The clematis wilt can quickly finish off the flower tendril. We show you how to recognize and treat clematis wilt.
There are about 300 species of the Clematis plant genus, which, depending on the variety, can delight the owner in almost all colors in the garden from spring to autumn. Some varieties are accompanied with different tart or sweet scents. The winter picture is determined by cascades of silvery-silky hairy tufts of fruit. All of which sounds like a plant well worth keeping in the garden. Unfortunately, there is currently Fusarium wilt and Phoma clematis wilt, which are threatening this idyll and therefore great caution is required if noticeable changes occur in one's own clematis.
Clematis wilt: recognizing and distinguishing symptoms
In the case of clematis wilt, a distinction is made between two different diseases, which particularly affect large-flowered clematis species. The fungi differ in their symptoms. We will show you how to recognize them early on.
Fusarium clematis wilt Identify
Fusarium clematis wilt erupts due to fungus Coniothyrium clematidis-rectae. This penetrates the plant through injuries to leaves or shoots and clogs their water channels. These unwanted entry points can be caused by mechanical damage during garden maintenance or by stress cracks in the bark due to excessive solar radiation in colder months.
Because the fungus prevents the flow of water, the first symptoms appear in the form of suddenly hanging shoots and/or withering leaves. Without knowing about these symptoms, one would probably assume at first glance that the plant is lacking water. If you water now, this only favors the typically humid habitat in which mushrooms feel particularly comfortable. The art lies in recognizing that these symptoms are not normal signs of water deficiency, but rather serious signs of clematis wilt. Fusarium clematis wilt also stands outcharacterized by the fact that there are no spots on the leaves and the shoots begin to wither apparently "for no reason".
A point of time to look out for such impairments is from June, since high temperatures are possible there and become only then can the fungus multiply quickly.
Phoma clematis wilt Identify
The other and more common form of the disease is called Phoma clematis wilt and is caused by the fungal pathogen Ascochyta clematidina. This form of clematis wilt is much easier to spot as spots form on the leaves at the bottom of the plant. These are initially yellow to light brown, but over time they become darker and eventually take up the entire leaf. This infestation starts on the underside of the leaves, but quickly builds up to affect other parts of the plant after a few days. The first shoots usually die off after two weeks, unless you correctly interpret the first symptoms.
Large-flowered clematis hybrids are particularly at risk, since the above-ground parts of the plant can die off completely. You should be prepared for the Phoma clematis wilt from early summer (i.e. from the month of May) and always keep an eye out for damage to your own clematis plants.
Clematis wilt: treat successfully
Since the course of this wilt disease is very rapid, action should be taken quickly when it is discovered. Here, too, the methods differ, depending on whether the Phoma or Fusarium variant is involved.
Treat clematis wilt with fungicide
First of all, it should be said that the use of pesticides must be strictly according to the package leaflet and only if the diagnosis is positive. If used excessively, not only the plants in the area can suffer, but also the pollinating insects and the soil organisms. Therefore, the same guiding principle applies here as for fertilization: a lot does not help much. If you are unsure, you should always trust the advice of a knowledgeable crop protection product seller.
Clematis wilt cannot always be counteracted with a commercially available fungicide. Should it be determinedYou can save money if you know that it is Fusarium clematis wilt, as fungicides have no effect on it.
In the case of Phoma wilt, the early use of a suitable fungicide can damage and destroy the fungal pathogen. If the infection has already reached deeper parts of the plant, it can lead to the disease persisting despite treatment. We recommend agents that are not harmful to bees and have a systemic effect, which means that the agent is absorbed by the plant via the roots or leaves and is thus distributed throughout the organism. The advantage here is that such agents reach every part of the plant and also have a lasting long-term effect against clematis wilt.
Clematis Wilt Natural Treat
The natural treatment for this fungal disease is based on proper cutting into he althy wood. If you recognize the first symptoms of clematis wilt, all affected parts of the plant must be cut off immediately and banned from the garden. In the worst case, the plant will fail for the next two years, but can then sprout again. You should dispose of infected parts of the plant in the household waste, because the fungal spores live on fallen leaves and clippings and can quickly infect other plants.
Clematis wilt: prevent and prevent infestation
As the saying goes, a fungus is a sign of dampness and moisture. The situation is similar with a fungal disease. If the plant is constantly damp, fungi can form on both above-ground and underground parts of the plant.
To counteract this, your clematis species should be given a location that is similar to that of the roses. They prefer a sunny location that is also well ventilated, so that moisture from precipitation quickly disappears from the leaves. This also prevents potential habitats for fungi. A little tip: That's why you shouldn't water the leaves of a plant from above, but rather directly at the root or the soil. In addition to moisture, injuries are also excellent entry points for diseases of all kinds. Such mechanical injuries can occur from blunt cutting tools or from the maintenance of the environment. For example, you should refrain from constantly loosening or digging up the root area. Soil loosening would only make sense if the clematis in aheavy, dense soil and there is a risk of waterlogging. If there is humus-sandy soil, you should refrain from repeated digging, otherwise parts of the roots will be damaged, which are weakened at this moment and are particularly susceptible to pathogens in the near future.
Maintenance measures can be limited to the superficial collection of weeds and the accumulation of bark mulch. Bark mulch suppresses weeds and retains moisture. A proven method is also to shade the root base so that stress cracks cannot occur. This can be done with a shading net, for example. Tip: If too many empty pots have accumulated over time, they can also be divided and used to shade the roots.
The most important and at the same time easiest point to avoid clematis wilting is pruning tools that are used with already diseased plants has come into contact, disinfect immediately with alcohol. Otherwise you spread the pathogen quickly and effectively to all species nearby.
Clematis Wilt: Resistant Varieties
Plant protection begins with the selection of the plant, so we have put together an overview of suitable species and varieties within the plant genus Clematis below. The recommendation of this list is based on resistance to both Phoma and Fusarium wilt. Unfortunately, disease cannot be completely ruled out within the hybrid varieties.
Tip: To strengthen your clematis and make it more resilient, we recommend our Plantura organic flower fertilizer. This is excellently adapted to the needs of the clematis and offers a high proportion of potassium and phosphate, which is important for the flowering phase. The organic fertilizer consists primarily of organic components.