Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

What's wrong with my clematis?

Jiff_fiJiff_fi Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Anyone know what's wrong with my clematis? We bought and planted it in a fairly shady spot about 2 weeks ago and moved it yesterday to a sunny spot. I gave it tomato feed this week. Its planted quite deep in multipurpose compost but we've not got any slate on the soil yet. 

«1

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hi @Jiff_fi and welcome to the forum. 

    What’s the variety of your clematis? 

    I can’t see how big the container is but I doubt if it’s big enough ... and it’s only half full of compost anyway. 

    Multipurpose compost is ok for bedding plants for one season but it really isn’t suitable for longer term planting. I would use John Innes No 3 loambased compost with the addition of some MPC in the proportions of 3:1. 

    Climbers need plenty of water for the roots to push up into the climbing growth. 

    I would move it out of the very sunny spot and repot it in a bigger container and compost as above. Wait until it’s doing much better before moving it back, and then give it plenty of water ... probably every day in the summer. 
     
    If the withered shoots don’t recover I’d cut them back. 



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





  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    I would agree with @Dovefromabove but be aware not all clematis will thrive in containers and it may be happier in the ground if that is an option. I grow many plants in pots but climbers in general are my Achilles heel. I now stick to annual climbers only. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yep - that's not going to be happy there for long
    It's important to know what variety you have, or at least the 'type' as that dictates the care. The bigger flowered Group 2 and 3s need planting a bit deeper to encourage new shoots from below ground. That's likely to be a Group 2 as it's flowering now, and judging by the flower size. It'll need a lot more growing medium, and as @Dovefromabove says, it needs to be soil based. 
    Some clems are suited to pot growing, but that's why it's important to know what you have. There looks like a label in the pot - can you take a look?

    Please don't put slate on it either. Just encourages slugs. If you want to mulch, use more compost or fine gravel.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Jiff_fiJiff_fi Posts: 5
    Here's the care label. Its a Niobe 


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I was thinking it might be Niobe. Mine is about ten days away from flowering
    It needs to be in the ground  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Yep and to Aldi's credit the instructions are for planting in the ground. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree @amancalledgeorge - good instructions on the label  :)

    If you can't plant it in the ground, you'll need to build a really big container for it. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Jiff_fiJiff_fi Posts: 5
    OK we moved it that day, put it in the ground in a shadier spot and I chopped off the sad stem. It now looks like this...it's really sad! I'm not inclined to think that it's frost because I've got another one a different colour on the same side of the garden. Have I got any chance with this? I remember my other one taking a while to settle...

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd cut that right back and water it thoroughly. Then give it some time.  :)
    It'll be struggling to maintain the top growth. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Jiff_fiJiff_fi Posts: 5
    cut back now? Should I expect anything from it this year?
Sign In or Register to comment.