to be kept cool, damp and insulated against summer heat and winter freezes. So usually they flourish better in the ground than in containers, but containers can be an effective means of keeping clematis stunted so the plants don't get too big for the location you have the container in. You just have to take some added precautions for the protection of containered clematis plants.
I have one clematis in a plastic patio container that is 20 inches deep X 20 inches wide and it is placed inside a 24 X 24 inches (on the inside) insulating wooden box made of 2X4's. The empty space between the inside walls of the wooden box and the plastic container is filled in with wood chips for added insulation. I could have used styrofoam chips or bubble wrap stuffed in around the container for added insulation but the wood chips are more aesthetic looking. It is located sitting on concrete next to the north end of a chain link fence and is being trained to grow from the north towards the south along the fence. It's doing well there like that in spite of some rather intense seasonal temperature changes.
You could go for a container smaller than mine but the plant is going to get root bound and stay relatively short with a shorter life span (unless it gets re-potted eventually into bigger container) - or you could go from the start with a container that is much bigger and deeper with added insulation for a much bigger sized plant with longer life span. Estimate the size of container you need by the amount of growing space and location where you'll be keeping the plant outdoors.
^^ The one I grew was a variety which would only reach 4 to 6 feet. It never got taller than 4 1/2. I lined the pot with two layers of flexible foam sheets. That worked for eight years.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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I have one that dies back every fall, and comes back early in spring, currently about 5' high, reaches about 10' by fall. It's in a terra cotta pot, about 20"H x 16" diameter. It's going strong at about 10 years old now, I put up a couple of strings for it to climb.
I have never planted clematis in a container. They do so well in the ground, why bother.
Then I'm guessing that means you've never lived in a high rise apartment building. Some people don't have any other choice depending on their geographical location, their climate and the type of domicile they live in.
People who live in apartment buildings and only have balconies or sun decks don't have any ground to work with so they use containers for ALL their gardening on their balconies or sun decks.
And sometimes even people who live in houses with yards still don't have the right kind of ground space available to them in the right kind of location for keeping certain plants. So they will grow them in containers and can move their containers around on a monthly or seasonal basis to track the movement of the sun.
Some plants need to be grown in containers because of the seasonal climate in particular geographical locations. Like for example the way in cold northern climates perennial fuchsias of most any size can't survive the freezing winters outside in the ground no matter how well they're artificially protected so they're grown in containers that can be moved to protection on a seasonal basis. The really big fuchsia trees in big containers on wheels must get put away into garages, greenhouses, barns or sheds in a dark place for winter and then they're put back outside again in spring and all through the growing season. I bring my evergreen olive tree indoors every winter. My neighbour brings her avocado tree into her home for winters.
Then I'm guessing that means you've never lived in a high rise apartment building. Some people don't have any other choice depending on their geographical location, their climate and the type of domicile they live in.
People who live in apartment buildings and only have balconies or sun decks don't have any ground to work with so they use containers for ALL their gardening on their balconies or sun decks.
And sometimes even people who live in houses with yards still don't have the right kind of ground space available to them in the right kind of location for keeping certain plants. So they will grow them in containers and can move their containers around on a monthly or seasonal basis to track the movement of the sun.
Some plants need to be grown in containers because of the seasonal climate in particular geographical locations. Like for example the way in cold northern climates perennial fuchsias of most any size can't survive the freezing winters outside in the ground no matter how well they're artificially protected so they're grown in containers that can be moved to protection on a seasonal basis. The really big fuchsia trees in big containers on wheels must get put away into garages, greenhouses, barns or sheds in a dark place for winter and then they're put back outside again in spring and all through the growing season. I bring my evergreen olive tree indoors every winter. My neighbour brings her avocado tree into her home for winters.
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Ah yes. Well there ya go. I would never live anywhere that I could not have a yard so I didn't even think about that.
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Some people don't have any other choice depending on their geographical location, their climate and the type of domicile they live in. 
