If you can look forward to one of the numerous Clematis species in your own garden, you should make sure that the buttercup family (bot. Ranunculaceae) has a good supply of nutrients. There are numerous ready-to-use fertilizers on the market that are intended to ensure rich flowering and high vitality. However, you can also rely on a variety of home remedies with which you can easily give the "queen of the climbing plants" the nutrients they need throughout the year.
time
When the clematis is fertilized is much more important than the frequency. Despite its easy-care nature, the clematis depends on sufficient nutrients to develop the picturesque flowers. This is especially important with large-flowered hybrids or species like Clematis macropetala. When fertilizing, note the following dates and rhythms, which will do your clematis good:
- do not fertilize in the year of planting if the site has been processed accordingly
- only fertilize from the 2nd year
- Apply fertilizer from March to September
- Work in fertilizer every 2 weeks
- In case of nutrient deficiency, work in every 8 days
- water sufficiently after each fertilization
When and how often you fertilize does not depend on the type of fertilizer. Solid fertilizers and liquid fertilizers are applied at the same time and can be combined with each other accordingly. Never fertilize after September, otherwise the clematis will develop too many new shoots, which will significantly weaken them over the winter.
home remedies
7 effective home remedies for fertilizing
If you do not want to rely on mineral fertilizers, there are numerous home remedies and ecological solutions that you can use. In the long run, these have an even more effective effect on the vitality of the plant than the preparations available. The home remedies below are those that you have in the kitchen yourself or that have yet to be prepared, such as compost. Here are 7 fertilizers you can use to fertilize your clematis:
1. Compost
Well-ripened compost, which can also be described as humus, is ideal for supplying the clematis with nutrients. If the compost is regularly incorporated in the above-mentioned rhythm, the clematis will receive sufficient nutrients. In addition, the soil is optimized over a longer period of time, since new compost is constantly being added in small quantities, which continues to decompose. For this reason, compost is a good choice for annual fertilizer additions.
2. Horn shavings
Horn shavings are important to provide the clematis with nitrogen when these are insufficient. These are particularly effective in combination with compost at the beginning of the year. Simply mix the horn shavings into the compost and you're done. Avoid horn shavings if your clematis is growing well but is lazy to bloom. Then it doesn't need any nitrogen.
3. Twigs
A brushwood fertilizer can be used if your clematis are growing too much or have become lazy. Twigs contain a lot of potassium and can release this to the clematis after composting. It can be used like compost.
4. Comfrey manure
Comfrey manure is made from the plant of the same name from the genus Symphytum and is obtained like nettle manure and used as a liquid fertilizer:
- harvest comfrey
- they shouldn't be blooming yet
- place in a large container
- fill up with water
- place in partial shade
- leave it for two to three weeks
- cover with a grid
- stir daily
Once the comfrey manure has stopped foaming, you can use it. On average, it lasts up to four weeks. Before use, dilute the liquid manure in a ratio of 1:10 and pour it directly onto the site in the evening or morning. Never pour the manure directly onto the leaves as this could damage them.
5. Baking soda
Soda is used as a liquid fertilizer as soon as the location is too acidic and the clematis has become lazy. Dissolve a tablespoon of baking soda in two liters of water and water the site with it. Baking soda can be used with other solid fertilizers or on its own.
6. Worm tea
Worm tea offers you an alternative to comfrey manure, which you can use as a liquid fertilizer. Worm tea is a liquid produced by so-called compost worms (bot. Eisenia fetida). These are placed in the compost and feed on the plant material, which is then excreted. The excretions are the worm tea, which is collected in the worm canister and then used as liquid fertilizer. The compost can also be used. Worm tea is particularly suitable for potted plants.
7. Poultry manure
Poultry manure in composted form not only contains high amounts of nitrogen, but also a good portion of potassium. Since clematis have a high nutrient requirement, poultry manure is a good way to compensate for a nutrient deficiency. Especially when the clematis is weakening, you should apply the manure in the same way as the compost. The ranunculus can absorb the nitrogen from the manure more quickly, which compensates for the lack of nutrients.
tip: The clematis always needs a little lime, which can be ideally solved by adding ground egg shells. These are simply mixed into the soil in spring, improve the soil and increase the pH if it is too low.
Alternative: mulch
If you do not want to rely on classic fertilizer additions, you should definitely mulch the clematis. Mulching facilitates the supply of nutrients and moisture, making a layer of mulch ideal for the queen. Because this often has to struggle with drought and weeds, which can be ideally solved by mulching. The best time to do this is in spring and mid-autumn. Mulch the clematis as follows:
- Carefully loosen the site with a rake
- if present, remove weeds
- level the ground again
- now distribute 40 g horn meal or shavings per m²
- this acts as an effective fertilizer
- Apply rock flour, ground eggshells or shell limestone
- Finally spread a layer of bark mulch
- Thickness: 5 to 7 cm
You don't have to do more for an effective mulch layer. During the summer you should always loosen them up a bit with a rake.
tip: You can even mulch your specimens in the tub, being careful not to spread too much mulch. A small layer is sufficient here and proves to be a helpful protection against nutrient loss over the winter.