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World's unhappiest clematis

Posted by mamaartemis Tulsa OK 6 (My Page) on
Wed, Jun 18, 08 at 11:50

I planted this Jackmanii in early summer 2004, and I need some advice, please. As you can see it is not thriving. Here are its many problems:

I cut off one leaf -that leaf had one red spider mite.

It has stunted growth, brown/black speckles on the underside of leaves, tinier specks on leaf top (these are leaf problems, nothing that can be wiped off).

The leaves have brown edges; stems and leaves are pale and I would say if I really squint and use a dissecting scope, the edges of the larger veins may be slightly greener than the leaf.

I gave it a super hole when I brought it home 3 years ago and thought this would be an ideal location for cool roots, sun to leaves. Gave it a dose of epsom salts Monday (1 TBS to 1 gallon water) and malathion yesterday. So they haven't had a chance to work yet.

Anything else I should try? Should I give this up as a bad job and yank the thing?

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)



Follow-Up Postings:


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: World's unhappiest clematis

Have you been cutting it back every year?

did you plant it deeper than the nursery pot when you planted it?


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RE: World's unhappiest clematis

Well, I have cut it back in years past, but this year I decided to leave it longer in hopes that it would reach sunlight earlier in the season and do better.

Yes, I planted it 4-6 inches deeper than originally planted, and I tilted the plant slightly toward the wall. I made a nice wide hole that I amended with Back to Nature (composted cotton burr). I added Osmocote to the hole too. In addition, it has 4-5 inches of mulch at the base. I think I have mulch too close to the stem--but could that cause this much trouble?

I forgot to mention that 2-3 weeks ago I gave it some Milorganite.

Thank you so much for reading this!


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RE: World's unhappiest clematis

I would cut it back again, hard. That pale weak growth isn't going to do anything.

I would not fertilize or spray it again.

Was it a tiny plant to begin with?


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RE: World's unhappiest clematis

Yes, it was small, but I don't think it was stunted the way it is now. Since the day I bought it in 2004 it has had about 8 flowers, but the main accomplishment is that its "leg" has gotten longer and it looks sicker.

Just cut it 3-4 inches above the soil?

Thank you buyorsell.


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RE: World's unhappiest clematis

Yes, you want it to push up fresh new growth from the buried crown.


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RE: World's unhappiest clematis

Get a new one! You are spending so much time and energy on this specimen that it is costing you more than if you were to buy another one. I know it is hard, but you will be glad you did. I got rid of five this year, I didn't dump then, just stuck them in gallon pots and will baby them for a while to see if they are salvagable. I am so glad I did as the new clems I put in are taller and have buds and some have flowered alrready.,


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RE: World's unhappiest clematis

You're right, I am spending too much time, energy and product on this plant. I have a heck of a time giving up on stuff--I hate thinning too. Or if I break off part of a nice plant, too often I feel I have to root it and give it away or plant it. Maybe I should cut the jackmanii back hard, then dig it up and put it in a gallon pot like you did, just to see if I can cajole it into doing something.

I've gardened for a years, but this is my first clematis and I can't help wondering if I've done something wrong on this one that I am going to repeat with the next one. I did buy an Elsa Spath a week ago, but I thought I'd make one last ditch effort on this one.

The only plant I've had poorer luck with is a gardenia.


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