I want to know the same thing -- should I keep my recently planted clematis indoors until spring so those water-sprouted roots get a chance to grow?

As far as how long to let the roots grow, I wouldn't keep them in water too long. I've been told by a local master gardener that these kind of roots become physiologically different than roots in soil and it sounds like the plant will need to adjust back to making normal roots after you put it in soil. For that reason, I'd probably transfer them to soil as soon as the roots are an inch long or so. But I would value seeing others' experience described here. Any advice on how long to grow 'em in water? And is it OK to keep a young clematis indoors for the winter while it grows its first roots?

- Steve

Robin and Steve...Here is a pic of my Rooted Clematis the day I planted it into a one gallon pot.

I dug a hole and dropped my pot into my garden and will let it spend the winter growing more roots..that is what is great about winter time...even tho plants go dormant they still continue growing their roots..don't forget to put bonemeal in the pot before planting...I would hope someone in a colder zone like you would speak to this issue...I know alot of Northern people who grow clematis from seeds keep their seedlings indoors in a cool basement over the winter...but I am thinking these rooted clematis might be better kept inside till spring for my Northern Clematis compadres'??!?!...Jeanne

A picture is worth a thousand words. Thank you Jeanne. This is exactly what I wanted to see and know. Steve, we finally got the answers that we were looking for.
Robin

I have two clematis cuttings that have rooted, and I decided to only plant one in a pot to see how it goes before I plant the other one. The one I planted is not doing all that well -- It only had two leaves, and the biggest leaf has started turning black, starting at the tip and working down to the leaf stem.

I think I'm losing it, unless another leaf pops out soon! How should I protect it during this adjustment time? I've kept the soil pretty moist, watering every two days or so, but maybe it needed more moisture than that, since it was immersed in water before.

Any advice from those who have made the transition from water to soil? Any tricks?

- Steve

Steve..you must remember that Clematis do go dormant until next Spring...my rooted cutting has...this is probably what has happened to yours..remember..it's a good root system that is important for clematis to flourish...and clematis Roots continue growing during the winter...don't keep it too soggy..are you keeping it inside for the winter?..Or dropping the pot in the ground?..I see you are in a rather cold zone...Jeanne

Jeanne,

Thanks for replying. I'm keeping them in my unheated basement (which isn't terribly cold -- probably in the 50s in mid winter and in the 60s now). It is by a south window, which makes it even warmer. I wondered if maybe they would only have a very short dormancy in such an inside place for the winter, so I wasn't sure if it would drop its leaves yet.

I would like to pot the other rooted cutting, too, but I want to be sure I didn't make a mistake with the first one.

By the way, I'm really excited about this. This is going to be very cool having two more of these vines without buying them!

And I'm Excited for you!!..You've done great..can't wait to hear how they are coming along next Spring...Jeanne