I know I've been MIA for a while... sorry about that. Had a bad summer on my balcony last year because of some work done on the outside of the building, but am looking forward to seeing all my potted clemmies explode with new growth this year. I can see those new shoots coming out, and it's awfully exciting!

Here's the problem, though... it's my Mme Julia Correvon. I bought it mid-summer 2007 and it gave me a gorgeous show that summer... until it wilted. Then last summer it didn't do anything at all, although I checked at one point by poking down in the dirt with my finger and the roots were healthy. You guys chastised me (lol) for checking the roots because I could have damaged new growth that was trying to come up, so I haven't done that again since.

Now, however, all my clems have new stems coming up except for this one. Everything is in huge pots on my eensy-weensy balcony, so one non-performer is a huge waste of room.

What's your opinion? Give Julia Correvon one more summer to try and make good, or give up and replace it? What are the odds it would come back after all this time? Or, do I have your permission to poke down and see if the roots are still alive?

Clematis are resilient plants in my experience and anything is possible with them.

This might not have anything to do with your MJC, but it is something to consider.

I've noticed in the past, when emptying out pots at the end of the season that some of the pots seemed water logged at the bottom. It wasn't until I read the following about water movement in soils that I understood why.

"There is, in every pot, what is called a "perched water table" (PWT). This is water that occupies a layer of soil that is always saturated & will not drain at the bottom of the pot. It can evaporate or be used by the plant, but physical forces will not allow it to drain."

Maybe MJC's roots are into this layer already and can't get enough oxygen.

Here is the link to more information.