clematis is drooping and dying

Question: I bought the vine last year and planted it in a container to grow up a trellis. It was doing well until a few days ago. Now it's wilting terribly. Some parts are dead.

responder: Karl F  Replied April 20, 2024, 5:17 PM EDT
response: Thanks for your question about your clematis.  A few things come to mind: 1. Too much water.  Leaves turning yellow often sign of too much water. Does pot have drainage holes? 2. Wind damage. Did any get blown by wind?  3.  Root bound plant within the pot. I would try to plant the clematis in the ground.   Clematis can grow up from the ground.  You can prune to the ground and allow plant to grow new shoots.   I hope this gives you some potential issues to consider.  Let me know if you have further questions.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 20, 2024, 7:34 PM EDT
response: Dear Karl --  Thank you for the suggestions. I garden entirely on my patio as I don't have any ground. On the other side of the patio, however, I have a 6' x 3' bricked in area with about 6" deep soil throughout where I'm growing perennials. It's against a brick wall (photo attached). I planted the clematis in the pot because the pot is at least 12' deep. It has been growing for a year and is about 5-6' tall now. I believe it got too much rain.  Anyway, do you think I could move this now? (I tried renaming the file and goof  --anywyay, it  turns out the 2 pix are the same) thanks!

responder: Karl F  Replied April 21, 2024, 7:27 AM EDT
response: Thanks for the follow-up information.    Does the pot have drainage holes?   If not, you could drill some holes in the bottom of the pot to allow for proper drainage.    To answer your question, yes you should be able to transplant the clematis.  You can also gently pull it from the pot and make sure the plant is not root bound.  If so trim some of the roots.  Let me know if you have further questions.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 21, 2024, 9:23 AM EDT
response: Dear Karl,Actually, I've been an MGV volunteer since 2017 and gardening since 1972. But all my gardening was in the yard rather than in pots. I grew clematis Jackmanii in my yard in Baltimore, MD in part shade and miss it (it was low maintenance). I don't have a yard here and am experimenting with growing perennials in containers and am growing more natives, including shrubs.  I volunteer mostly at the Civic Garden Center and try to purchase all my plants at the annual sales there. Although the  jackmanii isn't indigenous, I bought it at last spring's sale anyway. If you're anywhere near Cincinnati, the spring sale is next week. I'll be hawking plants at the sun/shade perennials booth (includes a few vines and shrubs.)  https://www.civicgardencenter.org/growfestRe: the clematis in its container -- yes, it has a drainage hole and is ceramic so I wouldn't be able to drill another one. I've put some peat moss in the pot to try to absorb some moisture and hope the plant is ok with that. Anyway -- do you think the root ball would be ok in that 6" deep area?thanks,DeborahOn Sun, Apr 21, 2024 at 7:27 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Karl F  Replied April 21, 2024, 9:51 AM EDT
response: It’s a little shallow but probably would be okay to transplant.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 23, 2024, 9:11 AM EDT
response: ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Deborah Vance <<personal data hidden>>Date: Sun, Apr 21, 2024 at 8:38 AMSubject: Re: clematis is drooping and dying (#0135172)To: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> FYI -- I transplanted the vine and it has died.On Sun, Apr 21, 2024 at 7:27 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Karl F  Replied April 23, 2024, 9:39 AM EDT
response: I am sorry to hear this.