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Wisteria Sinensis Standard Advice Please

FayeGFayeG Posts: 34
edited July 2023 in Plants
I've always loved and wanted wisteria but it's always terrified me.  However, I've been gifted a Wisteria Sinensis and an enormous sized pot from my son and I'm seriously excited, although I appreciate I will have to stay on top of pruning and training.  

My question is about staking, chopping off the top & position mainly:  I'm going to buy a tree stake and have read up how to train into a standard and will try to get this right.  The main stem held up is about 7' in length... once I have potted and tied etc would I cut the top off now (to stop it getting much higher), give it a bit of time to settle or do it after the winter?  Am I right to make this cut where I want the trunk to mainly come to?

Is the umbrella top necessary?  They are so much more expensive than I can afford - although I have found one at an affordable price that is iron... is this better than not having one at all?  I would use in addition to the wood stake.

As they are spring / summer  flowering I'd like to see from my window when the garden isn't of great interest.  It will be in full sun much of the day but is sheltering the body a good idea during the early years as protection?  I know pots are not the best place - this one is around 250L in size so I'd like to try to contain it if possible.

I love them so much I'm willing to work hard to keep it in check etc and will continue to youtube/rhs search and ask here for advice but I wonder if there are any wisteria experts here that can help with some getting started help.

Thank you in advance.  


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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    My advice is to get it in the ground, and buy a strong iron framework to grow it over. This is a long term project. There is a beautiful one in "The Park" estate in Nottingham, grown as a huge umbrella shape in a bed on its own in the front garden. It is magnificent.
     In a pot it will always be struggling and as it gets bigger it's likely to either fall over and smash the pot, or take over whatever its next to.  
    I am about to decapitate  one grown next to the garage. Its a nuisance. The rooted cutting I took off it grows over an Agriframe  pergola and is in a much more suitable position.

     Use the pot to put something slow growing in such as one of the dwarf acers.

  • FayeGFayeG Posts: 34
    @fidgetbones Thank you... I do hear you, and I know you are right but this is my only option. I know it will require plenty of attention.  
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    This may inspire you …

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sD_eEBTlZ6A 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Inspire or ... deter? ;)
  • FayeGFayeG Posts: 34
    @Dovefromabove That’s beautiful and can only imagine the fragrance x

    @Papi Jo  Okay if I had more than the average U.K. 3-bed semi maybe :) 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    For four springs I walked past it every morning on my way to Art School .., the perfume was indeed glorious. 😃 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FayeGFayeG Posts: 34
    edited July 2023
    @Dovefromabove - Can imagine. Bet it gave you lots of inspiration to create :)
    (I also paint/draw) 
  • FayeGFayeG Posts: 34
    A video of my new wisteria sinensis...  (didn't know how to upload so popped onto youtube)

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QP2cW5ONGB8
  • FayeGFayeG Posts: 34
    edited July 2023
    I brought the wisteria in to photograph...
    I'd guess it's around 7-foot (measured soil to tip) - It's going into a very large pot so will be raised, the cascades will make it hang down, but unsure if I should cut the tip off yet...  what do you think?  I'm placing it to one side of where we sit.
     

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If you cut the tip just above the highest set of leaves it will encourage it to bush out and make more stems to cover your support when you get it.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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