Should I cut back clematis & passionflower?

[MarzipanQ]

End of September I bought 3 climbing plants - clematis, passionflower & A N Other in 5" pots & thought I'd overwinter them in my unheated greenhouse till the Spring. The passionflower has shot up and I'm wondering should I cut it and the other two back to make them more bushy for the Spring planting? They're nice & healthy - just beanstalkish:)

[Hawkwalk]

Prune passion flower in spring just as new growth begins and dont cut back too hard.

For Clematis see below as depends on what type you have.
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/clem atis_17.asp

As for ANother, cant say unless you know what it is but most things wont hurt if pruned at the wrong time, they may just take another season to recover.

[MarzipanQ]

Thanks for that hawk:) Only trouble is the passionflower is bursting with new growth - even has buds I noticed today & it's halfway up the greenhouse already - the other two are a bit more normal but bursting with new leaves & growth. Think I better read up further.

[shazam74]

Click on Google Search Engine, type Passion Flower, and scroll down to item 9 for a full comprehensive answer to your query.

[smudge]

We have a passion flower growing up & along the top of our garage, in front of the pitched roof. I trimmed it again only last week & it still looks really lovely. It's still bearing fruit too, which makes it look even nicer.

Can't wait to hang the plain twinkly lights along it for Christmas - always looks delightful.

[MarzipanQ]

Oh sounds lovely Smudge:) I'm just not sure of mine cos it's still in it's little pot - don't want to reduce it in size if it's going to think "Oh blow you not appreciating all my hard work - I'll shrivel up n die" lol. If it were Spring I'd feel more confident but in an unheated greenhouse in December is a little worrying incase I do the wrong thing.

[smudge]

Hi Marzipan - I can understand what you mean about them feeling neglected over the winter months, poor things!

However, my friend gave me a tiny cutting of her passion flower four years ago. I stuck it in a tall pot at the side of the garage & it managed to get through the first & following winters. It's now very well established, with a very thick trunk & enjoys a climb! Lots of people comment on how nice it looks, 'specially at night when the lanterns are on with the light shining through.

I'd leave tidying your one until the spring, then repot it, or plant it in the ground - you watch, it'll soon take hold!

Good luck!

[MarzipanQ]

Righty oh Smudge - I'll take your advice & leave well alone till the Spring:) Must be honest I don't know where I'm going to put it in the Spring - should have saved myself the headache & not bought the plants lol:) By the time Winter's through something may have died off & I'll have a space:)

[smudge]

Well Marzipan - I've just remembered....

In April this year, I gave our daughters a few cuttings of the one my friend gave me & you should see them now! They've grown up the trellises each side of their porches & over - already! They're both thrilled to bits with them & the evergreen foliage certainly cheers up a dreary cold day!

I'm sure you'll soon find a good place for them & that they'll be in flower before you know it!