4 Best Clematis Soil Mix Recipes For More Flowers (Research-Based)
Don’t know which soil mixture is best for the clematis plant? Don’t worry. This article explores all the best ingredients to make the ideal clematis soil to make the plant flower continuously.
Clematis plants are one of the best options to add some colors to your vertical garden. Even though these plants are fairly easy to care for, choosing the appropriate potting soil is one of the aspects that needs to be taken care of while planting them in a new pot.
The majority of clematis vines are not that picky when it comes to soil medium and tolerates most soil types. However, a well-draining soil mixture with high organic content will make the plant bushier and bloom more flowers throughout the season.
This article covers everything you need to know about clematis soil needs including important ingredients and DIY clematis soil recipes.
Why do you need to care about clematis soil?
As we already said, most of the clematis varieties tolerate any soil mixture. But that doesn’t mean you can just plant them in any soil and call it a day.
That’s what many beginner gardeners do. They plant clematis vines in their backyard soil and expect them to bloom continuously. Sure, the plants will survive and may grow a few inches very slowly, but they will not be in their healthiest form for sure.
It’s time to recollect some of the biology classes that you learned in high school. Along with water, light, and the right spot in your garden for the plant to flourish, proper soil is crucial for the health of clematis vines.
All of the nutrients that a soil needs are taken from the soil by the roots. And, not all plants have the same nutrient needs.
Additionally, the soil is what supports and holds the plant’s root system. Different plant species have different types of root systems; some have tight roots and others have loose ones. Now, it makes sense to use different potting soils for different plants right?
Best Clematis Soil Mix Recipes
The best soil for clematis vines is the one that has very high nutrient content, aeration, good water holding capability, and drainage capabilities with pH in the range of 6.5 to 7 (slightly acidic to neutral). Ingredients like peat moss, perlite, compost, and charcoal mixed in a healthy ratio yield the best flowers.
Here are the most commonly used ingredients in clematis soil mixtures suggested by nurseries and expert horticulturists.
- Soil
- Peat Moss
- Coconut Coir
- Perlite
- Vermiculite
- Compost
- Fertilizer
- Charcoal
If you are a DIY kind of person or prefer better control over your clematis soil mixture, then here are some of the clematis soil mix recipes that you can try.
- Peat moss (30%) + perlite (30%) + compost (30%) + charcoal (10%).
- Coconut Husk (30%) + Vermiculite (30%) + Leaf Mold (30%) + Pine Bark (10%).
- Peat Moss/Coco Coir (30%) + Pumice (30%) + Worm castings (30%) + Charcol/Pine Bark (10%).
- Sand (30%), Peat Moss/Coco Coir (30%) + Manure/Compost (30%) + Charcoal (10%).
Do not think like these compositions are hard-coded rules. Depending on the environmental conditions, you can modify them to suit the requirements.
If you are someone who tends to overwater plants very frequently, then you can increase any one of the ingredients responsible for better drainage. On the other hand, if you frequently forget to water the plants, then you can increase coco coir or peat moss composition to enhance water-holding capability.
If you do not have time to mix all these ingredients in a proper mixture, you can simply purchase an all-purpose outdoor garden soil with fertilizers mixed. It will save time but can turn out to be expensive.
Clematis Soil – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let’s check out some of the most frequently asked questions related to choosing the best soil for clematis vines.
Is clematis better in pots or ground?
Clematis vines need large spaces for their roots to grow. So, it doesn’t matter whether you are growing them in a pot or ground until the pot has the size and capability to accommodate its root growth. If it becomes too large to accommodate in a pot, you can always transfer them onto the ground depending on the local climatic conditions.
Does clematis need compost?
Clematis plants require soil mixtures with very high nutrients. If you are someone who prefers organic matter instead of chemical nutrients, then applying compost is highly recommended. Alternatively, you can apply worm castings, leaf molds, etc as well.
Is Miracle-Gro a good fertilizer for clematis soil mixture?
Miracle-Gro is a good fertilizer choice for clematis vines. These plants are considered to be heavy feeders and you must apply a well-balanced fertilizer once every two weeks in thor blooming season to make them flower continuously.
Conclusion
As I already mentioned, clematis plants aren’t too picky about their soil. However, make sure that you mix ingredients like moss, coconut coir, and perlite to make the mixture well-draining and hold enough water and nutrients.
Additionally, apply fertilizers once every two weeks during the blooming season to help the plant put on a show with flowers.
Now you know what soil is best for clematis plants. Next is to increase your clematis collection by adding more varieties and cultivars.
Clematis Varieties
Sources
To back up the information we provide in our articles, the Plantials team only uses high-quality sources published in peer-reviewed university or scientific research journals.
- Clematis, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Clematis Profile, Clemson University Cooperative Extension
- Clematis For The Northeastern States, Harvard University, Via Jstor
- An Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Clematis, Book By Mary Toomey & Everett Leeds, British Clematis Society.
