Clematis in tubs for the winter

I bought clems last year and planted 4 in tubs. One per tub.
I am wondering if they will make it.
I know if I wait a month I will have my answer.
My idea now is to transplant the clems to fiberglass tubs instead of the ceramic tubs they are in now.
I laid the ceramic tubs on their sides for the winter to keep them from opening up due to freezing.
I just noticed some of the dirt has flowed out .I'm hopeing the clems still have enough dirt to protect them.
Its impossible to store the ceramic tubs and plants ,no room, they have to stay outside.
It must have been a geezer moment when I made the clay choice in the first place. They were blue. I couldnt help myself.

Good luck, Jo Ann. Some die despite our very best efforts, while others thrive despite some neglect.

Don't be too quick to give up on them. Some seem to take more time to show themselves than others.

Thanks Pirl. Its way too early to expect and dread anything.
I wondered if planting them in the middle of the tub would give them a better chance.
The 2 in Ceramic will be transplanted to fiber in any event.

Polly explained last fall ,the roots might get too cold.

JoAnn

I have had clems not show up for a year, but then show up the following year. So, if you don't see anything, I would continue to treat your plant as if it was still alive by watering regularly. It could still show up the following year. Clems are funny that way.

Thanks everyone. I wont toss 'em. I will transplant from ceramic to fiber and plant it in the middle.
New clems Vagabond will go in fiber and centered.

I fully agree, Carolyn.

If you are going to transplant, that will upset them anyways, so way not check out the roots while you transplant! That will let you know if the plant is good or not.

O K I will try in a few days. The soil isnt completely thawed and I dont want to disturbe the roots until I can do it gently

Its been a day and I went to check the clem in clay planter.
Low and behold a short green sprout. I thought Kilan Donehue hat bitten the dust.
Its a 10 footer so I will transplant to the ground in a couple of months .I should make a nice companion with Florida Alpina Plena

Hurray! Gardeners do have to keep the faith and even when things don't work out for us we can't become pessimists or we'll lose the spirit.

Take photos, Jo Ann, so we can see the progress just like we did with the Tin Chicken thread.

they say gardening is an excercise is patience....

and faith

How true.

Life will overcome, life will happen, life cannot be stopped. Mother Nature is awesome. I am blessed to be a gardener and work with her.
It finally stopped raining enough for me to get out and get my hands dirty today. It felt fabulous! I transplanted a couple hostas and prepared the half barrow I'm going to put my new clematis in.
Daffodils are just opening and my EG clematis "apple blossom" is ready to burst into flower...maybe tomorrow!?

March is the worst time of year for me. It goes so slow.

Why am I never satisfied.
I wanted the snow to melt ,enjoyed thet for a day and now I cant wait for things to dry out so I can clean out Siberians and DL' leaves that are dead and flat.

We gardeners can always find something to do in the garden. When stuck inside we tend to make plans and write lists. It's been a very snowy and very long winter for many of us and we will welcome spring 2011.

Post pic of apple blossom when it blooms! I have been considering it for my garden.

I'd love to see a picture of Appleblossom as well.

They are calling for 6-10" of snow for us today. I am so depressed. I feel like we will never have spring. In past years, I see from my garden journals that I have been out as early as the very end of February, but we have also had snow into April. I really hope that we are not into April before I can get out there.

I was thinking that today I would broadcast some larkspur seeds and some aquilegia. I should have done it before now, but we had these huge banks of snow and I figured the seeds would end up not where I wanted them. It is sleeting right now.

Sorry to be such a downer. Please post pictures so I can live vicariously through your photos....

I do hope that you all get better weather soon. I worked with my Clematis last week and low and behold it seems that all but one has sprouted. That includes my baby seedlings.

With the seedlings counted I have some 50.

I just checked the Kilan Donehue and it definatly has greenish stem with bud. I had to use my mag.glass.
I'm not as sure about the Bijous one is still under the ice and the other needs a few more days for the buds to look green.
As you can see we are desperate here.
The snow IS melting tho.

March 9 Bijou has a stem node peeking out. Hooray

This message was edited Mar 9, 2011 10:55 AM