Clematis wilt-one maybe for Plocket!

[madonplants]

I have a clematis in a large pot, due to moving house, that has suffered with wilt twice, this year. Both times it has re grown well and flowered, like they say, as I have planted it deep in the pot. The plant has been in the pot for about a year and a half, as we were not at our last place long. It was a cutting from an established plant from the last garden we had, before our last one. I.e. Two gardens ago! Question is. I want to plant this plant out when I get the borders dug, will this plant still keep getting the disease or can I plant it out with confidence in that it was in a container and that is why it suffered badly? If not do I forget about/dump it and buy new next year? It is my wifes' favourite Clematis.
It is a Clematis Triternata Rubromarginata.
Thanks

Keith

[obelixx]

My wonderful Clematis Man says that large flowered varieties of clematis are particularly susceptible to wilt but some others will get it if stressed. They will usually regrow if they've a) been planted deep enough to get new shoots from underground and b) are cut back quickly before the infection gets to the base of the plant.

He also says that over the years, some seem to develop a resistance and stop getting wilt. I think you should gamble on it doing better when planted out.

[madonplants]

Thanks for that. Maybe I will risk it, it looks OK at the moment. Time will tell I suppose.

Keith

[Plocket]

Hia Madon! First of all, are you absolutely sure it was wilt? Rubromarginata is a pretty sturdy clematis and wilt is fairly unusual these days, and as Obelixx's man says it's usually the larger flowering clematis that suffer.

I would think that you should plant it out - it would be happier in the ground whether it was suffering from wilt or not. Again make sure you plant it nice and deep, deeper than it is now, and at the same time give it a good dose of bonemeal. If you can, remove about 30cm (deep) of soil before planting so that it's replaced with fresh soil, and if the roots are healthy there is no reason why your clematis won't continue to grow.

Now is a pretty good time to move a clematis because the weather isn't too hot or too cold, so it should have a chance to establish before the winter.

Good luck, and let us know how it gets on next year.

[madonplants]

Cheers Plocket. What else could cause the whole of the top growth to go, even when the compost is not dry for it to re shoot again from below soil level? I am not an expert with diseases, but my first thought was obviously wilt. When you listen/watch to all the gardening shows they always talk about it. I have always planted them deep as my Dad used to be a gardener, so I knew about wilt, but is it really that rare?

Thanks.
Keith

[Plocket]

Hia Madon!

Well the most obvious things to cause that sort of damage are slugs or snails. They munch the stems which stops sap rising to the rest of the plant so that it dies back. They are particularly keen on young shoots which is often how a clematis is lost - it completely loses it's new leaves so can't grow. But snails also like the flowers of clematis - especially the large flowering ones!

Wilt does happen but it's not really understood and these days is fairly rare. Many new breeds of clematis are supposed to be immune to wilt, and there are other old varieties that are particularly prone. It does strike fear into the heart of clematis growers, but it isn't necessarily fatal, particularly if the plant is healthy. If plants are cut hard back, often into the soil, they will often revive because the roots are still healthy.

The point of planting deep, which you probably already know, is to encourage the clematis to produce more growth from under the ground, rather than higher up the plant. Thus creating a stronger and hopefully healthier plant.

I'm not saying that your clematis DOESN'T have wilt Madon, but I am suggesting that there are also other possibilities!

Px

[madonplants]

Cheers again, Plocket. I will just have to see what happens.

Keith

[Plocket]

Good luck - you could also try taking cuttings just in case. It's not really the right time of year but you never know!

Px

[blodau]

Hi Plocket.

There's someone over on the other side with a query about Clematis Armandii Apple Blossom turning brown. He's not had much in the way of response and I saw you were online over here and thought you might be able to help.

Blod

[madonplants]

plocket said:

Good luck - you could also try taking cuttings just in case. It's not really the right time of year but you never know!

Px

Will I need to use my heated propagator at this time of the year or will the windowsill be OK? I don't, as yet, have a greenhouse. When I do place it in the border, what aspect should it have? Previously it was on a dull west facing border, close to the house, but seemed to do well. I have all aspects here, so I have a choice.

Thanks again.
Keith

[Plocket]

Oh a windowsill will be find Madon - make sure you put a healthy leaf joint deep in the soil, against the edge of the pot (for some reason it promotes stronger root growth) and keep the soil damp but well drained. I put mine in a plastic bag, which I blow into as I'm sealing, and have them on a bright but not sunny windowsill. Do bear in mind that this isn't the best time of year to take cuttings as the plant will be preparing for winter, but you might manage to confuse the cuttings so that they take! Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

C. Trit. Rubromarginata will cope with sun or some shade so you can choose where you think it will look good, bearing in mind it can grow up to 15ft if happy! Get it in the ground as soon as possible so that it can settle before dying back over winter, and hopefully it will come back for you next year. Fingers crossed for you!

Px