Clematus plant - jelly on soil !

Seems a bizarre first post as a non-gardener but....... my Dad has planted 3 clematus plants. 2 have died but the third is growing well, but the soil all around the plant is covered in a clear jelly like substance? Jelly pieces are roughly the same size and cubed around the size of a penny? These seem to have swollen during the heavy rain?

My Dad has been a very keen gardener for 50 years and has never seen anything like this?

Any thoughts / suggestions / does he need to worry?

Thanks

 

Im guessing what you have is super absorbent cross-linked polymer that is capable of absorbing up to 400 times its weight in rain or irrigation water. As well it holds water-soluble nutrients and fertilizers so they are not drained away into the water table and are made available to the plant roots where they are needed. Probable as used by the nursery..

Oh yes and welcome to GC.. enjoy your stay
robert

 

Thanks for the prompt reply, a quick bit of Google searching has come up with the same as you suggest !

Cheers

David

 

This question comes up a lot-you'd think they would have the information on the pots they sell them in.

 

Have to agree with you on that issue Claire

 

That and what are all these yellow balls?