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Avatar for DimaB
Oct 17, 2018 6:35 PM CST
Thread OP
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Hi dear friends,
I am new to gardening, tried to grow clematis this year in cedar container on my balcony. I got quite healthy plants in May, put it the potting soil at 4" depth, and it was OK. Even had a few flowers in the summer, but in August both plants started losing foliage, turned brown and it getting worse every week.
I had used 20/20 fertilizer bi-weekly in summer, watered as per weather, soil wasn't too wet, but keep it moist. Clematis are on east side getting sun from the south and partially from west.
Could you please take a look on the photo and suggest what is wrong with tem and what shall I go to have plants healthy blooming next summer.
Thanks a lot.
Cheers,
Dima

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Avatar for FrankMosher
Oct 19, 2018 11:26 AM CST

DimaB: Welcome to the Forums. I looked at your pictures of your Clematis, and while I can't tell what the one on the right is, "Polish Spirit" is a great Group 3 Clematis, and should bloom from late June through to late Summer. I have several of "Polish Spirit", and almost too many of almost every other kind (joke-can never get too many Clematis). I don't really see anything wrong in the pictures, and what a beautiful setup!!! However, a couple of considerations to bear in mind with Clematis: I would be very cautious with fertilizer addition, and 20-20-20 bi-weekly I would simply never do - way too much fertilizer, particularly in a "pot" system! I would also be cautious with watering-Clematis do not really like wet feet. Also you will have to bear in mind, that Clematis can grow huge root systems, and I don't know how deep your "balcony bed" is? While this will not present a problem within the next few years, it can later. Finally, Clematis tend to have their lower leaves brown up first, towards the end of their growing season. I really think that is the case here-they are reaching the end of their growing season for this year! Hang in there and send us pics next Spring. PS. Don't be too quick to prune everything down to ground level because it "looks neater" . Some Clematis bloom the next year on both new and old wood, so if you cut everything to the ground, you could be cutting off next years potential blooms. "Polish Spirit" being Group 3 will be okay, but we don't know what Group the other one is in. Doesn't matter, no rush to lop off anything until next Spring. Cheers!
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Oct 19, 2018 2:29 PM CST
Name: Frank Richards
Clinton, Michigan (Zone 5b)

Hydrangeas Peonies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Master Level
Frank agrees with Frank! Everything looks OK so far.
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Oct 27, 2018 11:55 AM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I agree with Frank. Too much fertilizer. They don't require much at all.
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