Table of contents
- growth and flowering
- Location
- Floor
- plant out
- tub planting
- Fertilize
- Pour
- Cut
- diseases and pests
- hibernate
Beauty is a matter of taste, but the Clematis 'Josephine' is undoubtedly one of the beauties of the clematis family. Its plump, soft pink inner flowers are accompanied by an outer ring of long petals. These have a stronger colored stripe in the middle, become darker and say goodbye early. This change in the flower pattern creates beautiful accents in the garden. What needs do the fine tendrils develop?
growth and flowering
The clematis variety 'Josephine' is a hybrid variety that can quickly grow up to 2.5 meters high. To reach this height, she needs a scaffolding to hold on to. It is suitable for both the garden and the bucket. Her climbing skills make her a natural privacy screen. The pink flowers appear twice per garden year. The first flowers are filled and appear from May. It blooms for the second time in August. The beauty of its 14 to 16 cm wide flowers has already earned it the award "Queen of the Garden" in England.
Location
The vigorously blooming clematis needs a sunny location if it is to present its flowering spectacle perfectly. This master climber is also satisfied with a partially shaded spot. Places that never see the sun are not suitable at all. The only part of her that loves shadows are her roots. This is due to its origin as a forest plant, where its roots grow in the shady area. This preference is also retained in gardens and should therefore definitely be fulfilled.
- plant smaller plants around it
- or choose very flat-growing ground cover
- these neighboring plants provide shade for the root area
- they do not take the sun away from the blossoms
- alternatively, a 10 cm thick layer of mulch shades the roots
- when planting the clematis approx. Insert 10 cm deeper
Tip:
The sunny spot should be sheltered from the wind, as the tendrils of the clematis are very thin. Strong winds can easily snap them off, even when tied to the monkey bars.
Floor
The clematis stretches its roots deep into the earth. You should be able to do that effortlessly from the start. The soil must not be too heavy and loamy. However, it must not be too sandy either, because then the water would run off too quickly. A mixture of humus and sand is ideal. If the soil does not have these properties, it must be prepared accordingly before planting the Clematis 'Josephine'. Solid ground must be mixed with sand, maybe even a few pebbles. Soil with a high proportion of sand is enhanced by potting soil. The soil should always be loosened up well and deeply. It is also worth laying a drainage layer of pebbles or grit. The clematis needs plenty of water during its vegetation phase, but this must not stand. A drainage layer reliably prevents waterlogging.
plant out
Clematis 'Josephine' is characterized by good winter hardiness. It is therefore allowed to grow outdoors. If larger areas are to be greened by them, several plants are necessary. The planting distance is about half a meter. In principle, the clematis can be planted out on all frost-free days. But for best results, plant clematis in late summer. Between August and October, the soil temperature is ideal for the clematis to root quickly and well. Well rooted, it survives the upcoming winter and starts the new flowering season without delay.
- Place the clematis pot in a bucket of water for 10 minutes to allow the root ball to soak.
- Dig a planting hole about twice the size of the root ball. The distance to house walls should be at least be 15 cm.
- Loosen the soil deeply.
- Lay a 10cm drainage layer of pebbles or grit.
- Check the condition of the soil. Add potting soil or sand as needed.
- Carefully remove the clematis from the pot without damaging its roots. You must not pull on the vines. It is better to hold the pot upside down so that the plant slides out.
- Place clematis straight in the planting hole, approx. 10 cm lower than when it was in the pot.
- Fill the hole with soil, press it down lightly.
- Water the 'Josephine' well.
- Set up a suitable trellis if there is no climbing opportunity.
- Water the plant regularly and as needed. Pay particular attention to the current weather conditions.
Tip:
Form a watering wall around the root ball when planting the clematis with the soil. This will make watering easier for you later.
tub planting
Because of its winter hardiness, Clematis 'Josephine' is an ideal garden plant. However, an outdoor space is not a must. If you want to plant this clematis in a bucket, you are welcome to do so. If a few rules are observed, it will also thrive in it. Because the clematis quickly makes large leaps in growth and produces plenty of flowers, it needs a large pot and ideal conditions.
- large pot of min. 25 liters volume
- large bottom holes required to allow water to drain
- approx. 10 cm high layer of gravel prevents waterlogging
- Use nutrient-rich potting soil
- regular fertilizer application during the flowering period
- Shade root area
- offer suitable climbing aids
- potted plants also have to be cut
- bring in buckets in winter or protect with fleece
- replace soil every few years
Fertilize
Clematis require plenty of nutrients. These should be available to them in sufficient quantities during the growth phase. A long-term fertilizer such as horn shavings is ideal. These are applied early in the spring so that they can be decomposed by microorganisms. There are also special fertilizers for climbing plants, which are added to the irrigation water during the growing season and ensure beautiful flowering. Rose fertilizer has also proven its worth for clematis. Fertilization should be stopped from mid-August, because the clematis will soon be in the dormant phase.
Pour
If you have young clematis in your garden, you should water them regularly. The top layer of soil dries out quickly when exposed to the sun. The roots of young plants are not yet deep enough to get water from the deep parts of the earth. Watering is especially important during flowering and on dry days. All required nutrients are absorbed through the water, so the root area should not dry out in summer. Clematis that climb in tubs also need increased attention when it comes to water. The soil dries out faster in pots, so even long roots don't help. Therefore, do not let potted plants dry out either. Only clematis that have been growing in the garden for several years can provide themselves with water. You should only give them water in a very hot summer.
Cut
Not all clematis varieties are pruned the same. Different flowering times require different pruning measures. The hybrid cultivar 'Josephine' TM Evijohill (N) is one of the twice flowering clematis varieties. The buds for the shoots are already formed in the previous year. The flowers develop on the new shoots. The twice-flowering clematis are divided into pruning group 2 by the plant expert. This means that they are pruned moderately before they sprout.
- cut in winter
- any months from November to January are ideal
- cut back in half
- but not less than one meter in height
- a radical cut makes sense every five years
- shorten to 20 cm above the ground for a radical cut
To ensure that the second bloom is lush from around August, everything that has faded should also be removed regularly.
diseases and pests
Vegetal45, Clematis Evijohill 02, edited by Hausgarten, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The better you take care of your clematis plant, the more resistant it is to diseases and pests. The large-flowered hybrid varieties, which include 'Josephine', are susceptible to clematis wilt. This actually hides two different fungal diseases, the Phoma clematis wilt and the Fusarium clematis wilt. Cut off diseased parts and treat the plant with a fungicide. In the case of Fusarium clematis wilting, you should cut off all above-ground shoots.
If the wilt is recognized in time and appropriate measures are taken, the clematis has a good chance of survival. However, regeneration can take a long time. It can take up to three years for the clematis to sprout again from the ground.
Tip:
The fungus can survive for a long time and attack other clematis next year. Therefore, thoroughly dispose of all plant parts of a diseased clematis. Also collect any dry residue from the floor.
If you have to deal with these pests in your garden, protect the roots of the clematis from being eaten by mice with a wire basket.
hibernate
The Clematis 'Josephine' is hardy and copes well with low temperatures. Freshly planted specimens should nevertheless be protected from severe frost with a thick layer of mulch or fir branches. Clematis that are planted in tubs should overwinter in a bright, cool winter quarters. If this is not possible, the bucket must be wrapped in fleece and placed in a protected place. When it gets warmer again in May, the clematis can go outside again.
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