Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Cultivation => Cultivation Problems => Topic started by: grenadier on May 17, 2014, 07:53:28 PM

Title: Clematis wilt
Post by: grenadier on May 17, 2014, 07:53:28 PM
 ??? Hi, please can any knowledgeable clematis member give me any advice on how to combat "clematis wilt". I know that there is no known cure but maybe you could advise me of a good fungicide that I could use. I would appreciate any help.  Grenadier.
Title: Re: Clematis wilt
Post by: Maggi Young on May 17, 2014, 08:12:52 PM
First thing to do is cut the affected plant RIGHT down-  you may be lucky and have it regrow again in better health.  Fungicides for the amateur gardener are much reduced in number  but  something containing myclobutanil is usually recommended ( I don't like any of these chemicals really) - see this pdf from the RHS : [attachurl=1]
 
Title: Re: Clematis wilt
Post by: grenadier on May 17, 2014, 08:22:57 PM
Thanks Maggie
I have to say that I am not a fan of chemicals myself. I mentioned them out of shear frustration. However,I will cut back as you suggested as I guess I have nothing to loose. Many thanks. Grenadier. :) :) :)
Title: Re: Clematis wilt
Post by: fermi de Sousa on May 18, 2014, 01:03:12 PM
The advice we get here is that when planting make sure that at least one or two nodes are below ground level so that new growth can come from dormant buds. I presume that means that the wilt only kills the top growth. A bit late in your case, though, unless this is standard advice with planting the large flowered hybrids.
cheers,
fermi
Title: Re: Clematis wilt
Post by: Palustris on May 18, 2014, 02:11:40 PM
Mollusc damage at the base of the shoots is more usual these days than wilt. Easy to tell them apart, slug/snail damage cause the shoot to droop from the top whereas wilt starts at the bottom and works up. Also in wilt there is a purple stain inside the affected stem.
Title: Re: Clematis wilt
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 18, 2014, 11:56:40 PM
Please go to the Forum threads that deal with the FUNGUS Trichoderma and its various manifestations such as granules, dowls, water-on etc. This fungus, if a little is dug into the planting space of any Clematis, will totally prevent the introduction of Clematis wilt. Yes, it really will. I used to lose 3 of every 5 of the large-flowered hybrids that I planted, to wilt.  Since using Trichoderma, available world-wide now under various trade names, I have not lost even one and from that time I suppose I've planted 50 at least. I use about a tsp of the granules, available here (NZ) as Plant-Mate or Root-Mate among other names and just sprinkle it into the planting hole and mix with the soil as it is replaced around the rooted at planting time.

Three dowls hammered into centimetre-wide holes drilled in our 'Wiggins' peach tree, have totally cured the leaf curl from which the peach has suffered since first planted about 8 years ago. We dug and moved it last year to bring with us and this last spring was the third since the dowl placement. We had a little leaf curl at the top spring before last but not a sign of it the spring of 2013 or though the summer until leaf fall. We don't expect any this coming spring either.
Title: Re: Clematis wilt
Post by: grenadier on May 19, 2014, 09:40:23 PM
 :) Thank you Lesley for your really helpful answer to my question. I cannot seem to find the forum thread for fungus trichoderma. I would really like to know about the one you water onto the plant if anyone can help with the UK equivalent. I will try and find a source of the one you incorporate at planting time.
Also thanks to Palustris and fermides for your help.  :)
Title: Re: Clematis wilt
Post by: grenadier on May 20, 2014, 08:15:12 AM
Lesley
I have found the link now and the product. Thank you.
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