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Clematis Guernsey Cream - rapid browning & crisping of leaves
puschkinia
Posts: 229
I planted this Clematis Guernsey Cream in a large planter (43cm x 43cm, on pot feet) last November, following the planting instructions I got (50/50 mix of John Innes #3 and MPC, like this https://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/plant-care.html). It's on a west-facing wall, shaded by the house all day in autumn/spring and most of the day in summer.
Initially it did well, but over the heat wave the growth slowed right down. It's very possible I under-watered it as the soil always looked soggy and I was concerned about root rot. In September it had a massive downturn, and now it looks even worse. It's growing new leaves (though they don't look too healthy), but the leaves it has already are rapidly turning brown and crispy.
Can anyone help me save this lovely plant please - I can't tell whether it's root rot or underwatering. I emailed the shop I bought it from and they suggested I needed to water more. I've tried that and it hasn't helped. I was thinking of digging it out & checking the roots, but I'm nervous about disturbing it while it's suffering
Photos in next post (it's not letting me upload for some reason)
Initially it did well, but over the heat wave the growth slowed right down. It's very possible I under-watered it as the soil always looked soggy and I was concerned about root rot. In September it had a massive downturn, and now it looks even worse. It's growing new leaves (though they don't look too healthy), but the leaves it has already are rapidly turning brown and crispy.
Can anyone help me save this lovely plant please - I can't tell whether it's root rot or underwatering. I emailed the shop I bought it from and they suggested I needed to water more. I've tried that and it hasn't helped. I was thinking of digging it out & checking the roots, but I'm nervous about disturbing it while it's suffering
Photos in next post (it's not letting me upload for some reason)
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If you can't plant it in the ground, give it a bigger pot and use good John Innes no 3 type loam based clompost with about 25% added multi purpose compost mixed in for moisture retention. Give it a thorough drink before and after transferring to the ground or a new pot and plant it 3 to 4 inches deeper than it was as that encourage more shoots.
Give it a generous dollop of slow release clematis, rose or tomato fertiliser every spring and occasional liquid tomato feed betwen waterings. Whether in the ground or in a pot it will need extra water during heatwaves and/or dry spells.
I hadn't thought about it being hungry - I did give it some slow-release clematis feed in Spring but I'm not sure whether I gave enough, and definitely didn't give it any tomato feed after that. Do you think I can give it a feed now, or is it too late in the year?
I have had nothing but problems with Guernsey Cream, it never seems happy. Mine is in the ground and gets fed and watered, but it only gets to around 2.5 to 3 feet high, produces a flower or two and that's it. The leaves turn brown and crispy and even though l cut it back, it hardly comes back at all.
I'm never sure if it's just bad luck or whether it's a problem with the variety.
When the trellis is replaced (hopefully next year), l'm going to dig it out and replace it with something else. It may be a problem with the soil or drainage in that area perhaps.
Good luck with yours @puschkinia
Ofc, mine looks nothing like that
If it doesn't pick up in Spring perhaps I'll replace it with an alpina - it seems they're lower maintenance, though I do love the big bright flowers on the guernsey cream.
Don't over-water. Don't over-fertilise.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
According to my clematis supplier when I lived in Belgium, it should get to 3m high and is hardy to -25C but, if it's staying in the pot, I would wrap some bubble wrap around the pot to give the roots an extra layer of protection from cold.