Clematis are prone to drying out, usually, this starts with their leaves turning brown and crispy. The good news is that as long as the stem of the Clematis has not dried out, the plant should put on some new growth, once the brown leaves fall off.
If you notice that your clematis leaves are turning brown, especially during the peak of summer heat, it is likely due to sunburn. This does not necessarily mean that your clematis is dying, but rather it is suffering from excessive exposure to direct sunlight. To address this issue, consider moving the vine to a new location that provides it with some shade or filtered sunlight.
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When growing Clematis it is only a matter of time until some of its leaves turn brown, in certain cases the plant might actually lose all of its leaves. In the fall it is normal for most of its leaves to turn brown and crispy, after which they usually fall off, this is when they enter their dormancy period. On the other hand, some Clematis might get brown and crispy leaves in the middle of the summer, and it is usually due to water issues.
If the leaves of your Clematis are brown and crispy then check the stems, if the stems are flexible then the plant is still alive, if all of the stems have dried out then there is a high chance that the plant is dead. If you want to know why your Clematis is dying from the bottom up then check out my recent article Why Is My Clematis Dying From The Bottom Up? ( Top 5 Reasons ).
Clematis Leaves Turning Brown And Crispy
When clematis leaves turn brown and crispy, it is often an indication of environmental stress or improper care. One common cause is inadequate watering, leading to drought stress. Insufficient moisture in the soil can cause the leaves to dry out and become brown and crispy. Overwatering, on the other hand, can lead to root rot and fungal diseases, resulting in the same symptoms.
Another possible cause is excessive exposure to sunlight or extreme heat, causing the leaves to get scorched and damaged. In some cases, pest infestations or nutrient deficiencies can also contribute to the browning and drying of the leaves. To address this issue, it is important to ensure proper watering by providing enough moisture without overwatering. Provide shade or protect the plant from direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Regularly inspect the plant for pests and take appropriate measures to control them. Additionally, ensure the clematis receives adequate nutrients through proper fertilization.
Too Little Water
One of the main reasons why most Clematis leaves turn brown and crispy is due to lack of water. Clematis are really prone to drying out, as they have rather shallow roots. Established Clematis for the most part will have deep enough roots to get water, but newly planted ones will dry out if they are not watered frequently. If it hasn’t rained in a while or you have not watered the Clematis, then the soil around the roots will slowly dry out.
If the roots of the Clematis also dry out completely then no matter how much you water them, they will not be able to absorb it. Clematis do like some shade and moisture around their roots, so make sure to mulch the area around them in order to avoid their roots drying out. If you want to know if your Clematis is dead or not then check out my recent article Is My Clematis Dead? ( Top 9 Things To Check For ).
Too Much Water
Although Clematis do love some moist soil around their roots, but they will develop root rot if their roots are constantly in water. Clematis can actually dry out completely if their roots have rotten away, as these roots will not be able to transport water to the stem and the leaves. The first thing that tends to happen is that some of the leaves will slowly turn brown, some might even curl up, and eventually fall off.
Clematis Sunburn
Clematis do grow well in full sun areas, the problem is that not all of them are actually used to full sun conditions especially if you have just bought them from a nursery. Most plant nurseries grow Clematis in greenhouses, and most of them are never exposed to full sun conditions. The moment you plant a Clematis that has never been exposed to full sun, the leaves will slowly turn brown and crispy.
Oftentimes this sudden exposure to full sun conditions can outright kill the Clematis, it won’t have enough time to adapt to the new conditions as it’s simply drying out, no matter how much you water it. As most of these clematises have never been exposed to full sun, their leaves lack the necessary protection from the sun and will get damaged and sunburned. To avoid this problem, just place the newly bought Clematis in partial shade for a week or two.
You could also place a plastic bottle on top of the Clematis with its cap off, this way the plant will no longer be prone to drying out and it will also have some protection from the sun. As soon as you place the plastic bottle on the plant, in a matter of minutes you should see water droplets form on the inside of the plastic bottle. If you want to know which pots are the best for Clematis then check out my recent article Best Pots For Clematis ( Top 5 Best To Worst ).
Stem Damage
The stem of established and mature Clematis tend to be rather strong, so stepping on them is unlikely to damage them. On the other hand, young Clematis have really fragile stems, even something as simple as stepping on them could do some damage. If the stem of the Clematis is damaged to a point where it can no longer supply the rest of the stem and the leaves with water and nutrients then the entire stem will dry out.
Once the damage has occurred the top leaves will be the first ones to turn brown and crispy, after which the rest of the leaves will follow as well. Although the good news is that usually, new growth should appear at the base of the stem, right below where it has been damaged or a new stem will grow out from another part.
Overfertilizing
One of the reasons why Clematis leaves turn brown and crispy is due to too much fertilizer. Clematis grow really well without the need for any kind of fertilizer, but if you choose to fertilize them you have to be really careful. As Clematis doesn’t need that many nutrients it might not use all the fertilizer that you actually feed it. This fertilizer can build up in the soil, and when there is too much of a good thing in the soil it could start damaging the plants.
Poor Soil
Clematis can grow in relatively poor soil conditions as well, they will grow really well in clay soil, but they might struggle in sandy soil. Even if your soil is excellent for growing plants, the Clematis might still be hindered from using the nutrients if the soil has dried out, or compacted. For the most part, people tend to overcomplicate things when it comes to soil, but as long as other plants are growing in the soil, the Clematis should be fine.
Key Takeaways
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- The main reason why Clematis leaves turn brown and crispy is due to lack of water, the plant is simply drying out starting with its leaves. Occasionally too much water can have the same effect if the roots have started to rot. Clematis that are recently planted tend to have their leaves turn brown and crispy due to sunburn, usually, this is fatal to the plant. These plants are prone to drying out due to their shallow roots, so make sure to mulch the area around them.
- Clematis that are suffering from sunburn will have their leaves and even stems dry out.
- It is not always fatal for the Clematis if they dry out, provided that the roots are still alive they might bounce back.