I got my clematis today. I thought it was the Tie Dye cultivar but its one with lavender blooms. She said it needs to be fed since the leaves are pale. I'll get some compost next week.

Time for Epsom Salt - 1 tablespoon to a gallon of lukewarm water (to dissolve it) and it should recover the green.

Thanks Arlene. Should I wait until the soil dries out? Last night it got 5" of rain.

Eek! Yes, wait a few days. Poke your finger down two inches. Clematis just don't swim.

Ok I'll wait. I think we're supposed to get another 1-3" tonight so I should probably put it in a sheltered position?

Good idea.

They delayed the rain until tomorrow.

I loved your idea about planting things at an angle, Arlene. It's one of those things that I think "why didn't I think of that ".

I need some advice on my Guernsey Cream. It's been in for 5years and was covered with huge flowers from the very first year. This year it's not getting as much greenery and there are fewer and much smaller flowers. I can see a lot of dead stuff and am wondering if it should be cut back and cleaned up after it blooms? I did the Epsom salt thing and will do it again, but that didn't seem to do any good. Will it bloom next year if I cut it back, and would I cut it to 24"?
I hate cutting it down as it's been so pretty, but I want to make it new again.

Be brave and cut it back to 24", Karen. You can also give it manure, top it with compost and more mulch. Yes, it will bloom for you next year. There are times it's scary to just cut it back but that's what it needs. Keep us posted.

TexasPlumeria87, are you planning to plant it in the ground? If you are able to dig without compacting the soil in the bed, then I would go ahead this weekend and let the rain give it a good watering. Remember the expanded shale and lots of mulch/compost. My clems are enjoying all the rain!

I may just keep it in a pot this year since it looks so fragile Should I move it to a bigger pot now, or wait?

My guess is that it's been through enough disturbance this year. Do you have (or can you take and post) a photo of the clem in the pot so we can all see it?

Good idea. Give us an estimate of how big the roots are.

I think it's in a six inch shallow pot?

It seems like too small a pot.I probably would use a gallon pot at minimum or one that is long and narrow rather than short and wide. If the soil is good and amended maybe you can bury it and then mulch it. Keep it in the partial to total shade

Thanks Anna. I'll transplant it to a bigger pot. I'll get more potting soil from the feed store. Thankfully I just got a lot of 1 gallon pots from Freecycle.

Anna is right.

I'll keep everyone posted on it's progress. Thanks so much for all the advice.

I repotted my clematis last week, sorry for the delayed update. I ended up potting it in a 3 gallon pot. I'll probably put it in a bigger terracotta pot to insulate the roots. One cluster of leaves died so I'm a little worried. I did give it some Epsom salt last week too, hopefully it won't look as sickly?

Good job. It looks fine to me. Do you feel there's something wrong?