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Clematis question #751699

Asked May 24, 2021, 8:56 AM EDT

I have the popular Jack “something” clematis. It’s in its 3rd year in our garden, getting bigger and hardier leaves this year. For the past 2 seasons however, after the spring leaves form and their beautiful flowers open the plant starts to go south. I don’t know if it’s the many pincher bugs we’ve had the past two years, but by the time this vine should be showy, all the flowers look like lace. I used to see those awful pincher bugs fall out of the wooden stakes that hold the vine up the wall. We had an organic bug service this past year that I’m hoping helped the situation this spring and summer, we will see. My question is, this clematis looks so beautiful and lush this year, and I want those purple flowers to be the same, what can I do now to set the stage for big flowers that don’t have holes al over them in 3 weeks? Is there anything I can put at the base of the plant? I’ll do anything for showy clematis flowers all season long, as they are my favorite. Thank you so much in advance!!!

Denver County Colorado

Expert Response

Clematis are certainly beautiful. Based on what you're saying you have the clematis x jackmanii which is the larger flowering clematis. The jackmanii blooms on current year's growth and should be pruned in the spring. Here is a link to a planttalk article on caring for your clematis:https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/annuals-perennials/1045-clematis-clematis/

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by pincher bugs that might be eating the flowers of your clematis. If the bug has a metallic green head with bronze colored wings then you may be referring to the Japanese Beetle that has become a problem in the Denver area the past several years. There are over 100 species of plants/flowers that the Japanese Beetle likes and the list is growing. Here is a link to a CSU fact sheet about the Japanese Beetle which includes control of the adult beetle as well as the grub. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/japanese-beetle-5-601/

Maybe you can look at the fact sheet and see if it's the bug that you're seeing on your clematis.

One of the recommended methods of dealing with the adult Japanese Beetle is to hand pick the beetle off the plant in the morning putting them in a jar of soapy water.

If the bug isn't the Japanese Beetle you might want to take a picture of it and send it in for identification. If you do please include the size.

Colorado Master Gardener, Denver County Replied May 25, 2021, 5:24 PM EDT
It is not the Japanese beetle. I’m very familiar with the japanese beetles and these are not them. I get about 2 beetles  a year in my yard in the sloans lake neighborhood. I think it is a pincher bug or some people also call it an earwig. The reason I think it’s a pincher is because those are what I see in droves all over my annual pots and wherever it’s darker and more moist, like maybe at the base of my clematis?. The flowers become lacy and not their big beautiful Purple selves. See the picture below from last June 7th 2020. I’m just so nervous that they’ll turn out that way this year again. 

image

The next pic is what the vine looks like this year and it’s bigger and better than last year. Which is why I’m trying to eliminate the lacy look! Help??

image

On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 3:24 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 25, 2021, 6:03 PM EDT

Without seeing a picture of the insect we can't make a positive identification. However, because you feel strongly that it may be earwigs here are a couple of links to fact sheets on earwigs; one is by CSU and the other is by the University of Minnesota. Earwigs like to hide in dark moist places and usually eat other insects and occasionally soft parts of plants. Peak earwig activity is from mid-July thru mid-September. Sometimes damage from other insects has been attributed to earwigs so you want to be sure you don't see any other insects on your clematis. The fact sheets have pictures of earwigs to help with the identification and contain information on control of earwigs both using home remedies and pesticides. 

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/european-earwigs-5-533/

https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/earwigs 

Colorado Master Gardener, Denver County Replied May 27, 2021, 4:42 PM EDT
That’s the only big I’ve seen in abundance in my yard for the last 2 years. What else could make the flower so lacy? I don’t think it’s aphids because of my earwigs and ladybugs in my yard. But maybe? Anyway, it still looks beautiful so maybe it’ll stay that way. 

On Thu, May 27, 2021 at 2:42 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 27, 2021, 8:19 PM EDT

If you see the insect on your clematis again this season, capture one in a jar and send us a picture of it; we will try to ID it and recommend a management strategy to control them in the future.

Colorado Master Gardener, Denver County Replied May 29, 2021, 3:05 PM EDT
I will do that. In the meantime after all this rain I may put a little ditamacious earth around it just in case the water brought them back! I appreciate your time and the service you offer us novice gardeners!

On Sat, May 29, 2021 at 1:05 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 31, 2021, 9:48 AM EDT

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