A clematis should grow tall year after year, form dense foliage and lavishly show off its flowers. The climbing artist gladly fulfills these three wishes, but not in vain. Before that, it requires a soil rich in nutrients. Your owner must take care of this in good time, otherwise it will visibly weaken. But which fertilizer is right for her and when and how often is it due?
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Your nutritional needs are high
A clematis makes good use of the nutrients provided to it. However, her urge to grow and her enormous diligence in flower formation make her such a large consumer that new supplies are required on a regular basis.
The faster a Clematis variety grows and the more floriferous it is, the more it depends on a good supply of fertilizers. Potassium is helpful for the shoots to mature well. As a supplier of flowers, it is also dependent on phosphate.
Good start with lots of nutrients
A young clematis plant shouldn’t embark on its new existence with empty roots. The future soil of this climber should provide her with all the nutrients she needs for a successful start right from the start. A good topsoil is the best basis, which is also supplemented with valuable nutrients.
- Incorporate fertilizer into the excavation when planting
- A slow release fertilizer is ideal
- well-rotted compost
- additionally enriched with other organic fertilizers
- or with horn meal or rock meal
The well-incorporated organic material releases its nutrients evenly distributed over the year and thus supports the young plant in its first attempts at climbing.
Do not fertilize the first year of standing
If you have given the planted climber a good supply in the planting hole, you no longer need to worry about additional nutrients in the first year. It is not necessary to use the fertilizer, as the initial fertilization is completely sufficient for the first shoots and flowers.
However, if you have neglected to enrich the soil while planting, there is no avoiding fertilization. The beginning of the life of the clematis could otherwise be marked by weak shoots and sparse flowers.
Vegetation time is fertilization time
Clematis are perennial plants that diligently sprout and bloom from spring to autumn each year, while resting over the winter. The nutrient supply must be based on this rhythm in order to provide the necessary building blocks for the lush foliage and colorful flowers at the right time.
- Vegetation time is fertilization time
- During this time, nutrients must be constantly available
- fertilize from the first shoot to around mid-August
Fertilize once or regularly?
One thing is certain: all Clematis varieties require a consistently good supply of nutrients during their growing season. How this is achieved, however, is not decisive for their growth. The gardener has the following options:
- take care of them well once in spring
- distribute several fertilizers over the year
- fertilize the clematis regularly every 14 days
The frequency of fertilization also depends on which fertilizer is chosen. While slow release fertilizers do not need to be administered as often, some commercial products require constant use.
The two alternatives when it comes to supplying clematis
The trade offers the hard-working gardener all kinds of mineral fertilizers, each tailored to the requirements of the different types of plants. There are also some fertilizers for clematis that want to elicit as many flowers as possible.
If the gardener loves not only his plants, but also all of creation at the same time, he is more likely to resort to natural and ecologically compatible fertilizers. These are by no means few and far between, and they certainly don’t have to be expensive.
Commercially available mineral fertilizers
Cuxin DCM
This remedy is offered as granules and provides nutrients that are readily available:
- 10% Potassium
- 5 % Phosphor
- 6% nitrogen
As an initial supply, 100 to 150 grams per plant are worked into the soil during planting. In the following years, in March and July, 50 to 100 grams per square meter are fertilized. The price for this fertilizer is around 6 euros per kilogram.
Kölle’s best clematis fertilizer
It contains potassium, phosphate and nitrogen as well as valuable trace elements. The addition of 5% guano specifically activates the soil life and promotes humus formation. Spreading takes place every year in March and July. Outdoor specimens are supplied with 70 to 100 grams per square meter, while potted plants receive 20 grams per month during the growing season, which is priced at around 5 euros per kilogram.
GREEN 24 Clematis fertilizer
It is touted as a high-tech fertilizer. The liquid fertilizer concentrate should be very economical and easy to use. Its nutrients are quickly available to the clematis and drive them to maximum performance. The price is around 3.50 euros per 100 milliliters. This amount is sufficient for up to 100 liters of liquid fertilizer. From April to September it is given to the clematis every 3 to 4 weeks.
Rose fertilizer Commercially
available rose fertilizers are also ideally suited to fertilize the clematis and to elicit numerous flowers. This is useful when roses are already thriving in the garden. So you don’t have to buy extra new fertilizer.
Fertilize in an ecologically compatible way
Ripe compost
Spring is the best time to give the clematis their annual nutritional needs by means of plenty of compost before they can sprout again. For the large-flowered varieties, however, further gifts are recommended during the flowering period. It is also possible to fertilize with some compost every 14 days during the entire vegetation phase.
Cattle manure
The use of mature cattle manure is similar to that of compost. It is worked into the soil early in spring and fertilized if necessary during the growing season.
Horn
shavings Horn shavings are a popular and inexpensive long-term fertilizer that is also ideal for this flowering climbing plant. It is best mixed with compost in spring and given to the soil of the clematis. The soil organisms gradually decompose the horn shavings and thus make the nutrients available for the climbing plant.
Comfrey
manure Comfrey manure is particularly rich in potassium and strengthens the resistance of the clematis. It is diluted and sprayed onto the soil around the roots every 14 days. Anyone can easily make comfrey manure themselves. To do this, one kilogram of shredded comfrey leaves is placed in a container and covered with 10 liters of rainwater. The whole thing has to stand for several days and is stirred daily until the liquid manure has fermented. It can be combined well with nettle manure.
Lime giving
Early flowering Clematis varieties prefer a calcareous location, which is not always given in your own garden. If the soil is rather acidic, with a pH value of around 5.5, it should be fertilized with lime every two to three years.
Don’t forget to water
Every fertilization must be followed by plenty of water so that the nutrients in it dissolve, penetrate into the soil and can be absorbed by the clematis. Some fertilizers are dissolved in water and then administered via watering. It is important to ensure that the leaves of the clematis are not wetted with it.
Fertilizing potted plants
Clematis in pots can only draw nutrients from a small amount of soil. This must therefore be supplied with nutrients more regularly than outdoor specimens.
Conclusion
Without plenty of nutrients, the clematis sprouts weakly and only lets you see its beautiful flowers sporadically. However, those who know their hunger for nutrients and satisfy them in good time will experience a sea of flowers year after year. With special products from the trade or some natural fertilizers, your requirements can be optimally and completely met.
