Check out your soil before you plant. Clematis require well drained, but moist soil. It does not matter what you pH is as clematis will grow in a wide range of soils.

Growing in the ground

If you are planting in clay, pour a bucket of water in the hole before you plant, to make sure that the water drains away quickly. If it doesn't, your clematis will drown. It is a good idea to mix plenty of organic matter such as compost into the backfill to help hold the moisture around the roots. Remember clematis are very long lived once established and you cannot do this sort of preparation later.

Clematis Ernest Markham growing in a large pot

Clematis Rhapsody growing as a border plant

Clematis Ernest Markham with Clematis Aotearoa

Growing in a pot

• If you want to plant in a pot, use a premium potting mix.
• Choose a large pot, say 40cm plus, and don't forget to seal it and drill extra drainage holes if it is terracotta or concrete.
• Larger pots make it easier to keep the rootball cool and moist. Large pots don't need to be watered everyday. You also able to sit your pot in a saucer and keep the saucer full of water. The capillary action of the soil will keep the pot moist.
• Watering from the top occasionally will make sure that there are no dry pockets in the pot.
• Fertilize after every pruning or at least every three months.