Clematis not growing?

I have 2 clematis in their 3rd year, they are both single spindly vines with 1 flower on each. I have the roots sheltered and they get water, full sun etc. What can I do to make them flourish?

Clematis not growing?
One problem could be the soil. Clematis do best in a slightly acidic soil. If the soil is very acidic or very alkaline it will impair the nutrient uptake of the plant. Buy a $1 soil pH tester to find out what your soil is. You should shoot for a pH of about 6.





Clematis don't actually require a sheltered root system more than any other plant. This is often a big topic of confusion among many gardeners. I have observed many clematis growing roadside in complete sun. Sheltering the roots can actually give you problems by leading to over watering.





Clematis usually don't respond well to heavy doses of fertilizer. If you fertilize them use a granular organic based fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and potassium (the last two numbers on the fert packaging). An organic fertilizer replenishes what micro-nutrients may be lacking in the soil and are typically slower release than chemical fertilizers.





Hope this helps!
Reply:You are either not fertilizing enough or simply using the wrong kind of fertilizer. I have 13 of these plants and give them all a little Miracid once a week from March through mid October.





You should see marked improvement within two weeks after you start this application.
Reply:Pinch off the new growth and it will grow bushier.