A Complete Guide to Growing Wisteria Bonsai

  Wisteria is a perennial woody climbing plant in the genus Wisteria of the Fabaceae family. The flowers are purple, blooming from April—June, forming drooping racemes, with flat, elongated pod fruits, giving it strong ornamental value. Wisteria prefers warm, humid conditions and sunlight; it is shade-tolerant and drought-tolerant, and favors loose, fertile, well-drained sunny sites, and is averse to strong winds.

  Before wisteria sprouting in spring, it should be transplanted. First plant it in a clay pot to develop the raw material, and prune before planting. Since wisteria is a climbing plant with a relatively long trunk, you may keep only the main branches and trunk needed for the desired shape.

  Because wisteria has a very long taproot but few fibrous and lateral roots, you can shorten the taproot and keep the lateral roots. After planting, place it in a wind-sheltered spot, avoid direct sun exposure, and frequently spray water on the trunk to encourage adventitious buds on the old stump to sprout.

  After new branches grow out, remove the young buds and new branches not needed for the design, and pay attention to developing transition branches so that the proportions of branches and trunk in the bonsai are harmonious.