I should clarify-this is my first clematis ever, which happens to be a nelly Moser. I was looking for something to tolerate shade and provide screening for our porch.

I'm no expert, but I think it's making roots and you should continue to baby it. If it were me, I'd add soil to cover those roots you have showing, but I wouldn't fertilize it. I'm always afraid I'll add too much fertilizer and kill the darn thing off. I might put it in a larger pot because peat dries out so fast, but if you've kept it alive this long, you seem like you're more careful than I am about watering. I'd just keep on with what you're doing for babying.

Thank you Ophelia T. I peeked under the pot( between it and the 2nd peat pot -I had it sitting in two and the roots were poking through so I did go ahead and put the peat pot unto a garden pot. Hopefully it's happy -oh and I gave it a little top dressing to cover it's nekkid roots. :)

It sounds like you are really helping this little guy out! I have found that the ones I order online really do have to be babied a lot and I will no longer plant mine directly into the ground like I was doing this year. They are just too small. And then squirrels come by and eat the leaves off. -_-

I have always been terrified of fertilizing my plants but I finally decided to get over my fear last week and fertilized my clems, hydrangeas and roses. I had a small baby john davis that was looking pretty awful and the cane had been completely knocked off down to the soil. I fertilized it and it has put out three baby canes in a week.

Good luck! It sounds like your nelly will be just fine now!!

All clematis should be planted deep so add an inch of potting soil to that pot. Pinching out the tips once it grows a bit more will help too.

They do need regular fertilizer especially if in pots and when you do plant it into the ground make sure you plant it deep and cut it back.

Clematis are high maintenance, especially when young.

I fertilized my NM and she shot up a good foot of vine and set a bud. I was going to cut it back until I saw the bud and I thought I would enjoy the blossom before I pinch her back! Here is a picture the bloom. Please ignore the ugly pot she is in -"bloom where you are planted" and all that.

It isn't trellised so I just coiled the vine and set the bud in the pot. :)

Wow - congrats! I do the same thing with the blooms. You have to let them bloom and enjoy them for just a little bit :o)