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Very young Ceanothus

peteski2011peteski2011 Posts: 67
edited July 2019 in Plants
Hi all

I’m looking for something advice please. I have a very small Ceanothus (9cm) on its way to me. Question really is should I plant it or keep it potted until October(ish) and plant then? I intend to let it climb up our fence (Southerly facing). Size wise it seems very small and delicate to me so should I let it grow a little in its pot for now? 

Thanks

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    I would pot it on to a 1 litre pot and mollycoddle it. Its going to be a good few years until it goes up your fence!
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • peteski2011peteski2011 Posts: 67
    Really oh dear clearly I’ve misunderstood the fast growing part ..... should I begin training it to climb for the foreseeable in the 1ltr pot somehow or just cane it for now for support and let it do its own thing?
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    If it's coming to you in a 9cm pot, it is going to be tiny. Think of something the size of a tea mug! Repot it and when it puts on more growth repot it again. Make sure it gets watered regularly and grow on in optimum conditions. I reckon it will take around 5 years to even look at your fence!! Perhaps if you want your fence covered with something quick growing, plant a sacrificial clematis up it in the meantime and then you can hoik it out sometime in the future when your ceanothus starts it's fence covering duty! Any of the montana clematis will provide quickish cover. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • peteski2011peteski2011 Posts: 67
    Will do many thanks!
  • peteski2011peteski2011 Posts: 67
    Hi @hogweed the ceanothus has arrived....and yep it's small (barely 10cm!!!!) Should I re-pot it and keep it and grow it inside for now or put it straight out in as sheltered a spot as i can find? Concious its amazingly windy today in Edin. Not sure how it is in Fife but I'm guessing the same!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,180
    Keep it outside @peteski2011, but in a sheltered spot, and after a couple of days, pot it on if it's filling the pot quite well. If not, leave it until it is. It'll need potting on a couple more times before it's ready to plant out.

    You're gonna have a long wait for that to grow up a fence though  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • peteski2011peteski2011 Posts: 67
    Thanks @Fairygirl as long as he makes it to fence stage then I’m happy! As for what we do for the meantime I may buy another .....but more mature!! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,180
    I think that may be wise @peteski2011 !   :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • mikeymustardmikeymustard Posts: 495
    peteski2011 said:
     for the meantime I may buy another .....but more mature!! 
    And that's how I ended up with FOUR clematis Bijou this year!
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