My experience has been fertilizing after first flush with fertilizer that promotes bloom. Also, deadheading helps time between blooms.

Okay - about 'deadheading' - I snap them off (petals) but the middle stays on - does that have to come off too? In other words, I'd need to cut with clipper? I forgot what the 'middle' is called but I always have left them there because they have their own kind of appeal - some are so big and fluffy. But if this part needs to go also, please enlighten me.

Thanks again,
Westy

That will leave the seedheads to develop. They're really beautiful in their own way but will take energy to make. Trimming back to nodes below the heads will return energy to foliage and new flowers.

Thanks, Dannypa - I get it now. Not being familiar with clems until just recently (where have I been????) I didn't realize they are much like any other blooming perennial (or annual, for that matter) and it's so logical. Of course -- they are seedheads. I now know what to do.

Thanks again,
Westy