If there was a plant that came straight from a daydream, it would be wisteria. The plant has impressive flowers that smell very sweet in spring. Japanese and Chinese wisteria are the two most popular types. This shrub vine wonder grows best in a garden pot in full sun. It is advisable to initially grow the plant in a smaller container and later repot it into a larger one. A good potting soil with sufficient drainage is ideal as soil. So if you want to enjoy the beauty without worrying about the roots getting out of hand, you can grow wisteria in containers.
The most famous types of wisteria
There are many types of wisteria. The most popular for gardens are Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and silky wisteria (Wisteria brachybotrys). These species are all very vigorous. They can grow up to 9m tall and spread up to 18m when planted against a wall. Wisteria in potson the balcony, on the terraceor in the garden can be used as a free-standing plant with appropriate and regular pruning.
Growing wisteria in pots – the right care
Luckily, wisteria grows well in containers, although it does require a little extra care. To keep your potted plant happy, you'll need to check on it every day to see if it needs watering, fertilize monthly during the growing season, and either repot it into a larger container or trim back the root system from time to time. In this article, we'll go over the specific care instructions for those who want to grow wisteria in containers.
Potting and repotting wisteria plants
When the wisteria develops in the pot, you should repot it. Over time you may need a larger planter. Growing wisteria in a pot is easiest if you purchase a single-stemmed plant, as it is easier to train on a trunk. Tie the trunk to the support as it grows. How fast does wisteria grow? These plants aregrowing quicklyand can shoot up 3 meters or more in a single growing season.
When the trunk reaches the top of the support, remove the top. The wisteria in the pot now branches in a round shape. Cut the shoots back to about one meter every winter. Over time, the wisteria grown in a pot resembles a small tree. You can also grow and care for your potted wisteria as a bonsai plant.
Growing wisteria in containers: light and moisture
Once planted and showing signs of new growth, wisteria is incredibly tolerant of soil and temperate conditions. Regular watering, plenty of sunlight and low exposure to cold are the best conditions, but the reality is thatthis climbing plantcan grow quite aggressively even with minimal care - so careful seasonal pruning will help keep its invasive nature at bay. Place your wisteria in a full sun location so that it blooms optimally.
When to fertilize and which fertilizer is suitable
You need to fertilize your wisteria every spring. Use an all-purpose fertilizer. Fertilizing once a year is sufficient if you do not want the leaves and branches to grow excessively and have a very bushy appearance. For your wisteria, you need good drainage in your pot or container. Therefore, drill some drainage holes in the ground if necessary. The pot should provide space for growth. A good tip is that it should be at least 3 to 4 times the size of your plant's root ball.
The most important thing about cutting wisteria
In summer, pruning should take place about two months after flowering. Wisteria should be pruned regularly to control growth and theto promote flower formation. Cut the current season's shoots back to three buds at the base. These buds then bear new shoots and flowers in the following season. How can you identify wisteria flower buds? They are rounded and swollen, while the leaf buds are rather narrow and pointed.
Overgrowing plants can also be pruned. In this case, you can prune it back by cutting back as much as possible, down to about 1m from the ground where you really want the wisteria. This way you will get beautiful new shoots next spring. Remember: If you prune a wisteria in this way, it will not bloom for several years until the new shoots mature again. You can also prune older wisteria with a spade by cutting off the old roots. This helps the plant absorb more nutrients from the soil and eventually bloom.
Growing wisteria in containers: overwintering
The good news is that winter wisteria care is minimal. However, there are a few things you can do to overwinter it. It is an extremely hardy plant that can survive a wide range of weather conditions. Common winter care measures include mulching the base of the plant to further protect the roots and cutting back dead growth.
If it is late fall or early winter (after the plant has dropped its leaves but before snow has fallen), you can also perform cosmetic pruning to shape the wisteria. If you have had problems with flowering in recent years, it may be that the wisteria is suffering from winter dieback, where the flower buds die. If you suspect this is the case, you can wrap the plant in nylon to protect the flower buds.
