Clematis

I have just purchased a clematis Ooh La La which is for containers and grows to 3-4 feet.It has arrived in a 9 cm pot and is very healthy looking. Now I know we all want to have the plant whatever we buy all planted up in a nice container. The general feeling is and I do not know if this is for most plants but the clematis should be only transplanted into a slightly bigger pot once it is root bound, so I presume next size up from a 9 cm pot is a 1 litre and so on so could be a long while before it finally goes into container.
They also recommend John Innes No 3 mixed with 1/4 peat or peat substitute. Like most I am having problems getting peat although to be fair I have only gone to the sheds so far.
As yet from what I read a "peat substitute" is not yet available unless you have rotted leaves which I do not. Anyone else had the same problem knowing what to use for "peat substitute.
Thank You

 

I'd use multi purpose compost in place of peat, and mix that in with the J.I. #3

If the plant came through the post if may have come straight from a greenhouse, and be a bit "soft", so I would not put it outside straightaway - outside during the day (provided not blowing a gale or chilly), and in at night for a week to harden it off.

 

Wickes nutrient rich, peat based, multi-purpose compost gets a good write up here.


http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/420818-post4.html

4 75l bags for £13.

Cheers.

 

Thanks for the info Grumpy on Wicks compost.I will have a look when I go to Wicks Wednesday.My sister has moved to a, what the correct thing to say these days?, senior citizen flat ? I think she has brought with her most of Kent and cannot move.I foolishly asked if she wanted some boxes put into loft not realising it has no boards down.Had to go to Wicks to buy boarding and by end of day had half of the walkable loft boarded.
Never even got down the ladders and she was passing boxes up and that half of loft is now chockablock.
Now she wants other half done so it seems another day of getting hot in loft and getting fibre glass stuck in me.