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Clematis Avalanche question

wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 967
in Plants

Someone gave me this clematis avalanche as a gift a few months ago. It was in wonderful bloom when I got it. Blooms and quite a few leaves all fell off suddenly a couple of weeks later.

image

I can't see mto find any UK advice on what I should do now. I haven't gotten around to taking a current photo but it looks awful. Considering it says it's evergreen, it just looks a total browning mess. Does anyone know what I need to with it? If repotting, when and how much bigger a pot shall I put it in? Are planting instructions for group 1 clematis the same as others, i.e bury deep? And is John Innes 3 an appropriate compost for it, or just some MPC?

I'll try and take a photo of how it looks now. Thanks in advance.

Last edited: 29 May 2017 09:40:32

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,842

    I think the poor thing needs a pot at least three times that size.  I would use JI No 3 with a bit of well rotted manure mixed in, and yes ... plant it nice and deep.   


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Are you sure it's frost hardy?  I had a Cartmanii Joe which looked similar but I had to keep it in the conservatory over winter.  I forgot to bring it in early enough one year and it lost all of its leaves but did eventually recover (until it was killed by a scale infestation.)

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Dave HedgehogDave Hedgehog Posts: 377

    It definitely needs repotting in a seriously substantial pot. It has likely used up all the nutrients in the compost of the tiny pot it's currently in. The ideal time has passed but here's some info that will help:

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=97

    Evergreen Clematis should be planted at soil level.

  • wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 967

    I just took a photo. It's at the back of the garden in the plant holding area or 'hospital' LOL.  This is it now:

    image

    I don't know if it's frost hardy Bobthegardener, but i'm sure it said that on the label. Do you think the frost got to it?

    Thanks Dovefromabove for the potting advice.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,842

    I think it's simply finished flowering for the year ... it's a cartmanii type, early spring flowering, an evergreen scrambler that needs tying into its supports.   It should be hardy down to -10C 

    But it does need a much much larger container.  

    NB. Of course ... it's evergreen ... my mistake.  Do not  plant deeper than the crown!.   image

    Last edited: 29 May 2017 12:33:39


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 967

    Thank you Dovefromabove!

  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,040

    I have two of these which I grow with roses up obelisks.  They never look good in the winter but they still look good at the moment even though the flowering is over.  As others have said they need a really big pot at least 18" deep and they are very hungry and thirsty plants.  They should be fed weekly during the growing season.

    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 967

    Yviestevie thank you. It's so hard to find info on this plant. Do the flowers just drop off then? Mine kind of all dropped off suddenly overnight. I will repot and see what happens. It's going to be really hard to put another trellis in - shall I put a bigger one at the back of the new pot?

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