Forum home› Plants

my new Clematis Montana is wilting

MartineBMartineB Posts: 64
in Plants
Hello gardeners. I wonder if you could help me
We have planted a new Clematis Montana on a west facing fence in April. It has started to wilt from the top. Do you think it's dying? 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,254
    If you trace that stem back, you'll probably find damage lower down - snails/slugs usually.
    However, if you plan on keeping it there, those other shrubs nearby will be affected. Monatanas become huge. You'll need some proper supports on that fence for it too.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • cats_and_dogscats_and_dogs Posts: 71
    I have a clematis montana covering a pergola- it's huge and completely covers the pergola and a whole wall as well. So be prepared to have most of your fence covered by the clematis! It's a very thirsty plant, maybe it dried out during the hot weather? Slugs and snails don't touch my montana, but it could be damage to the stem as Fairygirl says. There is a thing called clematis wilt, but montana should be pretty resistant. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,254
    Montanas don't get wilt. 
    It can even be something as simple as a bird sitting on a stem and breaking it. The young stems are quite fragile. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,740
    I’ve had snails making their way up the stem of a newly planted clematis on damp evenings, stripping the bark off as they go 🤬
    🐌 🦔 🐦 🐸 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • mikeymustardmikeymustard Posts: 495
    This spring has been a trial for new clems what with the weather (in some places - sorry @Fairygirl) and all. Tender new stems and a nice, damp micro environment where you've been doing extra watering (you have been watering it haven't you?) make it very tempting to molluscs. I planted one out last week that I'd grown for a year from a Morrisons £1.80 liner. Two days and the top third was gone: I visited it that night and found eight slugs at the clematis restaurant - one of them was about a foot long (ok maybe a slight exaggeration  :|)
  • MartineBMartineB Posts: 64
    yes I have watered mikeymustard maybe too much. I hope your new clematis is performing better than mine. My Montana looks quite dead now. I don’t understand my other three clematis are doing well
    anyway thank you everybody 
  • mikeymustardmikeymustard Posts: 495
    Honestly @MartineB it's difficult to overwater a newly planted one. Don't give up all hope just yet - there's still an outside chance it might throw up a shoot or two.
    As for mine, I've been too busy working or hiding from torrential downpours to look this week, I'm just about to be brave and take a peek  :#
Sign In or Register to comment.