Clematis Wilt:
One of the reasons gardeners adore Clematis vines is the large mass of
colorful blooms the plants produce. The enormous volume of blooms that the delicate
framework of the vine must bear can sometimes be its downfall. If the plant is not
securely attached to its host the stems can be damaged from the weight of the flowers
especially during heavy rains. This results in injuries that expose clematis to one
of its biggest enemies "Clematis wilt". The wounds become a target of attack for
a wide range of fungi, the invasion causes the plant to wilt or collapse just as a plant
would do from lack of water. Clematis wilt usually occurs just as the flower buds
start to open so you can imagine how disappointing this is. The whole plant can be
affected but the wilt usually occurs on one or two of the stems. The good news is the
disease is not fatal and the plant will recover. While the diseases actual culprit
is still up for debate many of the clematis experts agree on steps the gardener can take
to prevent it and to keep from spreading.
Steps to prevent clematis wilt:
When planting a bareroot clematis always bury the entire plant with the
stem 3 inches below the soil surface. If transplanting from a pot - bury the stem 4 inches
lower than the stem was growing in the starter pot.
Provide adequate support and help train new growth to climb the host.
Manually attach stray stems if necessary.
Keep soil moist and cool - it has been observed that clematis growing in
natural conditions where the soil remains consistently moist and cool that wilt rarely if
ever occurs. It is very important to water clematis during hot dry spells - even if the
leaves have dried up.
Good garden sanitation is key to controlling nearly all fungus problems
in the garden. Remove fallen leaves and infected plants from the garden routinely.
Prune out the infected part of the clematis plant and destroy - do not
compost. Sanitize your shears between each cut with a watered down bleach solution.
(5:1 ratio)
Never apply mulch directly around the plants stem - keep all mulching
materials a least 6 inches from the stem.
Keep the soil fertile and rich by using Organic fertilizers. A healthy soil = a healthy plant.
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