Teach you to grow wisteria: build a dream palace in 3 years

1. How to grow wisteria

Wisteria has a thick, long main root and few lateral roots, so choose a dry spot with deep, fertile, well-drained soil; too much moisture easily causes root rot. It does not transplant well, so when transplanting, the plant must be moved with its root ball.

Wisteria flowers are highly adaptable. The main root can absorb nutrients from the soil, so it does not need much fertilizer. Applying a compound fertilizer 2 to 3 times a year is enough. In mid-to-late March, before the plant buds, apply a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer, superphosphate, etc. to promote the growth of branches and buds. April and May are the growing season, when topdressing is needed 2 to 3 times, using decomposed cake fertilizer or chicken manure.

2. How to build a dream wisteria palace in just 3 years

Wisteria grows quickly and has a climbing, twining habit, so a man-made trellis is generally used. Common trellis materials include bamboo flower stands, wooden flower stands, metal flower stands, stone pillar flower stands, and so on. They can be made into long shapes, round shapes, zigzag shapes, and so on. To keep the tree form beautiful, besides reducing watering and fertilizing, you also need to know how to prune and pinch back.

To prune wisteria, first keep the main branches, remove the third-order branches among the secondary branches, and also cut off some overly long branches at the bottom. This encourages the wisteria to first climb all over the palace frame. Generally, after about 1 year, it begins to take shape. When growth is weak, replenish nutrients in time. In the early stage, use mainly compound fertilizer; in the later stage, appropriately increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote flower bud formation.

Wisteria flower buds mainly form at the base of the branches. Without pruning, the upper leaf buds will grow many leggy shoots, consuming a large amount of nutrients and affecting normal flowering. Therefore, every spring the branches should be cut back, and dense, diseased, and weak branches should be cut off to promote flower bud formation. Properly tie and train the new shoots of the current year so they are evenly distributed on the trellis surface.

During growth, according to the palace-shaped flower trellis you designed, guide the wisteria branches to climb upward, using wire or zip ties to bind and shape them. After about 3 years of growth, the wisteria branches can basically cover the palace trellis. Once the plant shape of the wisteria is fixed, daily care only requires appropriate thinning. Cut off some leggy branches and overly vigorous branches, which helps form more branches and promotes more abundant flowering. To achieve perfection, frequently guide the branches to adjust into place wherever the shape has not been achieved. Then your purple wisteria palace is complete.