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Clematis Montana 'Freda' - how can I give it a boost?

LucidLucid Posts: 387
in Plants
Hi everyone,

I've got a very newly planted Clematis Montana Freda (2 weeks ago) and it currently seems to have lost all of its leaves - perhaps been eaten? I dug as large a hole as I could and made sure there was plenty of good things mixed in (John Innes No. 3, compost and grit) and also from feed granules that are apparently good for clematis. Here's how it looks now:




Should I be worried that the plant is looking the way it does, and is there anything I should do to ensure the growth and leaves come back?

Lucid :)

Posts

  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    edited May 2018
    Sorry you didnt get any replies. It does look rather strange for a montana, they're usually so vigorous. It already has the feed granules but i dont think it would hurt to give it some liquid seaweed growth stimulant. I found it very good to give plants a boost.

    Is it possible to see a photo of the full plant including where it emerges from the soil? 

    Slugs and snails do like them so maybe its been munched on? Did you see that the leaves.actually dropped or just disappeared?  
  • LucidLucid Posts: 387
    Thanks for your reply @Bijdezee. I think the leaves look like they've been eaten as I don't remember seeing them on the ground etc. It's planted on a North facing fence, but I'd read that the montanas are good for that aspect. Here's a photo of the lower part of the plant:



    It has still got green on it, but if it is slugs/snails that have eaten the leaves, is it likely to not recover?

    Lucid :)


  • LucidLucid Posts: 387
    Here's a photo of when it was first planted before it was mulched etc. Not as zoomed in but hopefully you can see there were leaves on there etc.


  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
     Zooming in there i think i can see the buds in the axils. It's rather late but i think you will see some action very soon  :) especially as we are going to be getting some warmer weather from this weekend. 
  • LucidLucid Posts: 387
    Thanks @Bijdezee. As long as it doesn't end up dying then I don't mind if it doesn't end up doing much this year. Just a bit concerned about the lack of leaves etc.

    Lucid :)
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