Sounds reasonable to me...please keep us abreast of what you discover!!...I know I've dug up clematis before that weren't doing well and potted up and grown out in my one-gallon pot and then planted back into my gardens and it flourished just beautifully...Jeanne

Jeanne, did you bareroot the clematis before potting it? When you planted the clematis back into the garden, do you change the location or change anything else?

I'm actually considering growing my problem clematis in a container because it is one of those clematis that is "perfect for container culture". Maybe translated that means "grows better in a container and pampered than in Janet's clay-rich soil".

When I bought the clematis, it was already in a fairly large pot. It grew well that summer and flowered beautifully in partial sun. Once planted in the garden everything changed. It wilted it first couple of years, which isn't unusual, but it didn't bloom much even when it didn't wilt. This year was looking like its year, but it produced mostly mutant blooms. Not only were they not sure if they should be blooms or leaves, every single bloom was turned away from the sun. Not a single bloom faced outward.

Nope I didn't bare root it...I did plant it in a different location in my garden but that wasn't on purpose..I just found a spot that I thought it would look better in my new flowerbed...I find some picky pruning group 2's do best in my hot climate being in morning sun and afternoon shade..they just can't take the full sun and heat...Jeanne

Jeanne, I've done the same thing. Potted up non-performers, left them in the vegetable garden for a year, and they've been sitting on my patio all summer. I couldn't remember what they were so I had to wait until they flowered. Only one did, Mr. President,l so I planted him today, in a sunny, west facing location. It can get quite hot here, but I am hoping he will like it. If not, he's history. I guess I'll have to wait for the other ones to bloom next year before I plant them!

Charlotte

I've recently had the same dilemna. I dug up 3 clematis today, that were planted in early May. They weren't doing well. I had all but given up on them and decided that I had nothing to lose by investigating the root ball. To my surprise 2 of the three looked to be healthy and fairly established, considering their time in the ground. The other one only had two root shoots.
I potted each in a mixture of soil, humus/compost, peat moss, bonemeal and slow release food. I had done the same to a clematis in similar condition, about 2 weeks ago and it already has shown some green life with a new leaf popping through. This was the first sign of life I'd seen in a long time! My question is this: Do I bring these pots inside this winter? Can these frail, recovering clematis withstand a Massachusetts winter, outdoors, in a pot? It is mid August now and I don't think they'll strengthen enough by frost.

Glad to see your potting up the clematis has shown you the benefit for the struggling babies...I would dig a hole in the garden (A place you will remember so you can stay ontop of watering them) and sink them into the soil and bring the soil back up around the pots...leave them there all winter and then come Spring you can pull up the pots and permanently plant back into your gardens..remembering to keep them well watered is important..when fall comes to my area..I don't have to worry about watering as we have very wet falls/winters here....Jeanne