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Anyone who has ever seen how luxuriously clematis blooms is unlikely to be able to forget this inimitable beauty. But every gardener knows that in order to achieve this splendor, it is necessary to put in a lot of work. One of the important measures for caring for flowers is timely application of fertilizers.
And clematis is no exception, because it can grow in one place for up to thirty years. The supply of minerals and nutrients in the soil gradually runs out, and an apparently healthy plant stops blooming and begins to get sick. Feeding clematis in the spring will help avoid many failures.
What elements does Clematis need?
Before applying any fertilizing, it is important to understand what exactly the plant needs during certain periods of growth and development, what fertilizers contain the necessary elements, and when to start fertilizing clematis.
First of all, clematis are fed in early spring not only for lush flowering, but also to replenish nutrients, which become less and less in the soil every year.
In spring, during the period of active growth of the vine, flowers need nitrogen vitally.With its deficiency, plants lose their bright emerald green foliage color and become lethargic and lifeless. The buds develop unevenly, which immediately affects the appearance of clematis.
In summer, when the phase of lush and luxurious flowering begins, clematis are in dire need of potassium supplements. Lack of potassium affects the brightness, size and color of inflorescences. Phosphorus is no less important for them.
A deficiency of nutrients and minerals can affect not only the flowering of clematis. The result of a lack of important elements can be the final loss of varietal characteristics, as well as a general weakening of the plant.
Weak flowers become sick more and more often, there are fewer flowers on the vines, the inflorescences become smaller, and the duration of flowering is significantly reduced. Therefore, it is advisable to feed clematis in time in the spring, rather than later lament the withering of flowers, yellowing of foliage, or the hopeless loss of the entire plant.
What fertilizers to choose
All fertilizers are conventionally divided by gardeners into two groups - organic and mineral. Experienced gardeners advise alternating mineral fertilizers with organic matter for better absorption of nutrients.
Organic fertilizers
Humus, or humus, is rich in nitrogen, and therefore is ideal for feeding clematis in early spring in the country, in a flower bed, or in the garden. You can use diluted bird droppings or cow manure.
Bird droppings are diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15, and manure in a ratio of 1:10. It is advisable that this solution infuse for 3-5 days. The minimum volume of solution is 8-10 liters per clematis bush.Remember the main thing: under no circumstances use fresh organic matter to fertilize flowers.
Fertilizers of organic origin can be fed to clematis in the spring, before flowering, no more than twice with a break of two to three weeks.
The first procedure for feeding clematis is carried out at the end of April - beginning of May, when the temperature outside is firmly established at +10˚С +12˚С.
It is advisable to fertilize clematis with organic fertilizers in liquid form. Nutrients penetrate faster into the lower layers of the soil, to the roots of flowers, and are quickly absorbed.
You can feed clematis a second time in spring after 2-3 weeks, in mid-to-late May.
If you don’t have organic matter, you can fertilize the flowers with an infusion of herbs: nettle, dandelion in the amount of 1 bucket, pour 3-4 buckets of water, and infuse for 2-3 weeks. Before use, the infusion is diluted with warm water in a ratio of 1:10 and the clematis is watered generously.
As soon as the plant enters the budding phase, nitrogen fertilizers must be abandoned. Otherwise, you will provoke active growth of stems and leaves to the detriment of luxurious flowering. During this period, clematis need fertilizing with a high content of phosphorus and potassium.
Mineral supplements
But what to do if there is no way to use organic matter? In this case, how should you feed clematis after winter for active growth of green mass? Use urea, ammophos, ammonium nitrate, diammophos or ammonia.
Nitrogen-containing fertilizers can be used in both liquid and dry form.In the first case, the fertilizer is diluted in water according to the instructions on the package and the flowers are watered abundantly. In the second, 1-2 handfuls of dry granules are evenly scattered around the bush. Subsequently, water the plants well. It’s not bad if nature does this work for you - feed the clematis before the rain.
Clematis blooms very luxuriantly and violently. And for the formation of a huge number of flowers, the plant must be fed in time with fertilizers based on phosphorus and potassium. The timing of fertilizing depends on the type of flowers and flowering time.
Some varieties enter the flowering phase in late spring - early summer. This means that you need to feed clematis with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers for abundant flowering in the spring, in early to mid-May. Plant varieties that gain color in June-July are fertilized a little later. The main thing is to apply fertilizer before the formation of buds begins.
The following preparations can be used as fertilizers for clematis in spring and summer to stimulate lush flowering:
- Superphosphate (contains up to 20% phosphoric acids) – perfectly soluble in water, can be used in dry and liquid form.
- Double superphosphate (up to 50%) – easily soluble in water. Due to the increased phosphorus content, the fertilizer rate is halved.
- Phosphorite flour (up to 25%) – does not dissolve in water, is used on acidified soils.
- Bone meal (up to 35%) – compared to phosphate rock, it is more effective.
Mineral fertilizers should be used to fertilize clematis strictly according to the instructions. An excess of nutrients is no less harmful than a deficiency.
Clematis are fertilized with potash for abundant flowering in late spring - early summer. Lack of potassium affects flowers: peduncles turn black, dry out and fall off, the color of the inflorescences becomes pale, and varietal characteristics disappear.
In spring, potassium nitrate can be used as a top dressing. Potassium sulfate is best used in late summer - early autumn, after flowering has ended.
How else can you fertilize Clematis?
There are several other ways to feed clematis in spring. Flowers respond well to the application of the following solutions:
- milk of lime;
- ammonia;
- foliar feeding.
These methods have long received a lot of positive feedback from experienced gardeners and are popular.
What are the benefits of lime milk?
Fertilizing for clematis, known as “lime milk,” perfectly deoxidizes too acidic soils in the spring. It is easy to prepare such a solution. Add 150 grams of chalk or slaked lime and 100 grams of wood ash to a bucket of warm water.
The resulting mixture is mixed well. You can fertilize clematis with this solution in May and early June. When watering the bush, try not to get it on the foliage and stems.
Why and when to fertilize with ammonia
Clematis, like other flowers and vegetable crops, respond well to fertilizing with ammonia.
Ammonia diluted with water in a ratio of 1 tbsp. l. per 10 l, perfectly enriches the soil with nitrogen. This solution is easily absorbed by the root system. However, it is very important to adhere to the specified standards and not exceed the dosage. Excess nitrogen, as well as its deficiency, can lead to the following adverse effects:
- lush growth of green mass with complete absence or scarcity of flowering;
- weakening of flower resistance to diseases;
- tendency to be affected by fungal diseases.
Fertilizing clematis with ammonia is carried out in early spring, before the plant enters the budding phase.
Foliar feeding
Foliar feeding helps strengthen the stems and leaves of flowers and accelerates the onset of the flowering phase. Thanks to this method, plants receive nutrients in the shortest possible time. This method consists of spraying the preparations from a spray bottle onto the leaf plates.
The following are excellent foliar fertilizers for clematis:
- Floral solution;
- Avkarin;
- Master.
Within 5-6 hours after spraying, the flowers will begin to absorb the necessary nutrients.
Please note that the minimum time period between feedings should be at least 10-15 days. Otherwise, you risk overfeeding the flowers. Two weeks will be enough for plants to absorb a portion of nutrients.
The author of the video will share his secrets about how to feed clematis for lush flowering.
Conclusion
Feeding clematis is an important stage in flower care. After all, not only the abundance of flowering, but also the condition of the plant as a whole depends on how competently and carefully you approach this process.
