My Dr.Ruppel bloomed today. I bought it from Koi last fall and he was been wintering over on my desk.
Arlene

All the ones I planted that got from Jerome at Koi Gardens last fall are all budding out!!..Yipppppppeeeeee..Jeanne

Haven't ordered from Koi Gardens before but do have a Huldine coming this spring from them. The shipping on just one essentially doubled the cost of my purchase but you can always save money when you purchase anything if you buy several at once since you save significantly on the shipping charges.

You know, I ordered yesterday and was suprised to get personal emails from them. Jerome emailed me too. So much for adding a personal touch!! I thought that was so nice.
Joyce

I bought Huldine from Koi Gardens last fall, in addition to 5 other types. I couldn't get over the root systems - I had to cut the pots away from the plants!

I was very impressed by the emails. I heard from Jerome on any and all of my questions. I will definitely be ordering from them again.

I added them to my favorites on ebay, so every time they add something new to their stores, I get an email.

Carolyn

May I ask about a clematis? I'm quite inexperienced with these babies and want to know what you folks think about 'Pink Fantasy'. I saw it on the Koi Garden website last night and thoughts it was gorgeous!

Thank you.

Kate

Here is a link to it on COTW. Being a type II I don't have it in my garden. Perhaps someone else has grown it and give you their experiences with it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pink Fantasy

I don't see Pink Fantasy on the Koi Garden website...

Thanks nckville:

According to the link you so kindly provided Pink Fantasy is a Type III. Which I thought was the more preferred group for newbies like me. But really the only thing I know about clematis is that they're really pretty and I want to try several this summer.

Thanks.

Kate

I'm sorry ladychroe. How right you are. I talked with Jerome from Koi Garden this morning and he said the sale includes all their clematis including everything seen on their Ebay page. Link below for you. There you will find Pink Fantasy and many others.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: Koi Garden on Ebay

More? On eBay? Yippee!

Thanks...I think?

Kate, my bad. It is a type III. I clicked before I proofed what I had typed. And you are right, type IIIs are typically better for newbies!

Thanks NCKville: I'm easily confused you know so I had to check:)

Kate

I have it, it has not been particularly vigorous nor bloomed much. Planted from a gallon pot two years ago.

I ordered about 30 different clematis from Jerome last November...they are coming up beautifully now...I ordered an additional 25 this week...There is nothing I don't like about them.

Robert

Gosh Robert,it sounds as if you got bitten by several clematis bugs at one time! :0 Would love to see pictures of how you used the first 30 in your garden. Do you have a fence you are putting a lot on or are they scattered around the yard? Are you mixing the different types when you plant? I would say welcome to the obsession but over 50 in a year is way beyond that! LOL

Very little is more beautiful than clematis planted with roses and Robert has a huge property and a gazillion roses! I can't wait for all of them to mature Robert! I look forward to photo's. I understand his obsession perfectly :-)

Miguel, can't we talk you into a rose or two? You would love the combination.

Carol

I love roses but I need another obsession to take my money and time like I need a hole in my head, not to mention that I need something else to water in a similar vein. I will live vicariously through pictures Robert supplies and the roses I purchase to bring inside the house.

"I bought Huldine from Koi Gardens last fall, in addition to 5 other types. I couldn't get over the root systems - I had to cut the pots away from the plants!

I was very impressed by the emails. I heard from Jerome on any and all of my questions. I will definitely be ordering from them again.

I added them to my favorites on ebay, so every time they add something new to their stores, I get an email.

Carolyn"

Same here! I bought 4 or 5 clematis along with some tulip bulbs. Customer service was amazing (they even included an extra clematis, apparently just for the heck of it!) and I was extremely happy with the plants when they arrived.

Too bad I wound up forgetting to plant the bulbs. Oops.

I've been very happy w/ all the ones I got back in the fall. I ordered some more after seeing on this thread that they still had the sale price. Thanks for posting that, Joyce. Brandy

Miguel,

Carol said it...sort of. I don't have a huge property, but I do have about 2 acres to plant roses and clematis and my other treasures. I have a passion for climbing roses...actually climbing anything. I am following the advice of someone (maybe Carol)...a clematis for every rose. I'll probably need an additional 100 clematis to support my rose addiction and keep to this theme. When this shipment of clematis comes in I should have close to 100 different varities of clematis. Since my rose/clematis guru told me the secrets to success with clematis, I'm very confident. With roses, I'm learning as I go. I have a high tolerance for blackspot and leaf loss, especially if it doesn't really slow down the rose too much. And, clematis tend to provide leaves for those roses that are trying to bare their canes...

