Here are some postings on how to fertilize clematis from gardenweb.com. I bought fertilizer, bone meal, and composted steer manure last night, so I’ll do this very soon. 

RE: What to feed my clematis?
Posted by: suzymac z6, Mass. (My Page) on Wed, Jun 22, 05 at 8:59

Clematis like rose or tomato food. I feed mine ‘Espoma ‘Rose Tone’ which I pick up at my local nursery. It’s an organic granular food. Also, a big shovelful of manure around each clematis in springtime helps to promote lush growth. I use a sprinkling of bone-meal sometimes as well.
Suzy

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RE: What to feed my clematis?
Posted by: cantcatchup 6 (My Page) on Fri, Jun 24, 05 at 12:16

Thanks, I appreciate your reply suzymac. When should you feed clematis? While blooming, before, after?
I’m hoping some more see this thread and reply. Also, has anyone heard of this: someone told me that their Henryii (sp?) clematis likes eggshells to be mixed in the soil around it.

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RE: What to feed my clematis?
Posted by: Matt_in_MI (My Page) on Fri, Jun 24, 05 at 12:59

I too use Espoma Rose Tone on all my clematis and roses. I always use a cup or so of bonemeal whenever I plant something, along with a good amount of composted manure. This gives the plants all they need the first year, to establish a good root system. Bonemeal promotes root growth. I then use a fertilizer like Rose Tone the following spring, scratching a handfull or so into the top few inches of soil around my clematis or roses. I do this ever couple weeks while the plant is putting out green growth. I then stop with the fertilizer when I see buds forming. I’ve heard that fertilizing during bud formation and during blooming will lessen the amount of blooms and also shorten the bloom period.
You don’t want to give your clematis a fertilizer that has too much nitrogen, as it will push vegetative growth rather than blooms. You’ll get lots of green leaves, but no flowers.

If you stick to a rose or tomato food, and hold fertilizer during blooming period, you should be all set.

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RE: What to feed my clematis?
Posted by: suzymac z6, Mass. (My Page) on Fri, Jun 24, 05 at 15:57

My feeding schedule is as follows:
One word of caution. Do not fertilize ANY clematis that are blooming or in full bud. (tiny buds are ok) Wait until just after blooms if necessary.

March….1st application of Espoma Rose tone, manure, bone meal.

June….Espoma Rose Tone (and then manure, optional) If I have the time and the manure I give a shovelful per plant, but never let it touch the stems)

September….Espoma Rose tone, (manure optional)
Suzy 

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RE: What to feed my clematis?
Posted by: cantcatchup 6 (My Page) on Sat, Jun 25, 05 at 11:39

Thanks very much! You’ve convinced me that I need to look for Espoma Rose Tone for both my clematis and roses.

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RE: What to feed my clematis?
Posted by: MaMoo_z5 z5IN (My Page) on Mon, Jun 27, 05 at 14:12

You can use any Rose or Tomato fertilizer. I use both & have been for years. Fertilize once a month or after each flush of flowers. I second not fertilizing while in bloom.