Did you know that with just the slightest bit of extra care, you can get your clematis to not only bloom in the spring – but rebloom again this summer too?
As incredible as it sounds, it’s true! Clematis are a favorite for so many gardeners for their ability to both climb and cover their foliage in brilliant blooms in late spring and early summer. One thing is for sure, the vining perennial’s flowers are prized for their incredible size and color.
But if there is one drawback to clematis, it’s that after those blooms fade, you are left with just its waxy green foliage for the remainder of the summer and fall. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, with just 3 simple tasks, you can set your clematis up for another round of blooms to fill your landscape full of color one more time!
3 Simple Secrets To Get Clematis To Rebloom
So what does it take to get clematis to produce more buds and flowers for a second flush of color? Luckily, it all comes down to making sure to perform three simple tasks.
The first is to deadhead and remove the old blooms as they fade away. The second equally important task is to re-energize your plant with the right kind of fertilizer. And finally, once those two important tasks are complete, the third vital chore is to make sure your clematis gets the water it needs to stay healthy and produce a second round of flowers.
With getting your clematis to flower with even more color this summer – here is an in-depth look at each of the three critical needs, and how to perform them perfectly to get your clematis to rebloom once again!
#1 Deadheading Clematis
Chore number one is to start removing old clematis blooms as they fade. This is actually quite important all throughout the first set of blooms. Why? because it conserves precious and valuable energy for your clematis.
When old blooms remain on a perennial plant, they continue to use energy. That’s because even though the bloom will die off, the plant keeps trying to heal it. And the longer the bloom stem remains on, the more energy that is drained from the plant.
When a clematis first starts to bloom in the spring, if old blooms are left in place, the energy lost can actually keep the clematis from blooming stronger during its initial bloom set. By simply removing the blooms as they die off, the plant will use the extra energy to produce more buds.
But as your clematis finishes its spring blooming in totality, deadheading is even more important. Especially if you are trying to get it to rebloom for a second time in mid-summer!
Remove Those Blooms! How To Get Clematis To Rebloom
When clematis finishes flowering, all of those dying blooms are not only taking energy as the plant tries to “heal” them – but even more energy and power as it starts to form its seed heads.
By removing all of the old bloom stems, you stop that energy loss. First and foremost, that helps the plant begin to recover for summer. That means brighter and more healthy foliage. That, of course, at the very least improves it’s appearance for the remainder of the growing season.
But all of that energy savings can also help the plant conserve enough power to attempt a second bloom set. Especially when you then help it out by providing it with even more nutrients by fertilizing!
#2 Fertilizing Clematis After It Blooms – How To Get Clematis To Rebloom
The second critical care tip to give your clematis a chance to rebloom is to feed it. Not just with any fertilizer, but with one that will help it produce new buds and flower a second time.
When fertilizing clematis for blooms, you want to avoid fertilizers that contain too much nitrogen. Why? Because nitrogen will cause your clematis to simply concentrate on growing. Nitrogen feeds overall growth. And if you feed your plant too much of it, that’s all it will do, grow – and not rebloom.
Instead, clematis needs to have more phosphorous and potassium for re-blooming. Potassium helps to heal the plant and allows for nutrient and water flow. Phosphorous is key for powering buds and blooms. Plain and simple, if you feed your clematis with a fertilizer with more phosphorous and potassium – it will likely respond with a second bloom set in mid-summer.
When powering up your plant, look for a fertilizer with an N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) percentage that doubles up on phosphorous and potassium. Affiliate Product Link: Lilly Miller Bulb & Bloom Food 4-10-10
This will give it enough nitrogen for greening up, but more phosphorous and potassium for producing a bloom set. It’s best to supply the fertilizer as soon as your clematis stops blooming. This will give it more time to power up for more flowers later in the summer.
#3 The Importance Of Watering – How To Get Clematis To Rebloom
Last but not least, consistent watering is vital for a second bloom! In the early spring, clematis usually gets a fair amount of moisture from spring rains.
But as summer arrives, rainfall often becomes less consistent. And without proper moisture to their roots, clematis simply cannot produce a second bloom set. This is exactly where hand watering your clematis plant can save the day.
Clematis plants need at least 1 to 1.5 inches of water a week in the summer to stay strong and healthy. When watering, water deep. It’s better to water once or twice a week and deeper than just a little bit every day. This allows the roots to stay hydrated far better down deep where its needed most.
Finally, it’s also important to keep your clematis free of weeds. Weeds not only steal valuable nutrients from the soil, but moisture. See our article : How To Keep Your Flowerbeds Weed Free With Ease
It’s important to note that when and if your clematis blooms again in the summer, it will not be as strong as the spring bloom. But one thing is for sure, seeing your clematis flower one more time is well worth the extra effort!
Here is to getting your clematis to rebloom this summer – Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary!
Old World Garden
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
As always, feel free to email us at thefarm@owgarden.com with comments, questions, or to simply say hello! You can sign up for our free email list in the subscribe now box in the middle of this article. Follow us on Facebook here : OWG Facebook. This article may contain affiliate links.