What has your weather been like? Also, it has been my experience that the 2nd year in the ground can be disappointing. Either they don't grow much or they grow so fast they don't have enough root mass to support the rapid growth and they wilt. If you are having cooler than normal weather, your clematis is probably busy growing roots.

Hi Janet,
Thanks for your feedback. I was expecting much the same bloom if not better than last summer. To answer your question, we have had a much colder spring than usual, with temps at leat 5-10 degrees colder than normal both highs and over night lows. Also 1 week of lows between 1-5. This cold spell lasted the entire month of may. I'm okay with it growing roots, as long as somewhere it is growing!
Tks again :)

Did you fertilize and Are you keeping your clematis roots moist?..I agree with Janet..some varieties are slow to grow in year two...Jeanne

Those are very low temps, tambo.

1-5c is very cold, and 5-10 isn't a whole lot better.

Once the temps are consistently higher, your clematis should start growing again.

Okay, I feel much better! Temps were much higher this past week, consistantly in the high teens low 20's and lots of sun. I haven't fertilized yet, but I do water often and we had a very very rainy spring. I poke my finger down a few inches to assess the moisture of the soil and then water accordingly. Is there a specific fertilizer for clems or a specific formula (ex.10-5-20) that I should use?
Thanks again Janet and Jeanne for the reassurance!
Tammy

Rose or Tomato fertilizer..as long as the middle number is higher than the other two..always remember 1st number leaves/nitrogen 2nd number phosporus/blooms and 3rd number for the roots

Sounds dumb but I didn't know what the numbers represented! I'm always learning thanks so much Jeanne!
Tammy

Many people don't know what the fertilizer numbers mean. It isn't dumb.

NPK ratio is Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potash/Potassium and the numbers mean percentages.

20-20-20 is 20% of each. You want a ratio with the middle number higher for blooming.

Clematis are not instant gratification plants. They take several years to get going. They are really set back by transplanting.

Well it's been a while and I wanted to follow up. To all who responded, I want to say thanks for all your help and advice. It turns out a little patience and some fertilizer was all it needed. It was busy growing other shoots. The one in the picture actually died and 4 new ones came up. They are growing very quickly at present 3 ft! The trellis is filling up nicely!
Thanks again!
Tammy

Tammy ...Congrats hon and WELL DONE!!..Jeanne

Pinch them back and they'll fill out even more.

Clematis truly need several years to get going.

Tks Jeanne :) Your message made me smile!
Buyorsell, could you please explain "pinch them back"? I don't have blooms yet, it's just growing and twisting around the trellis. I'm a little confused.
Tks!
Tammy

Pinch back the tips of each vine so that they branch out into even more vines so you get more flowers.

Tammy- take a look through the thread I started 'Blue Angel: Pinch tip or not?".
It's recent & located not too far from your present thread. In there buyorsell888 along with others have given me excellent information on pinching & explanations on what the purpose behind it is.
I'm sure it will also help you out.

Thank you very much for all the advice. I looked at the thread. It was perfect!