I have to admit, right now, I'm a bit more excited about my clematis than I am about my roses....blasphemy on the rose site, I guess.

I'm fortunate to have my summers off (I teach), and I have some wonderful soil that is easy to work in. I don't use any spray program, and I'm off of chemical fertilizers...going totally organic here.

Robert

Robert!!..We truly are Kindred Spirits..you and I!!..I also have tons of Climbing roses..climbing anything..LOL..I don't fuss with spraying either..I am very organic in my gardens and what little blackspot I get doesn't freak me out..I am finding using cornmeal around my roses have really kept bs at bay..also using Alfalfa tea on both my roses and clematis are tops for me!! I've let my addiction reach a feverish pitch!!..for I only have a corner lot in a subdivision...but I am "squeezing" in clematis everywhere I can!!..Jeanne

Hey Robert, yes I said that and I meant it! I do love clematis with roses and you are right, they help cover naked legs. BTW, the type 3's you are growing are easy to get out of a rose when you prune them. You are going to cut them about 12 inches from the ground anyway, just grab the stems above the cut and they pull easily out of the roses.

Carol

Thanks for the response Robert. Would love to see pictures of all your combos when in full force. I am sure it will be a sight to behold. I would love to have the summers off to tend my "herd" but such is not the case. That would make it much easier to keep up with the watering and cultivation. It sounds as if you have truly been bitten by the clematis bug, especially in light of your admission that you are more excited by your clematis than roses. LOL Once again, look forward to seeing pictures of your combos. I am sure they will be smashing!!

Jeanne, Carol, Miguel,

It's true I've been smitten with clematis...now that I know the secrets to growing them. I have confidence in growing them. This will be the third year for some of my roses and clematis, so I'm expecting some good things. I'll definitely take loads of pictures and post them...even with my archaic dial up slow as molasses internet connection.

Robert

Robert, should be a great show in year 3. Looking forward to seeing lots of pics. You guys have me soooo envious... they don't ship to Canada. So anxious to see what our local garden centres will bring in this year.

Robert..I remember the thrill of year three for me in my new gardens as well..it was something else...BUT,I am happy to report that each year only gets better and better...I have 4-5 new vines emerging from the soil this year on most of my clematis and on Clematis "Polish Spirit" (That little thug) put out about 12 new vines last year and looks like about that many if not more..it's unbelievable!!..It's so true..once you realize what this plants needs are they are so easy to grow..I think they get a bad rap because so many don't know and kill them...I use to think they were hard to grow and after learning from everyone..I took another chance on them and have never looked back!!...I look forward to seeing pics of your gardens this year....Jeanne

Ditto to what others have said Robert. Looking forward to seeing your rose and clematis combos!

Yep, clematis can be easy to grow provided you follow some basic rules. The rules include you pick the right ones for your growing conditions, prune them hard regardless of pruning class the first year and then in mid-summer if they tend to brown out on you, pinch the growing tips out to encourage axillary buds to break, don't go overboard on fertilization to promote too much top growth, provide them with enough water during the course of the summer, either purchase decent sized plants to start with or pot up your smaller clematis and grow them out before planting them in your garden, plant them deeper in the garden than they were in their original pots, and don't freak out if your clematis wilts-just cut out the wilted parts and continue treating it as if it is still alive. That in a nutshell is a summary of the most relevant factors I have found out during my experience of growing clematis.

i just ordered 2 clematis from koi,ernest markham and 'Jackmanii' i would like to put them in the ground,i am a newbie to clematis and koi gardens. can someone tell me the best way to plant these, soil ect? i bought a few clems from lowes and potted them up.they were pretty tiny roots and one of them had nothing but soil in the bag.the pics that koi shows look nice and healthy can i put them in ground instead of potting up for next spring? ,i have learned so much from this forum. thank everyone for sharing.....

The Clematis that you will receive from Jerome have a much bigger rootsystem than the ones you bought at Lowe's..I live in zone 8B and planted the ones I got from Jerome directly into my gardens...I planted them 2-4 inches deeper at a slight angle towards what I want them to grow on with a handful of Bonemeal in the planting hole..It is IMPERATIVE that you keep your clematis moist during it's acclimation period...remember that clematis like to stay moist NOT SOGGY but moist ,,,Jeanne