Poor blooms on Nellie Moser clematis
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My Nellie Moser clematis, the kind with the pink and white stripes, did not bloom well this year. The flowers were smaller, color washed out, and didn't last long at all. It did well last year but still isn't a very big plant for as long as I have had it. I have it growing behind a fairly large azalea, to shade the roots, but I am wondering if the azalea is too big, and blocking too much sun from the plant. Could this be the problem or are there other reasons for a clematis to not do well?
The blooms are smaller and pale compared to last year. Also, I have had it at least 4 years and would think it should be bigger.
17 answers
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Your azalea may be crowding the clematis. I had mine in the west getting sun all evening. Watering daily.
Brenda Barton
on Jun 19, 2013
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Do you think I should dig up and move the azalea out a little, or would cutting it back a lot be enough?
Kim Hurles Pickard
on Jun 19, 2013
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I have the same clematis and my color was very washed out too! I had big blooms but they were so dull and white looking compaired to other years... I think yours still look beautiful tho. :)
Jayme Renee
on Jun 19, 2013
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Thanks, but it looked gorgeous last year and the flowers were huge. You can't see in the picture how washed out they are. It was still pretty, though.
Kim Hurles Pickard
on Jun 19, 2013
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I have had my Clematis for at least 4-5 years now..this year has been the most beautiful blooming with large purple flowers..it seems to take them a long time to get really nice Kim..I don't understand why yours would be smaller and faded though..even so it looks very pretty to me..
Nancy Blue Moon
on Jun 19, 2013
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I would try pruning clematis 1st after it blooms. Next yr if the same, cut your azalea way back to give clematis more light and make sure to water well and give it a little fertilzer. Then if same result, move one of the plants elsewhere.
SANDY
on Jun 19, 2013
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I think it's grown past the point where shade from the azalea would be an issue. But Nellie is a pretty thirsty plant. How often does it get watered?
Douglas Hunt
on Jun 20, 2013
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That is a good question. I doubt I water it every week. We have had a lot of rain but it is close to the house and with the azalea it may not get enough that way either. Once in a while I water it directly under the azalea, at the base of the clematis. Maybe I will try at least 2x a week.
Kim Hurles Pickard
on Jun 20, 2013
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Nelly Moser is a type 2 bloomer so I would not prune it until early spring. I have one and I know that mine does not get enough light so I would guess that is what is wrong with yours. Mine had about as many blooms as yours this year but it looked the best it has ever looked probably because of so my rain here.
Elaine Simmons
on Jun 20, 2013
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http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=346 Meant to give you a link for your clematis.
Elaine Simmons
on Jun 20, 2013
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That is a beautiful Clematis vine !! I just bought one while up in Tennessee and brought it to Florida.........now I am wondering if I made a mistake because I'm not seeing any Clematis in anyone's yard !!!!
Sheila Suarez
on Jun 20, 2013
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It's a challenge to grow clematis in Florida, Sheila, but this article names a couple of varieties you might try: http://www.theledger.com/article/20110218/COLUMNISTS/102185006
Douglas Hunt
on Jun 21, 2013
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I wonder if pH or minerals in the soil would affect the coloration?
Annie Stuart
on Jun 21, 2013
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Add some Epson salt to the soil about 5 inches away from the roots. Just 2-3 tablespoons.
Vanessa Godfrey
on Jun 21, 2013
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Will the Epsom salts be ok for the azalea too?
Kim Hurles Pickard
on Jun 21, 2013
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Yep, Epson salts is't really a salt, but Magnesium and something else both are very good for booming plants
Vanessa Godfrey
on Jun 22, 2013
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Thanks. I had just read somewhere that Epsom salts weren't really salt, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something that wouldn't be OK for the azalea. Good to know.
Kim Hurles Pickard
on Jun 22, 2013
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