Re: Clematis Paniculata 'Sweet Autumn Vine'

Thank you Marge and everyone else for responding to my query.  I am sorry for
the delayed response - have been fighting the flu or something...
I recut the stems at the proper place - what the heck, they might root.  The
buds have broke due to being brought in from the cold so I know that most
cuttings are still alive.  I will store the seeds in my fridge seed box for the
winter.  I do have ulterior motives for all this as I am planning on moving next
summer, and since I can't leave a bunch of holes in the yard perhaps this will
provide me with a clematis vine or two for my new place.
Thanks again.
>
> Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 01:01:21 -0500
> From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt@clark.net>
> Subject: Re: Clematis Paniculata 'Sweet Autumn Vine'
>
> Happy New Year to you, too, Debby.
>
> C. paniculata - sweet autumn clematis - is a prolific self seeder in
> my garden.  Tom Clothier's excellent seed germination database
>
> http://users.anet.com/~manytimes/page43.htm
>
> says:
>
> Sow at 20ºC (68ºF), if no germination in 3-4 wks, move to -4 to +4ºC
> (24-39ºF) for 2-4 wks
>
> What this means is they need a warm period, followed by a cold
> period.  I've grown other Clematis from seed and found germination is
> irregular and sometimes takes quite a while.  Warm is normal room
> temperature warm and you can then put them in the fridge or,
> depending on your climate, put the pots outside for winter.  If it's
> way below freezing where you are, I'd go the fridge route.  I've
> found that while seeds withstand freezing once hydrated, they don't
> like a sudden change from warm to  below freezing.  If you sow in
> pots in autumn, while the weather is still warm, and leave them
> outside, they will withstand anything winter can throw at them, but
> their change from warmth to freezing has been gradual, so they
> acclimatize.
>
> As for cuttings...I've found Clematis somewhat iffy.  You need to
> take an internodal cutting.  In other words, cut below a node and
> above a node.   Your 1' pieces are a tad too long, really.  If they
> are going to root, they do it from the node, not the stem.  This is
> not prime time of the year, but it doesn't hurt to try.  I've read
> that bottom heat doesn't hurt; never tried it.  Rooting is slow if
> it's going to happen.
>
> I would imagine your plant in the ground will come back from the
> roots in spring, despite puppy chewing.  Sweet autumn is a tough vine
> and not all that easy to kill.
>
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@clark.net
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--
Debby Williams
Author of Fruit and Urban Kitchen Gardening e-zines at:
http://wz.com/homegarden/GardensPlants.html
Regional Advisor at http://www.thevegetablepatch.com/
Oakland County, Michigan USA;USDA Hardiness Zones 5b/6a

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