Wisteria Care

If you have ever seen wisteria in full bloom, then you know exactly how it can add a wonderful touch of elegance and color to any home landscape design. Part of the reason that wisteria is such a great choice for enhancing your landscape or garden is that it is an extremely hardy plant, which is fairly easy to take care of. However, if you are looking to be able to get the most out of your wisteria plants, then you need to know the basics of wisteria care.

• Choosing your plant. Just as with any kind of planting project, choosing which plant you will be using is an important part of wisteria care. There are basically two ways that you can grow your wisteria, the first is by planting a seed (or seeds), and the second is through grafting. Unless you are willing to be very patient before seeing any flowers (it takes roughly fifteen years of growth before a wisteria seed will begin to flower) then you should use a grafting. However, you can also choose a wisteria plant that has already begun to flower, such as a small portion of the vine with its roots intact. However, this option is usually more expensive.
• Find the best location. There is an old sales and marketing adage that says "Location, location, location," and this is also true in gardening. When finding a location for your wisteria plant, be sure that you choose a location that will be receiving several hours of sunlight each and every day. On the average a wisteria plant will need to have roughly six hours of direct sunlight each day, so be sure to plan accordingly.
• How to support your plant. Since wisteria is a vine, and not a bush, you will need to provide some type of support for the plant. One of the best ways to ensure that your wisteria will get the best possible support is through the use of some type of trellis, or poles. However, as your wisteria vines grow, you can have the wisteria grow over a pergola, or even along a patio fence. For a truly unique appearance, you can also have your wisteria vines grow along the sunniest side of your home (much like an ivy covered cottage).
• Planting your wisteria. When planting your wisteria, ensure that you dig a hole about two feet deep, and two feet wide in which you can place the roots. If you are using a grafting, place the grafting union (where the grafted part of the plant meets the root) is just below the level of the soil. Fill the hole with a mix of potting soil, regular soil, and fertilizer (2 parts potting soil, 2 parts regular soil, 1 part fertilizer) and water regularly. After planting, your wisteria plant needs to be watered on a weekly basis.
• Common wisteria problems. If you have problems developing beautiful flowers, try checking to see if the nitrogen level in the soil is right for the plant. Take a sample to your local county extension office, and they will test it for a small fee. If necessary, reduce the amount of fertilizer that you use. On the average, wisteria does not have very many problems with insects or pests as it is particularly resistant.