Earlier this summer, we planted a Jackmanii. Its stems were damaged in
the process of securing to the lattice fence so we had to cut it back.
Thankfully, it seems to have recovered nicely and it's growing up the
fence. More than a dozen flowers have bloomed and there are a good
number of additional buds waiting to pop.

We are in a severe drought so everything is struggling. Would we be
wise to pinch the flower buds and give the plant an opportunity to use
its energy to get established?

Zone 7a

" expounded:


We are in a severe drought so everything is struggling. Would we be
wise to pinch the flower buds and give the plant an opportunity to use
its energy to get established?

Why not make sure it gets enough water?
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
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We are in a severe drought so everything is struggling. Would we be
wise to pinch the flower buds and give the plant an opportunity to use
its energy to get established?

Why not make sure it gets enough water?

Good parts of zone 7 (at least here in Washington, DC) have been
having the kind of hot dry weather which tests even that strategy.
The plants lose so much water through the leaves that they can
sometimes droop even if the soil is moist (although if this is their
only problem they'll tend to perk up at night). Soaker hoses (not
watering cans) a must if you hope for "enough" water. High water
bills. Possibility of leaching nutrients out of the soil from
overwatering. Time consuming to do all that watering, move hoses,
etc. And so on.

Pretty common this time of year, but worse than usual this year.

Personally, I'm more of the "plant something which can cope with the
usual summer drought" philosophy. But for weather this bad, and new
transplants, I'll make at least a partial exception.

So going back to the Clematis, I don't Clematis too well, but pinching
the flower bud of new plants (a) can't hurt the plant, in terms of
getting established, (b) defers the gratification of flowers
(obviously), (c) is something I've never really consistently had the
patience for. So I guess I'm not much help on this one :-).

We are in a severe drought so everything is struggling. Would we be
wise to pinch the flower buds and give the plant an opportunity to use
its energy to get established?


If you've got the patience, go for it. Try to get the buds as young
as possible. Yes, it will help conserve the plant's resources.

Don't forget to weed, also... most weeds transpire horribly. Mulch, even
dust mulch, also helps. And remember clematis likes shaded roots.

Kay

Hi, I know nothing about clematis, but I have one that flowers early- late spring, I have no idea what it's called, its lilac and has large flowers, as its already flowered, it still has green leaves and now I dont know what to do! Do I cut it right off the trellis ? Will it flower again? regards.