It is fairly uncommon that Clematis will start dying from the bottom up, although in certain circumstances it can occur. Even if it might look like the Clematis is dying, it is probably only losing its leaves from the bottom of the stem.
If you notice that your Clematis is turning brown from the bottom up while the upper part remains green and is still producing flowers, it is likely that it is not receiving enough water. Clematis plants have high water requirements and need consistent moisture, especially when flowering.
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Even if the Clematis dries out completely it might still not be dead, so do not touch it once its starts losing some leaves from the bottom. A lot of people tend to jump to conclusions when they see their clematis struggling, and if it is starting to die from the bottom up we can rule out their most common disease which is Clematis wilt. Clematis wilt is deadly to most Clematis, but it doesn’t kill the plant from the bottom up.
In fact, Clematis wilt will start killing the plant from top to bottom, and usually, the stem will wilt in a matter of days. There are a couple of things you should check if you think your Clematis is dead, for more information check out my recent article Is My Clematis Dead? ( Top 9 Things To Check For ).
Why Is My Clematis Dying From The Bottom Up?
When a clematis plant is dying from the bottom up, it can be attributed to several possible causes. One common reason is insufficient watering, leading to drought stress and poor root health. Over time, this can cause the lower parts of the plant to die off. Another possible cause is a fungal infection, such as clematis wilt, which starts at the base of the plant and gradually moves upward. This disease restricts the flow of water and nutrients, resulting in the wilting and death of the lower portions of the plant.
Additionally, poor soil drainage or improper planting depth can lead to root rot, causing the lower parts of the clematis to decline. To address these issues, it is essential to provide consistent watering, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Pruning affected portions of the plant and improving soil drainage can help mitigate the impact of fungal diseases.
Lack Of Water
One of the main reasons why Clematis tend to die from the bottom up is due to lack of water. Although Clematis are not that thirsty plants they do struggle in a drought. Clematis need full sun in order to grow well, but they do like some moisture and cool air around their roots. This is why it is usually recommended to plant the Clematis in such a way that its roots are in the shade while the rest of the plant is in full sun.
Clematis have fairly shallow roots, which make them prone to drying out if the topsoil gets completely dry. If this happens then the roots will also dry out and will not be able to absorb any water or nutrients. If the process of the roots drying out is gradual, meaning it takes some time, then the Clematis will wilt and dry out from the top to bottom. On the other hand, if the soil around the Clematis dries out relatively fast, then this drying-out process might start from the bottom to the top. If you want to know what are the best pots for Clematis then check out my recent article Best Pots For Clematis ( Top 5 Best To Worst ).
Damaged Stems
Another possible cause of why the Clematis is dying from the bottom up is damaged stems. If the stems of the Clematis are damaged in such a way that they can no longer transport water or nutrients then the plant will die from the bottom up. The stem of young Clematis are fairly flexible, but as older they get the stronger, thicker, and less flexible their stems get.
The simple act of stepping on the stem of the Clematis might damage them to a point where they can no longer feed the stem and the leaves, it is usually followed by the leaves and the stems drying out. Even if the stem is damaged, don’t worry, the plant has plenty of resources in its roots, and will most likely grow a new stem. If your Clematis has brown leaves after it has flowered then check out my recent article Clematis Brown Leaves After Flowering ( 6 Main Reasons ).
Using The Wrong Mulch
Mulches are extremely beneficial for all plants, however, not all kinds of mulches provide the same benefits. Mulches made out of rocks or rubber, do protect the soil but they also tend to absorb a lot of heat. As these mulches absorb heat they will slowly dry out the topsoil, to a point where the shallow roots of the Clematis will no longer be able to absorb any water. At this point, the Clematis will slowly dry out from bottom to top.
Root Rot
A lot of plants tend to be prone to developing root rot if they are constantly wet. Although Clematis do like some moisture around their roots, but they really hate if the roots are soaking wet all day long. If the roots of the Clematis are in water for a prolonged period of time then sooner or later they will start to rot. Once the roots start to rot they will no longer be able to supply water and nutrients to the stem of the plant.
In wet conditions, the stem of the Clematis will also start to rot from the base up, and usually, the entire plant will die. Once the roots and the stem of the Clematis have started to rot all you can do is chop off the rotten parts and hope for the best, but expect the worst.
Not Pruning
It is fairly normal for mature Clematis to lose their bottom leaves. This tends to happen because most of the growth is on the top part of the plant, and the bottom leaves are no longer needed. When the Clematis is approaching its dormancy period in winter, it will lose most of its leaves from the bottom up and even start looking like it is dying. If you have never pruned your Clematis and you have had it for at least a couple of years, then the odds are that the plant will lose its bottom leaves.
If you do not like how the Clematis looks with its bottom part without leaves then prune it, this will force it to grow new leaves wherever it can, usually, the bottom part of the stem will be filled with leaves in a matter of weeks.
Key Takeaways
- The main reason why your Clematis is dying from the bottom up is due to lack of water. If the plant doesn’t have access to any water for a longer period of time it will start drying out. Damaged stems and root rot can also cause the Clematis to die from the bottom up, as the plant has lost any ability to transport water and nutrients to the stem and the leaves.
- It is normal for mature Clematis to lose their leaves from the bottom part of the stem if they have not been pruned.
- If the roots of the Clematis dry out then the entire plant will dry out as well.