1 Stemmed Clematis

Hazyb

Last year I bought a clematis (can’t remember name) it did not grow well and only produced one flower and appeared to die after that.

To my surprise it came back this year but with only 1 stem.  I have been feeding and watering it and it has continued to grow but no more stems have appeared. 

It was in danger of doing it’s flowering next door so I hastily and untidily tied it in horizontally. It is now full of buds and I look forward to them opening but what can I do to encourage more stems in the future?  Is it likely to correct itself as it settles in more. 

It looks odd. 

Rubytoo

You will have to do a really scary thing.
Enjoy your flowers then cut it back down to almost nothing.
Find the lowest leaves on the stem, and cut above them. Then it will shoot from there. It will also hopefully grow some new stems from underground.
You will have to keep an eye on it make sure no slugs or snails eat the new leaves.

Whether it is a group two or a three, it will benefit from this cut.
Give it a little feed too after it has flowered and you have cut it back. Don't feed it now.

Some group twos are late flowering some flower in spring with a later flush like now.
So you may lose any early flowers next year , but it will be better for the cut.
They do take a couple of years to get settled and grow well.

Glad you managed to keep the flowers your side, perhaps you can share them in years to come.

Edited to add. Don't get feed on the stem just around the root area and a little mulch .
Also try and guide and tie the new stems in horizontally before they get too long or high.
With your wire though you can usually just poke the ends of stems or leaves through every few days as they grow.

Hazyb

Thanks @Rubytoo that sounds like a sensible plan. I can forsake flowers next year for an overall better plant. 

For sure I will share some with my neighbour providing there are some on my side too if the plan works 

Rubytoo

You will probably get some flowers on the shoots when they ripen later next year as you have now.
Not knowing exactly what one you have is hard to tell.
And as it disappeared then decided to make a comeback. It might be a viticella.
You may well get late flowers again next year.
If any new stems after flowering this time ripen enough you may get some earlier ones next year if it is a G2.
If it is a G3 viticella type they flower on new growth late every year, and just get better and better.

If it was a little baby plant you bought it is doing well enough.
And it looks very healthy too so you have been doing some thing right.

You will have to post another photo when it flowers now. It is the law

Hazyb

It was indeed a baby and was only about 3-4 ft high when it disappeared.  I knew nothing about clematis then. 

I must have chucked the label away when I thought it was gone. From memory it had a very pale blue flower fading to white and had Sky in it’s name somewhere. Sometimes my memory is wrong lol

I will indeed post a pic when it flowers. 

bullfinch

Slightly off your original thread @Hazyb , but I really like that white flower growing in front of your clematis. Please could you tell me what it is, and does it attract bees/butterflies? It looks like something that might be good for that and I'm keen to put similar stuff in my garden .

AnniD

There's a clematis called "Sunny sky", and also one called "Skyfall" @Hazyb. Maybe one of those?

Hazyb

@bullfinch That is Ammi Majus grown from seed.  I should have planted more of them together as it is lovely.  It is attractive to bees and butterflies.

Hazyb

AnniD said:

There's a clematis called "Sunny sky", and also one called "Skyfall" @Hazyb. Maybe one of those?

Skyfall looks closest to what I remember, or what I think I remember lol

bullfinch

Thanks @Hazyb, I'm going to look out for seeds and give them a try.

Rubytoo

That is really exciting will look forward to seeing pictures. Good call @AnniD
Me too @bullfinch .
I did not do well with an Ammi plant my Aunty gave me. Both Orlaya and Ammi are nice. I think somewhere I read Ammi is easier.