Clematis is a perennial vine that attracts many gardeners with its beautiful flowers. clematis can make a beautiful flowering hedge or be used to decorate the walls of a building. However, sometimes the plant does not bloom, or flowers appear, but they are small and unattractive. To deal with such problems, you should understand all the possible causes. We will tell you in this BubGo article the reasons why Clematis plants do not bloom and how to ensure that they bloom for a long time. Clematis may fail to bloom for various reasons.
There are many reasons why Clematis does not flower and only grows leaves. It depends on the variety you grow, the quality of the plant care, the effectiveness of the planting and the location you choose to plant it, the fertilizer you apply, and many other factors.
Here are the main reasons for non-flowering
1. Young plants that have not yet entered the flowering stage. In the first two years, Clematis grows roots and blooms very sparingly. And in the first year, there are none at all. The experienced gardener deliberately cut off all the flowers to prevent them from spending their energy on flowering. It wasn't until the third year that the flower showed its full glory!
2. Buying a sick or dying seedling. If you buy a seedling "off the shelf" from an unverified seller, or at a sale, be sure to check it carefully. Foliage should be strong, with no yellowing or dried leaves. Check the roots. They should be free of dry roots, mold, and damage. Flowers sold in large chain stores have a very attractive price. There is a risk here of buying a dead plant, even though it may appear to be alive.
Tip.
3. Unsuitable soil composition. Soil should be loose, breathable, and permeable. clematis plants can feel depressed in heavy soil. If the soil is heavy, be sure to add sand, mulch, or compost to loosen the soil when planting. Clay and black soils will work well. Clematis plants will not bloom in acidic or excessively moist soil. To reduce the acidity of the soil, dolomite powder should be added.
4. The plant is deficient in nutrients. It is possible for Clematis to grow but not bloom due to a lack of nutrients.
5. Improper care (including watering).
6. Unsuitable planting location. The planting location should be sunny and open but avoid strong winds. Choose it so that the plant does not overheat and can stay in the semi-mountainous area for some time. Ideally, there should be the sunlight in the morning and at lunchtime. The best place will be near the fence. It will support Clematis, protect them from the wind and provide favorable conditions during the day.
7. Incorrectly executed
8. The plant is affected by the disease.
9. The plant is under attack by pests.
10. The plant has aged and can no longer flower due to physiological reasons.
Tips: Take plants with flower buds and green shoots. If the buds are dry and the roots are in dry soil, these are not suitable! It is possible for Clematis to bloom poorly or not at all for a number of reasons. In order to achieve bloom, determine the cause of the disease and start treatment.
Among the above-mentioned causes of lack of flowering, there are some that can already be eliminated during the growth and development of the plant. Here are some ways to solve the problem.
The more mature Clematis are, the more often they need to be fed. However, young plants may also be deprived of nutrients. Fertilization starts in the second year after planting. In the first year, no nutrients should be applied, as planting always puts nutrients into the planting hole.
1. Make the first fertilization in the spring after the snow melts. Fertilize with an all-purpose fertilizer, making sure there is plenty of nitrogen in the fertilizer. It will help you to grow a lot of green plants.
2. The second application of fertilizer is during the germination period. This can be any compound fertilizer. Double calcium superphosphate and potassium sulfate will do the trick.
In order for Clematis to grow healthily, it needs proper care. Water well and infrequently, about 1 time in 9-12 days. If heat is available, increase the frequency.
A good layer of mulch around the plant will help the soil retain moisture over time. Pine bark, straw, grass clippings, sawdust, or peat can all be used as mulch. When watering, the soil should be moistened to a depth of 20-28 inches (50-71 cm). This will require three to four buckets. Instead of watering the center of the bush, make furrows 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) around it.
Proper and timely pruning is very important. When purchasing, always ask which pruning group the cultivar belongs to. Whether it blooms or not will depend on proper pruning. To obtain repeat-flowering, prune the shoots after the first wave of flowering, leaving about 3-4 buds above the soil on each vine.
Tip: Cuttings can be rooted afterward. The remaining branches will continue to flower, while the cuttings will actively regrow and you will get a second wave of flowering in late summer.
To get a "flowering wall" of Clematis, some gardeners use the following pruning method. I call it a step. This is done in the fall when the branches are cut to different heights.
1. Collect 3 to 5 buds and prune them to a height of 40 inches (1 meter).
2. The next 3 to 4 buds are cut off to a height of 20 inches (0.5 m).
3. The remaining part is cut off from the base, leaving 2-3 buds on the shoot.
4. Then they are covered and the cut vines are tied to a stand in the spring.
Because the shoots are not cut off evenly, the flowering will also be at different levels. However, much depends on the cultivar and the type of pruning for each cultivar. Prune the flowers properly to make them bloom.
This flower does not get sick often, but sometimes it does. In most cases, it encounters it.
1. Rust Fungus.
2. Fusarium.
3. Gray rot.
4. Mosaic virus.
If you find a pest on your plant, you should start controlling it immediately. Otherwise, you may not flower, and in the worst case, you will lose the plant. Clematis can also be infested with aphids, stink bugs, and cutworms. these can be treated with folk remedies and insecticides.
1. Spraying tobacco dust solution is a good folk remedy.
2. If the snails and slugs are few in number, remove them by hand. If they are in large numbers, you can make special traps - bait with available means. Once the pests are removed, it is recommended to spray Clematis with copper sulfate.
3. If rodents appear, set traps or place mollies. When using insecticides, be careful not to let pets and children taste them.
It happens to be well taken care of and the flowers are planted correctly, but they still do not bloom. It is possible that the growth of the plant has slowed down. If this is the case, spray the entire bush with Growth Mimic. All plants respond well to EPA pesticides, but you can use whatever you have available. Immediately after treatment, you will notice that the bush "comes to life" and starts to grow vigorously.
Clematis can grow in one place for many years. Over time, the plant will age and the flowers will become smaller. In this case, increase the frequency of fertilization and, if there is no change, transplant the plant to a new location.
Do you grow Clematis? Share tips on how to get your Clematis to bloom with other gardeners in the comments.
