Of the dozen clemtis I own, only once a few years ago did one plant get this wilt thing on it. It got it, it died, end of story. I guess there is nothing to do about it. I've not heard of any cure - maybe someone else has.

I suppose I'm saying, don't worry about the wilt, because it probably won't happen, but if it does, move on and buy another. I think you want to buy a good vine from a good nursery instead of a weak plant sold alongside pairs of socks at a dollar store (though I'd probably buy clematis anywhere, I'm just luckey with them).

Get you a clematis book - three basic pruning types, each one you buy should have something telling you which type it is. BUT, what I've found is that if you aren't sure, then watching your vines each spring will help - they will tell you what they need. I've found that the types that need cut a couple feet above ground tell me so by growing new from the ground each spring or from just a couple of shoots up from ground level. Another type I have grows new from every single place it can on the old growth. This kind I just trim away enough to shape the plant each spring. If you get a clematis that isn't blooming somewhere, you know it only blooms on new growth instead of on both - so prune accordingly.

hope that helps, I have books telling me how to prune these all - but they will help teach you where to prune them. IMHO.

Your Clematis "Crystal Fountain" is a pruning group 2...but in saying that it is in your plants best interest to hard prune her the first season in your garden to promote the growing of the root system so you'll have a healthy,strong and vigorous clematis..."Wilt" is not neccessarily the death of a clematis...there are two schools of thought on the subject ..one being it's a fungus and the other is that it is caused by an immature rootsystem NOT being able to handle the top growth of the vine..Hence hard pruning is recommended the first year to allow your plant to focus on growing a stronger root system and not all the vines...When Clematis do "wilt" you simple prune that vine even with the soil and give her a liquid feed...she should shoot up new vines..some are known to skip a season and re-emerge the next with such vigor...the biggest mistake most people make is that they assume it has died and stop watering..that WILL kill your clematis..You must STILL keep that area moist for the root to keep growing and start producing vines again...You do realize that your Clematis "Crystal Fountain" will not grow too tall?..Mine is about 4 feet tall right now..and I have mine in morning sun and filtered light in the afternoon..Lowe's has some 5 foot obelisks that would be great for letting her grow on..it's whatever your personal taste is...have you planted it yet?...If not..when you do..Plant her 2-4 inches deeper than the pot she is in with a handful of bonemeal in the hole...and keep her moist..NOT SOGGY WET ..but moist during her transition period in her new home...she will get more beautiful with each passing year...What size pot was she in?...Jeanne

She came in a 5 1/2 " square pot. Looks very healthy and has a bloom that opened yesterday. I have not planted it yet as I am now hesitant to plant her on the south side of the house against the brick wall. One, it may be too hot and for another, it does not have the greatest air circulation. I am now thinking I may plant into a large pot and put in a small obelisks. What type of mix should I use in a pot for it? What type of fertilzer and how often? And can I grow some annuals in there with her? Thanks to all.

I use Jungle Growth Potting Soil for my potted plants..that is all I have in there...I put a handful of bonemeal in the planting hole when planting and use a Liquid fertilizer with a higher middle number...once you see it setting buds stop fertilizing..if not you'll only rush their bloom period..I have planted Begonias in the pots that I have my Clematis growing in..Jeanne

Thank you, Jeanne. This is like having a new baby for the first time, it just doesn't hurt as much. LOL. I am off to the garden centers.

Hardin...Goodluck..and in no time you'll be growing clematis like a pro!!..Jeanne