Flowers form at the terminal ends of any stems. If there are no terminal ends lower on the plant, then there will also be no flowers lower on the plant.

Thank you gardengal! I'm new to growing clematis and have always seen them profusely flowering. It may take several seasons and more stem growth before mine does?

Flowering profusely and flowering from top to bottom are two different things :-) Very few clems will produce flowers lower on the vine....that is just not their nature. But you can get a similar effect if you allow the vine to cascade over on itself.

Ah, that I did not know. Ok, then I need to get much taller varieties. Livin' and learnin'...thank you!!

Thank you! Great info, esp. the alfalfa.

I buy a bag of alfalfa pellets at the feed store. Cheaper than boxes or bags of meal at the nursery. About $15 for a 40lb bag.

@buyorsell888 Thank you for that tip!

Just check that the alfalfa pellets don’t have salt.

I will, thank you!!