So glad you enjoyed the gardening seminar at the nursery last weekend. I talked about using a slow release plant such as Osmocote in container gardens especially if you use one of the dwarf conifers to create a year long container gardening planter. Osmocote is what professionals use because it releases the nutrients slowly over a six month period. This means your potted plant will not have quick spurts of lush and tender growth and instead enjoy steady growth. I also suggested that you fertilize clematis with Osmocote not to fertilize a clematis vine when it is in full bloom or bud - the flowers will open too quickly. Instead feed in early spring and again just after the first flush of blooms. This way you will enjoy an encore appearance of clematis flowers. later in the summer. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti