General wilting and Clematis wilt are two different things, general wilting is often caused by drought, stress, and so on, while Clematis wilt is caused by a type of fungus that attacks the plant.
Clematis wilt is a common fungal disease that affects clematis plants, especially the large-flowered hybrid cultivars. It can cause the plant to rapidly wilt, and in severe cases, it may result in the death of the entire plant. One of the visible symptoms of clematis wilt is the development of leaf spots caused by the fungal infection. It is important to address this disease promptly to prevent further damage to the plant.
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The main difference between general wilting and Clematis wilt is that Clematis wilt acts really fast, often it only takes a couple of days till the entire plant is dead. On the other hand general wilting is a slower process, and it is not always caused by diseases, usually, once the plant gets some extra water it will perk up. General wilt can be fixed once you know why the Clematis is actually wilting, Clematis wilt on the other hand can only be fixed with a good fungicide as it is a fungal disease.
Once you know what kind of wilt your Clematis has, it is time to address the issue with adequate care, if you do the wrong thing like spraying fungicide on a Clematis that is simply wilting due to a heatwave then you might kill it, so make sure to know why it is wilting first. If the Clematis is wilting because you have overwatered it then check out my recent article How To Save Overwatered Clematis ( In 4 Easy Steps ).
Wilting Clematis
Wilting in clematis plants can be a sign of various issues, including insufficient water, overwatering, root rot, pest infestation, or disease. When you notice wilting in your clematis, first check the soil moisture levels. If the soil is dry, the plant may be experiencing drought stress and will benefit from a thorough watering. On the other hand, if the soil is consistently wet, overwatering or root rot could be the cause, in which case you should reduce watering and ensure proper drainage. Inspect the plant for any signs of pests or diseases, such as aphids, powdery mildew, or wilt diseases, and take appropriate measures for control or treatment. Additionally, provide adequate support for the clematis vines to prevent them from collapsing or drooping.
Clematis Wilt
First I will address Clematis wilt, this way it will be a lot easier to know if the plant is simply wilting or has Clematis wilt. Clematis wilt often occurs in humid environments, as this is a fungal disease. If some of your other plants also have some kind of fungal growth on them then it is very likely that your Clematis is also affected. The good news is that once the high humidity goes away the fungus that is causing the Clematis wilt will also die.
A good fungicide will kill Clematis wilt, and I do highly recommend a liquid copper fungicide. If you want to have a more organic approach, then a garlic spray will do the job, as garlic has anti fungal properties, can be directly sprayed on the plant, and is also an excellent slug deterrent. If you want to know how to make garlic spray then check out my recent article Garlic Spray For Slugs ( Natural Pesticide ).
Heatwave
One of the main reasons why Clematis tend to wilt is due to a heatwave, these plants do love full sun conditions, but sometimes too much of a good thing can stress them out. During a heatwave most plants will open up their pores on the leaves, this is how they sweat. The more water evaporates from their leaves, in order to cool down the plant the more it will wilt. A Clematis that is wilting due to a heatwave will have limp leaves.
At this point it is a good idea to water them, the leaves will perk up after getting some water. If you do not water the Clematis, and the leaves are already limp, then it is a matter of time until they dry out and fall off. Even if this happens, it is rarely fatal for the plant, as once it starts getting regular water some new growth will appear.
Not Enough Water
Clematis will wilt if they do not get enough water, the wilting usually starts from the top leaves, and they usually start turning brown. Clematis are not that drought tolerant, in fact, they do love to have some moisture around their roots. Once the roots start drying out, they will have a really hard time absorbing water, oftentimes this can lead to the death of the entire plant, once the roots are gone the plant will not be able to survive.
When planting the Clematis make sure that the roots are in partial shade and the rest of the plant in full sun. It is also a good idea to mulch the soil around the stem of the Clematis, this way the moisture will stay trapped around the roots. Just keep in mind that too much water can have the same wilting effect on the plant.
Too Much Water
Clematis do love to have some moisture around their roots, however, if the roots are constantly in water then they will start to rot. Once the roots are rotten they will not be able to transport water and nutrients to the stems, which oftentimes results in the death of the Clematis. The good news is that the Clematis will let you know if it is suffering from overwatering, I just have written an in-depth article about it so check it out Overwatered Clematis ( Top 5 Signs And Remedies ).
Compacted Soil
Soil can compact both in pots and in the garden as well, and when this happens the Clematis will have a really hard time absorbing water. The soil will compact if it is constantly stepped upon or if it dries out completely. One of the first signs that the soil is compacted is cracks will appear in the soil. What tends to happen is that the soil as it dries out shrinks, and this is what causes the cracks.
In potted plants, you will not see the cracks, but you will notice that there is a small gap between the soil and the pot. To avoid the soil getting compacted simply mulch it with grass clippings, hay, wood chips, and so on. If the Clematis is wilting, the soil is compacted and when you give it water it doesn’t perk up, then it’s time to replant the Clematis.
Newly Planted Clematis Wilting
It is fairly normal for newly planted Clematis to wilt, the smaller the Clematis is the less likely it is that it will wilt. The main reason why this happens is because the plant needs some time to get used to the new surroundings. Plant nurseries grow Clematis in greenhouses, and once your plant them in a full sun location they will start wilting and usually lose most of their leaves.
This happens because the Clematis doesn’t have any kind of sun protection as it didn’t need it in a greenhouse. The good news is that even if the Clematis loses all of its leaves to sunburn, new growth will appear in a couple of weeks, and these new leaves will not be prone to getting sunburned. Just keep in mind that the plant needs a little bit more water during this period.
Soil Erosion
Soil erodes when there is nothing growing on it, this happens because the sun simply bakes the topsoil and not a lot of plants will be able to grow in such soil. Strong winds can also erode the soil, by simply blowing away the topsoil, and frequent rains can wash it away. Mature Clematis that have fairly deep roots will be able to survive in eroded soil, although younger plants will struggle as their roots are fairly shallow.
To avoid the soil from being eroded you should mulch it, grass clipping is an excellent mulch. Just keep in mind that organic mulches that tend to decay rather fast also attract slugs and snails, so if you have problems with slugs and snails in your garden then use wood chips.
Pest Damage
Most pests don’t really bother the Clematis, although if they are hungry enough they will go for them. Sap sucking insects like aphids can literally suck the life out of the plant, to a point where the plant will start to wilt and eventually dry out. Slugs and snails will usually target the new leaves and the flowers of the Clematis, which usually results in wilting. Clematis can die if there is enough damage from pests, although this is rarely the case when it comes to mature plants.
Key Takeaways
- Clematis will wilt if it is suffering from Clematis wilt, which is a fungal disease that is often deadly to the plant. Clematis can also wilt if it doesn’t get enough water or if it gets too much water. Wilting Clematis will have limp leaves, which will dry out in a couple of days, occasionally the plant might lose all of its leaves only for new growth to appear in a couple of weeks.
- Even if the Clematis is wilting it is rarely fatal unless the wilting is caused by a disease or fungus like the Clematis wilt.
- Check the topsoil if it is dry, as usually, this is why most Clematis tend to wilt, after watering it in a matter of hours the plant will perk up.