Once you are sure your freeze periods are past then you can safely fertilize your clematis...When putting fertilizer in container grown clematis you should be careful not to put too much..some people like to use a liquid fertilizer for container grown clematis..just make sure it has a high middle number otherwise if you use one that is high nitrogen you'll just be growing alotta leaves..I do use the granular form of Rose or Tomato Fertilizer on my container grow and just toss about 1/3 handful and water in well..I hope your Spring gets sprung for you soon!!!...Jeanne

Jeanne, I don't grow clematis in containers but I am wondering, should you fertilize clematis in containers before they actually set buds or would that just encourage lots of beautiful foliage and no blooms? If you just use a low nitrogren fertilizer, would that take care of the problem and allow you to fertilize sooner. I'm just asking out of curiostiy. My Mom has one in a container and there is no telling when she fertilizes that thing. Every time I see her she has a watering can with plant food in it. She lives by the theory if a little bit is good, a lot is better. Surprisingly, she hasn't killed anything yet :-)

Carol

Carol..Most definitely fertilize at the same time you hard prune your pruning group 3's in Spring..or the same time you prune your roses..You NEVER want to fertilize your clematis once they have set flowerbuds..for if you do..it will only rush their bloom period...You are right..you Mom has the same mentality alotta people do..LOL...more isn't always best...but fortunately for her liquid fertilizing is much different than the granular form as it is weaker to prevent those who "overdo" not to burn their poor babies to fertilizer death!!..I use liquid fertilizer on my hanging baskets ...just make sure she buys one that has a high middle number(P) in the N-P-K ratio that you see listed...Jeanne

Thanks, Jeanne. I won't worry about the crazy fertilizing woman anymore :-). I put fertilizer down when I prune, as well. I use a time released that I also feed my roses and it works very well (along with alfalfa and manure). I just wondered if my Mom was going to kill her poor potted clematis. I put two in the ground for her on an obelisk last year and she fertilizes them as often as she does the potted one but they don't seem to be harmed...yet. This is also the woman who cut all her hydrangeas to the ground one summer because they looked "messy" and then was surprised when they didn't bloom the next year. My grandmother was a wonderful gardener and I thankfully learned from her starting as a small child, my Mom didn't inherit those genes.

Carol

Awww..Grandmothers..Aren't they just the best..same here..neither of my parents EVER did gardening..only to mow the lawn..they both have black thumbs and were amazed at my gardens...wondering where I got my green thumbs..I just told them that I thought it musta skipped a generation..LOL...Jeanne

Carol, I agree with Jeanne. Clematis in pots should be fertilized before they set leaf buds just like any other clematis would be. Things in pots are less likely to have adequate soil fertility since they loose it every time they are watered either by the gardener or mother nature.

Gladhamae, I assume you are referring to having buds as in leaf buds as opposed to flower buds? Clematis plants should not be fertilized, especially with a high fast release fertilizer, when they are setting flower buds, however there is no issue when we are talking about leaf buds.

Yep....definately talking about leaf buds! I've read enough here to NOW know to not fertilize during bloom periods. I'm really excited about my mom's clematis' because this will be their 2nd and 3rd year in the ground....I'm hoping they really take off this year!!!

Let us know how they do this year Gladahmae. Pictures are always good!