What is the best fertlizer for my red clematis, or the best way to take care of it?

I bought the plant last year at a farm store and it never really grew. I thought it went dead and when I walked out back today was pleased to see it is starting up the trellis and is about 1 1/4 ft tall. Its a red one which personally I have seen purple and pink, but never a red clematis. What is the best way to care for this little vine popping up? Should I put some fertilizer on it and what kind? I read somewhere that clematis loves soil which has had lime put on it. I could be wrong though. What can I do to make it grow or should I just leave it alone and be careful not to mow over it and look again in a month or so? Do they like water?

What is the best fertlizer for my red clematis, or the best way to take care of it?
Your clematis needs full sun all day. If you planted it last year, and it is growing now, give it a fertilizer with a high middle number. This number is phosporous which channels the plants eneryg into building a stonger root system. Also mulch the roots to keep them cool.


As far as liming the soil to raise the Ph, mine grows in a very acidic siol and thrives.


Keep it well watered especially before fertilizing. Most clematis only flower for about 4 to 6 weeks, but in another year or two, it will be spectacular for you.
Reply:The Clematis vine likes to have cool roots so you can either cover the base of the plant with good soil or manure(I use a manure humus mixture you can buy at most retail stores)just kind of make a little mound around the base another good idea is planting low growing plants around the base to protect the roots so one of my clematis vines I planted colubine and it works great-I have a beautiful vine that blooms and around the bottom I have another plant that blooms a couple of times through out the season-during the growing season all plants need water atleast once a day unless its not drying out and once it starts blooming it needs more water-good luck!
Reply:fertlize once in the spring and make sure the root area is shaded but keep the vines in the sun.. the more sun the better ur blooms will be!