Virgina creeper turning red too soon- advice sought

Hi all
My Virginia creeper is a year old. It grew very well last year and turned a great colour in the autumn. This year is hasn’t grown much (so far) and has already started to turn red. I am hoping the leaves won’t drop during summer. What is causing this? How can I help the plant? Many thanks for any help
Dom

 

I'm not sure such a vigorous plant is really suitable for long term pot cultivation. Wonder if it has gone a bit dry and it's preserving energy by preparing to drop leaves?

 

I agree
It's probably stressed. Has it been allowed to dry out ??
They are quite vigorous and would be happier in the ground

 

I cannot put it in the ground. Would a larger pot solve this? The plant has not been allowed to dry out, to my knowledge. But it is west facing.

 

Would a larger pot help? I cannot put it in the ground

 

You can try a pot double the size but don't expect it to last more than five years or so, they really need all the space they can get. Alternatively you can take it out and root prune but not sure if they respond well to it as most people will put them straight in the ground. There are lost of smaller clematis you can use instead after it runs its course.

 

All I would add is try feeding at every watering and don't let it dry out, you could prune it during the winter.
Keep the top growth small and you could get away with it for a few years

 

My main reason, and probably yours too, for getting my Virginia creeper was for it's unrivalled autumn colour. I want that year after year after year, and as it gets bigger the spectacular show will be better each time.

I'm afraid to say that such a vigorous climber as the Virginia creeper really needs to be in the ground if it you want it to mature into a truly spectacular specimen. In a pot your size, or even bigger, and you are drastically minimising it's true potential.

If you want it that much I'd be sorely tempted to remove that single patio slab that the pot sits on, dig a good way down and backfill the hole with quality compost, and plant the Virginia creeper in there!

 

Have you not got anywhere it could grow in the ground?
One specimen will cover metres of fence (7+ here) so even if the spot is some way from your patio you could plant it and then train all the growth towards your patio area