Wilting clematis

[Protea]

My clematis has started wilting quite badly, after it flowered. Its not all affected, and has not improved with watering so i've taken some pictures!

Is it clematis wilt?

I've noticed there are some dark purple stains on the affected leaves, and on some healthy leaves which are looking like they might go the same way.

Not had this happen before, and can't remember what clematis wilt looks like!

[Alice]

I don't think it's clamatis wilt Protea. With wilt the plant just wilts quite suddenly and large parts of it don't recover. A few years ago, one of mine, just as the buds were about to open, just wilted and most of it died. The little bit that remained grew on fine and it hasn't happened since. They do like a little bit of lime, so maybe you could try that.

[Palustris]

Clem wilt starts at the top and works down and there are sometimes coloured leaves. Give the plant a good soaking with a systemic fungicide anyway and check for snail damage at the base of the shoots.

[nick the grief]

Most cases aren't wilt at all Like Alice says. Apparently we had a frost in this area Wednesday night / Thursday morning, could it be something as simple as this for you Protea and it's "burnt" part of the plant?

[wellie]

It may be helpful if you could let us know which variety the clematis is?
Although I'm sure your Grapes already have your problem solved already, it's always nice to know. Large-flowered clematis do tend to suffer, and since the withdrawal of Benomyl/Benlate, clematis wilt has never since been doo-able.

If you have a regular problem with this, try growing the smaller viticelli group of clematis instead 'they say', because they are less prone.
And I would seriously take that 'with a pinch of salt' if I were you.
I have already this year had viticelli clematis die back with wilt.
It's an 'air-borne' virus, no?

[Protea]

Cheers Wellie, its Multi-blue and is a lage flowered variety. I took a sample to RHS Wisley when i took my potato leaves in. They weren't sure - it sounded like it had some of the symptoms of wilt - but not all, and it was all a bit odd!

They advised me to cut back the dead bits and leave the living bits and see what happens. Trouble is its only got one stem, so i hope it doesn't kark it!

I haven't actually got round to following their advice yet, but its not completely dead yet!

Any idea how to get it to produce more stems from the base?

[wellie]

Protea,

For more stem production from the base, I'd cut the base out of a plastic 3ltr flower pot, and cut a slit from top to bottom at the side of the pot. Put the pot slightly anchored into the soil around the remaining stem, and 'earth it up'.

That's what I'd try if it were me....

As yet, my Multi-Blue Clematis is ok (touch wood), but I'll keep an eye on it all the same.

[Palustris]

Last year I had to cut Multi Blue back to ground level after it was damaged rebuilding a rock garden feature (long story). It now has far more stems then ever before. Most, if not all, Clematis will shoot from below ground, as long as you planted it deeply in the first place. Accidently cut off the only stem on a big flowered hybrid last week, noticed today that there are new shoots coming from the soil where the plant is.

[wellie]

Which is why I've suggested earthing it up, because Protea can't physically plant this one any deeper now, so 'earthing up' might give a temporary solution.
Palustris, you certainly know your Clematis!
They are seriously lovely plants, aren't they?!

[Palustris]

Terrible really. Sat on the swing seat before and counted 30 of them and I think we have over 100 around the place. Probably killed a fair number too!
Looking today at some C. koreana hybrids, but at over £12 a plant they were a bit too pricey for us.

[wellie]

I rest my case then....?