Clematis suddenly dies: what to do?

Clematis that Clematis, delights especially in the summer months with a lush and impressive display of flowers. But the splendor can be over sooner than expected. Because it wilts again and again and presents its gardener with a task that is not always easy to solve. With our help, you will be able to identify the causes and determine measures for a quick recovery.

Clematis dies

Why a clematis stops growing, wilts or even dies can have a wide variety of causes. Usually the problem can be narrowed down to a few aspects, so that you can easily get to the core of the problem with our list.

Clematis wilt

A very common reason for a clematis that dies very quickly is the so-called Clematis wilt. This is a mushroom, or more precisely two different strains of mushrooms. Depending on the type of fungus, the disease is called differently and symptoms and effects are correspondingly different:

Fusarium clematis wilt

• Pathogen: Coniothyrium clematidis-rectae fungus
• Damage: closure of the ducts in the above-ground parts of the plant
• Effects: Whole shoots wither, dry out and die off despite an adequate supply of water and nutrients
• Remedy: generously remove and dispose of infected shoots

Phoma wilt

• Pathogen: fungus Ascochyta clematidina
• Damage: initially small, light brown-yellowish spots on the underside of the leaves, later dark spots spread over the entire leaves
• Effects: death of the affected leaves, spread to entire shoots and branches, plant dies
• Remedy: immediate removal and disposal of the infected areas, use of suitable, approved fungicides

Attention: The Phoma wilt spreads extremely quickly and can lead to the death of all the above-ground parts of the plant after just two weeks. If the disease occurs, action should therefore be taken immediately.

With both types of wilt, there is a chance that the plant will recover. However, if the Phoma wilt has progressed significantly, the loss of all above-ground shoots can only rarely be avoided. However, a well-established plant is able to sprout again in the following season. If you also want to prevent a new infection, you can replace the soil around the plant. In this way, fungal spores that have migrated to the ground are eliminated and do not immediately find their way back to the host.

Note: Clematic hybrids are particularly susceptible to the dreaded wilt. These are variants specially bred for a particularly large and lush display of flowers, their At this point, optical advantages come at the price of significant losses in terms of resistance became.

Overfertilization

Although the clematis are not among the poor eaters, they do not get along well with too much nutrients. Particularly when using slow-release fertilizers, over-fertilization occurs only with a time delay due to the gradual release and the identification of the cause can be made considerably more difficult. However, too many nutrients can affect the osmotic balance of the plant to such an extent that the tissue dries up and dies. The most sensitive parts of the plant, i.e. the leaf tips and the ends of young shoots, are often affected first.

remedy

• Adjust fertilizer application
• Briefly water the plant intensively to flush out nutrients
• Visible fertilizer (e.g. B. Remove horn shavings, manure, etc.)
• Replace the soil when using slow release fertilizer

Lack of water

Since the clematis needs a lot of water, too much of a good thing is less common than too little. It is very sensitive to drought. A sufficiently large moisture reservoir is therefore important. Otherwise, regular watering takes a lot of effort, especially with potted plants.

remedy

• Water intensely
• Increase soil volume in potted plants for more water storage
• If necessary, storing clay granulate etc. add
• In the case of outdoor plants, improve soil that is too permeable to water with garden soil

Attention: Waterlogging should be avoided at all costs, as mold and rot can develop on the roots in standing water. A well-storable soil, which is equipped with a drainage layer underneath, is therefore optimal. This means that there is always enough water, but excess moisture can seep away and is channeled away from the roots.

tip: The thumb test helps determine the right level of moisture. If you press the soil in with your thumb, it should feel moist to the depth of your thumb. If this is no longer the case, it has to be poured!

Feeding damage

Numerous animals love the clematis. Each species has its own preferences, so that hardly any part of this plant does not seem threatened:

Voles

They love the young side shoots of the roots and thus destroy the basis of the supply of every clematis.

remedy

• Provide a protective grille in the ground around the root ball
• In the case of intensive infestation, bait and live traps

Attention: The vole grille must be provided on the side and under the root ball as complete protection. Otherwise, the vole can just bypass it and the plant dies, even though enormous effort has been made.

Grubs

It is far more difficult to get a grip on grubs. These larvae of the May and June beetles develop in the soil and feed on the roots of the surrounding plants. Their feeding speed can mean the death of the entire plant after just a few days.

remedy

• Prevention through the use of insect protection nets
• Dig up plants and exchange or Throw through compost sieve, collect larvae
• In the case of intensive infestation and large quantities of clematis, use of nematodes (roundworms), which infect and kill the grubs

Snails

Snails love the young shoot tips of the clematis. If eaten in large numbers, their absence leads to the plant stagnating and drying out through the numerous injuries. At the same time, there are innumerable points of attack for pathogens such as the fungi of the clematis wilt to colonize the organism.

remedy

• Collect snails and otherwise expose them (e. B. Forest or meadow)
• Build snail barriers around plants
• Natural predators, such as hedgehogs and birds, settle there, e.g. B, nesting or Breeding opportunities