I have heard that fertilizers such as osmacote do not work well on clematis. What type should I be using? Thanks for any help out there as I am a true newbie!!
what fertilizer to put on clematis
You should use either your Rose or Tomato fertilizer..what is important when using any fertilizer is to read the N-P-K ratio on the container..you always want one that has a higher middle number (P/Phosphorus) as that is essential for blooms...people mistakenly will use one that has a high first number (N/Nitrogen) which will promote the growth of leaves and supress the plants blooming ability
We have grown roses under course wood bark mulch four inches deep in the same bed for thirty years. The only fertilizer we ever add is coffee grounds and once or twice a year compost tea. Neem Oil takes care of any other problems we occasionly encounter.
I heard blood and bone meal are good for them....
Blood meal is nitrogen. Good for leaves and to keep rabbits away but the rabbits never bother my clematis.
Bone meal for root development = calcium. I use it for roses but never used it for clematis until I read about it here on DG.
I'd still prefer the rose or tomato food.
OK-I guess I will have to get them then:) Any brand that you really prefer???
Any organic fertilizer the has very low numbers is better food for any plant. My old standard is compost I make and Fertell's organic 4-2-4. There is hardly anything you can do wrong if you stick to this combination. Flowers of any type need very little fertilization. To much simply makes them grow to fast, be weaklings strength wise and subjuect to insect and pathegon damage. Nature then reads them as sick and sends in the clean up crews.
Natures way is to support the healthy strong plants and weed out the sick.
.....If Mother Nature, God or evolution would have wanted manufactured man made chemicals in the plan they would have worked on the seventh day to build the first plant for man to make them in or we would have an eight day week.
Doc-LOL-OK, so I guess then if I stick w/ compost, coffee grounds, bone & blood meal as they are all organic...to be honest i just put them all on everything-don't really know what I am doing there!!LOL I don't get a lot of compost, so I usually save that for my veggies...the other stuff goes wherever!!
I am learning so much from you all. I will try the low nitro higher phos. mix. And the bone meal and blood meal....How much of each do you recommend and how often? I am also going to put compost on the tops. Thanks again for the info.
The blood meal and bone meal come w/ instructions-blood meal also helps w/ rabbits, but dogs like to dig in ti-just FYI
My late beagle/hound, Joey, used to attack the Blood Meal bag! That's how attractive it is to dogs who hunt by scent.
ROFL-sorry, but I have a pug and can just imagine her attacking a bag of blood meal!!LOL
Joey looked SO guilty and his snout was covered with it!
OMG-LOL-that is toooo cute!!:)
Thanks again for all your input. I will surely put it to use....keeping my fingers crossed!! :)
Thanks for the great info! I have tons of rose fertilizer at home so that's great for me! JeanneTX, do you use rose fertilizer for other plants as well (of course in addition to roses!)?
I only use my rose Fertilizer on my Plumerias,Roses and Clematis...
Jeanne - There are so many rose fertilizers out there. Which one do you use?
I use the miracle gro rose stuff on my brugmansias. They love it! Jeanne thanks for the info...
I use My Alfalfa Tea on my Brugs..here is a pic of one yesterday...oh yea and I use my handheld spreader and put 13-13-13 in all my flowerbeds...Jeanne
Alfalfa & Compost tea and Epsoma Rose Tone is my formula.
The teas as they come available (as often as possible) and
the ERT in February and September. heavy Mulch always with
plants shading the roots. raised beds much preferred.
Jeanne that is one awesome Angel's Trumpet!!!! Holy Cow, amazing!
Jeanne we're chatting up your Brug on the Derby thread.
They have me talked into one... or many. Great picture!
Bone meal is high in phosphorous, which stimulates root growth and flower blooms. But as an organic, it releases into the soil slowly. Also, it does not move through the soil because of bonding properties, so you need to scratch it into the soil. I sometimes use liquified bone meal with an injector when I want to get it deep into the soil.
The lady from the great state of Kentucky is right on target for care and feeding of clematis.
Thanks Soulja