Another clematis one

[TonTonMacoute]

I ordered a clematis online and when it arrived it was tiny I’ve never seen such a small clematis, the roots looked good but it only had one really thin stem. All clematis I’ve bought before are much more established and have four or five quite sturdy stems.

I had it in water for a while and it did fine and was growing but now I’ve planted it (in a huge pot) it’s just withered up.

Is there any hope or was it just too small ever to survive?

Don’t buy a black hat yet, clematis have remarkable regenerative powers, they can put up shoots from their roots even when you think all hope is gone. Put it somewhere where it is going to get sun on the leaves but won’t be baked, if you can try to shade the base with some stones , tiles or broken clay pot that will help. Keep an eye on it, don’t overwater it, a good soak twice a week is better than a dribble every day. Make sure the pot is raised so it drains well. I have a small early spring clematis that I think has died every year, it goes to nothing, then comes back sneakily when I’m not looking.

If that doesn't work and the plant looks like it's not going to survive, try topping up the pot with compost so the clematis is buried. Sometimes this promotes new growth in clematis, even in ones with Clematis Wilt.

It is very small, isn't it? I can't imagine anywhere selling clematis as undeveloped as that!

It was from Hayloft who are usually quite reliable. Looking back it was pretty cheap but to be honest I would rather have paid more for a more viable plant.

I have brought clematis back from the dead before now but I’m really wondering if they are worth bothering with, there always seems to be so much drama with them.

Drama I know exactly what you mean.

I had one come back from the dead a year later! I’d maybe add an inch of soil/compost on top, they like to be planted pretty deep.