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John has been answering reader queries for 50 years
What should I use to feed my clematis?
Q I have a pair of two-year-old healthily growing Clematis napaulensis, one in a large pot and the other in the ground in a light sandy soil. Sadly, I am still waiting for them to bloom. Is this usual? Could you suggest what I can do to encourage flowering this autumn/winter?
Beryl Stringfellow (via email)
A All climbing clematis like to have their roots and the base of the stems kept cool in the shade, regardless of whether the top growth should be in sun or shade.
Overfeeding, as with many plants, can result in a lot of leafy growth at the expense of flowers. When feeding, organic material is best, and clematis will benefit most from an annual mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost during the autumn.
This will hold in the moisture and provide excellent nutrients for the plant over a long period of time. Additionally, apply a good single handful of bone meal when
