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Clematis wilt - or something else?

lukeredpathlukeredpath Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Our Clematis Cartmanii "Avalance" which was planted last Autumn has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. It hasn't even flowered yet. 

Is this Clematis wilt or could it be caused by something else? I forgot to feed and mulch it in March - I've applied some blood, fish and bone, given it a good drink and mulched around it with rotted manure but I guess if it's wilt that won't help and I'll have to cut out all of the infected shoots.

Some of the healthy looking bits:
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#...C-439F7121B217

Browning leafs and dying flower buds:
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#...4-8AD6E4038EE6

Black leaves lower down:
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#...4-72E14B7992D9

Close-up:
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#...7-E99F8501C2B0

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,846
    I think that looks more like frost damage.   I haven't ever grown this particular clem but in my experience the frost damage doesn't harm the rest of the plant so I'd just cut out the bits affected and water in dry spells to help it recover.  Be patient waiting for new growth.

    Clematis wilt usually affects the large flowered varieties and starts at the top and works its way down which is why it's important to plant deep so that more stems are encouraged to form below soil level and thus give the plant a chance to recover.  If it is wilt, the advice is the same, cut out all affected stems at a  point below the damage then feed and water well.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • lukeredpathlukeredpath Posts: 7
    Thanks for the reply. I hope you're right about it being frost damage. A few other plants in the garden have been affected by frost (the whole garden was landscaped and re-planted in October so everything is new) - notably my Autumn-sown broad beans had some blackened leaves which I removed, some of our lupins and I think we may have lost a couple of our salvias and verbena bonariensis too. We did get some temperatures around -10C in March.

    I'll remove the dead material and see if it progresses - I hope not because it's due to flower very soon!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,846
    Fingers crossed then.  I once lost 30' of clematis montana that was on the point of flowering one April.   Unannounced -12C frost saw the entire thing off, not just the flower buds and a some leaves but that was in central Belgium which can get Siberian beasts at odd times.   Killed off some alpinas too and a macropetala.

    Looking forward to being able to grow those in this new garden when we've got some beds dug.   Blank canvas at the mo.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Richard HodsonRichard Hodson Posts: 790

    Not wilt.   I think it is caused by too much nitrogen in the feeding and manure.


  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,846
    Interesting about nitrogen.  I understood the OP had fed and manured after having the problem but maybe not.   
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • lukeredpathlukeredpath Posts: 7
    Obelixx said:
    Interesting about nitrogen.  I understood the OP had fed and manured after having the problem but maybe not.   
    I did - I only did this today as according to the maintenance schedule I was given I should have done this last month.

    Until today, it's had no feeding since it was planted back in October. The beds were well dug and had organic matter (rotted manure I believe) incorporated prior to planting, I don't believe any additional fertiliser was added at planting time.

    I can remove the manure if its not a good idea - the beds are already mulched with Strulch which has no nutrients in it.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,846
    Nitrogen is the stuff that makes for healthy leafy plants.   However, clematis need phosphorus to make their flowers so give them a dose of specialist clematis fertiliser or rose or tomato.    Most manures don't have enough but they do help improve soil so I would leave it but perhaps clear a few inches all around the base of your clem.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Richard HodsonRichard Hodson Posts: 790
    I think you mean potash, not phosphorus
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    I thought both potassium and phosphorus were import for rooting and flowering.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,846
    Sorry - I get my Ps and Ks confused sometimes but yes, one is more for roots and one is good for flowers.   Difficult to measure in manure so I use a special clematis feed when I can find it and rose or tomato when I can't.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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