British Columbia: Help with Wisteria lack of bloom

Hi all, I was over at Pheonix Perennials and saw a few sparsley grown Wisteria. Not a lot of leaves on them but they had blooms of white and purple (not on the same vine). So naturally, I inquired with them how they were blooming them - they did not know as they got them from the grower in that state.

My Wisteria is in a large pot (15 gallon I think) and it was handed down to my from my Mom (it never bloomed for her). That was about 7 years ago and she had it for a few years. Other than the blooms, I think it does well - lots of leaves.

I want to sink it into the ground but I have no room/space for it and the tendrils - I have to keep pulling away from the house/gutter as it wants to climb.

I always thought the lack of blooms was because it was container bound but then I saw the container bound Wisteria at the nursery and now I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong or not doing. Can anyone help? I'm so hoping to have it bloom and I'm sure my Mom would love to see that too. I can take pictures if it will help.

Thanks in advance.

 

I'm sure some others will weigh in, but this is my opinion:

This is a common problem. There's no perfect answer, but there are a few things you can try.

1. It needs phosphorous and may have too much nitrogen (since it's growing well and is very leafy.) So the fertilizer you buy should have a low first number and higher 2nd number. A-B-C. A is nitrogen and B is phosphorous (and C is potassium).

2. It needs some serious pruning. I would significantly cut it back in late June. Cut it way down and take out any runners if there are any extra little shoots coming out the bottom. If you get a lot of new growth in July, I'd prune it back *again*. Don't prune between Aug and next spring when it flowers. I don't know the scientific terms for this, but some plants need a shock or some suffering before they'll bloom. I started a thread recently showing what happened when I moved (butchered) my wisteria *and* pruned it severely and a month later it bloomed like crazy.

3. Make sure it's in the sunniest spot you have. Lots of wisterias won't bloom if they don't have enough sun.

I hope this helps...I know it must be frustrating. May-June is usually when it blooms, so if you do these things now, you may get lucky next May.

and WELCOME to the forum.

 

Thank you! I'll see if I have some phosphorous biased fertilizer and if not, I'll go get some.

I remember a while ago I was told to use a shovel to cut some of the roots - jam it into the pot to shock it. I never tried it for fear of killing it but now you're the second person recommending shock therapy so I'll give it a go - the pruning method - not the root severing method.

And thank you again for the advice - here's to hoping I get some blooms next year. :)