The drama begins within a few days. It starts with brown spots on the leaves and ends with the entire clematis dying. Clematis wilt is usually to blame. Here you will find tips for combating and preventing it.
What to do if the clematis turns brown?
If a clematis turns brown, the fungal disease clematis wilt is usually to blame. Remove affected plant parts, dispose of them in household waste and treat the plant with fungicide. Partially shaded, wind-protected locations and well-drained, humus-rich soils without waterlogging help prevent this.
Clematis wilt – symptoms and control
The danger to clematis is particularly great in warm, humid weather conditions. The spores of the dreaded fungal disease attack the leaves from below. Brown spots with yellow edges develop. Within a few days, all of the foliage, including the tendrils, turns brown and the climbing plant dies. The sooner you act, the better:
- From May onwards, check the foliage of a clematis daily for discoloration
- At the first symptoms, cut off all suspicious plant parts
- Do not dispose of the clippings in the compost, but in the household waste
- Treat the clematis with a commercially available fungicide
If the disease is already more advanced, you cannot avoid cutting it back completely to the ground. If the clematis has been planted deep enough, there is a good chance of new growth within the next 1-2 years.
Selection of variety and location prevents clematis wilt
It is usually the large-flowered hybrids that are affected by clematis wilt. Robust wild species, such as Clematis alpina, have natural defenses. Celebrities like Clematis Dr. Ruppel, The President or Elbflorenz are more likely to be part of the mushroom spore prey pattern. In order to keep these flower beauties he althy, the careful choice of location makes a valuable contribution:
- A partially shaded, wind-protected place without summer heat is ideal
- Protection from rain under an eaves keeps fungal infections at bay
- Be sure to plant clematis in well-drained, humus-rich soil without waterlogging
If you cultivate a clematis in a pot on the balcony, a place under the awning is a great advantage. The less moisture reaches the leaves, the more promising the defense against fungal diseases.
Tips & Tricks
If a clematis serves as a facade greenery, the distance to the climbing aid should be 40 to 50 centimeters. In this way, the rear ventilation of the climbing plant is ensured as an effective prevention against fungal infections. To ensure that the tendrils find their way to the trellis after planting, bamboo sticks act as guide rods.
