"Charlie Pridham" wrote
"Bob Hobden" wrote ...
One of our Clematis, "Blue Ice", has died back just as it was filling
out
the position I put it in to cover. Is there anything I can do to
promote
new growth or do I just trust in the fact that I planted it deeper in
the
ground than it was in the pot and hope for regrowth from the stems
below
ground level.

Thanks all.
So it's "wait and see", I'm good at that. :-)
Shame, it was looking beautiful and healthy, lots of large flowers and
buds
and suddenly limp and lifeless.


Bob although "wilt" often gets the blame it often happens after the
weather turns rougher after a nice spell and is down to mechanical
damage. It is very rare for clematis to die from these events whatever
the cause. and despite the fact that the wilt fungus "can" cause wilting
it is air born and does not live in soil so it is perfectly possibly to
replant in the future. However the wisdom of planting in a place where a
clematis has failed to get going is another matter!
Although a relatively new variety Blue Ice is a group 2 clematis and has
already formed a reputation as a wilter. I suspect it will be one that
gives problems for a few years then settles down.
Heavy watering in Late May early June can help as it reduces the stress
on the plant as it approuches flowering. It is for instance almost
unheard of for plants in pots on the nursery to wilt due to being
protected from wind and having a regular water supply.

Thanks Charlie, we will have to wait and see. It's against a WSW facing 6ft
wall right next to our pond, about 12 inches width of soil but well fertile,
so it's a bit precarious to get to** but I had a good look at it yesterday
and there is no sign of any growth but one can only hope. If it's turned up
it's toes I'll just have to get another large flowered one, preferably a
white, to take it's place.
** I've fallen in twice and always in the depth of winter and it's a metre
deep!
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
just W. of London