What kind of soil mix did you use? Are you sure the container is not blocked on the bottom? For example, if you put a clay container onto clay loam soil, it is common after a while for the clay to block the drain hole.

I used a soil that has coconut husk, peat, and perlite. It was recommencdd as a starter soil. The pot itself is plastic and the ground underneath is clay.

@HU-444467686 Put a paver or saucer under the pot. While you are at it, turn the pot sideways and wash out the drainage hole and inspect it to make sure it is clear.

I had two Rhododendrons in clay pots that I left on clay soil during the Winter. They started to look sick, and I noticed the soil was drenched. The clay under the pots had worked up into the drain hole and plugged it. I cleaned those off and placed both pots onto stepping stones. The problem was solved and the plants immediately recovered.

Was the coconut husk product in chunks (CHCs), or was it milled (coir)? The answer(s) will give us an idea about how water-retentive the medium might be. Was the coconut product listed first on the list of ingredients?

Some things you might not know: Most growers think CHCs and coir can be used as direct substitutes for pine bark and peat, respectively, but that is far from so. Using coir as the primary component of container media virtually eliminates lime or dolomitic lime as a possible Ca source because of coir's high pH, usually around 6.5. The "target pH range for container media should be around 5.4 - 6.0. That might seem like no big deal, but when one considers that the logarithmic scale pH is measures on, a pH of 5.0 is 10x more acidic than a pH of 6.0. Where coir is a significant % of a medium, gypsum should be used as a Ca source, which eliminates coir's very low S content. All coir products are very high in K, very low in Ca, and have a potentially high Mn content, which can interfere with the uptake of Fe. Several studies have also shown that the significant presence of phenolic allelochemicals in fresh coir can be very problematic for a high % of plants, causing poor growth and reduced yields. Most clematis prefer full sun, but appreciate their roots to be in shade due to their sensitivity to heat.

Al

Thanks for the advice everyone. i will check the drainage hole to see if its blocked. The coconut husk was shreaded in the soil mix. ive used this soil many times and its given good results. its The fafard brand