Wisteria is a deciduous vine with interesting, gnarled stems and stunning blooms which fill the air with a sweet scent in springtime. Container growing is an efficient way to develop this fast-growing vine, which easily outgrows its boundaries. The most common kinds of wisteria are Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda), and Chinese wisteria, (Wisteria sinensis). Both grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 8.
Growing Conditions
Wisteria prefers full sunlight. Although the plant tolerates partial shade, too much shade results in scanty blooms. To develop wisteria in a planter, begin with a container just slightly larger than the nursery container, and then repot the wisteria slowly since the plant grows. Eventually, wisteria might require a whiskey barrel or other big planter. A good-quality commercial potting mixture which contains ingredients such as compost, peat moss and perlite supports the plant when providing adequate drainage.
Planting
A youthful wisteria plant using one stem is ideal for growing in containers, as expansion is easily controlled and trained to make a framework of a rounded plant with one sturdy trunk. To prevent stem rot, plant the wisteria at the same thickness the plant is located in the nursery container. Put in a sturdy piece of bamboo or wood, 4 to 5 feet tall, immediately after planting, as coaching for this rambunctious vine starts immediately.
Training
Train the wisteria’s main stem to develop the support, tying the vine to the support every couple of inches, until the vine reaches the surface of the support. At this point, taking away the tip of the stem forces the vine to branch out and begin the process of forming a rounded shape. Allow the vine to develop unchecked until the next winter, once you should trim the unwanted shoots to 6 to 12 inches long. Repeat this step every winter, and prune feeble or unsightly increase in the procedure. Remove long streamers, as required, to keep them from getting tangled up in the primary vine.
General Care
Although wisteria gains from regular consuming, too much fertilizer may lead to a lush, bushy plant with no blooms. Fertilizers with too much nitrogen also restrict blooming. Feed wisteria once each year in spring, with a tomato fertilizer or a general-purpose fertilizer with a ratio such as 5-10-5. Checking the container daily during warm weather is important, as containerized wisteria dries out quickly. Wisteria is comparatively drought-tolerant, but you should not allow the potting mixture to dry out completely.