Diseases & Pests

The only serious disease of clematis is highly infective fungal infestation called Clematis wilt. Suddenly either the entire plant, one of the shoots, or just part of a shoot collapses completely, although roots usually remain healthy.

This tends to affect weak, damaged or improperly cultivated plants. Buying clematis from reliable sources and planting only strong varieties, previously grown in a container can partially reduce the risk. Clematis should be planted deep in the ground in a carefully prepared site to ensure generous rooting of the stems close to the base. Before planting and also during cultivation all dead parts, both leaves and stems, should be removed. Wilt can be counteracted and fought chemically by watering the plant thoroughly with the 0.1% solution of fungicide Switch, if it's registered in your country. Use 3-5 l of the solution for one plant and repeat this treatment 2-3 times every 10-14 days. Powder mildew is proving an ever more dangerous disease affecting clematis. A white powdery growth appears on the upper leaf surface. With the course of time the growth gets thicker and red or brown spots may appear and eventually, the infected leaves wither.

The susceptibility to the disease varies greatly from one cultivar to another. All clematis from the Texensis Group are particularly vulnerable, as well as some large-flowered cultivars e.g. 'Romantica', 'Jackmanii', and 'Rooguchi' and others from the Integrifolia Group. Temperature above 20^oC and frequent moistening of the leaves promotes the spread of the disease. Drought stressed plants, grown in a partially-shaded position without proper air circulation are particularly prone to powdery mildew. In case of infection spray the plant straight after you've noticed the first symptoms of the disease with one of the currently recommended fungicide, for instance Rubigan 12EC (0,03%) or Saprol 190EC (0,15%), or Baycor 200EC (0,2%), if they are registered in your country. Repeat the treatment 2-3 times every 10 days, alternating the fungicide used.

Pests

Pests don't usually present a problem for clematis as they are on the whole less prone to attack than many other garden plants. There are no specific clematis pests and the assault from the most common spiders and aphis doesn't happen too often. If they appear, however, a similar treatment should be applied as in the case of every other cultivation. A mouse is another burdensome pest.

It will eat the roots of the plant, which will eventually collapse. You can partially prevent the roots from damage by wrapping the rootball with a plastic or wire mesh.