Wisteria problem
Last post 25-05-2012 6:02 PM by seven11. 4 replies.
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11/05/2012 04:58 PM
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- seven11
- cornwall
- 11 May 2012
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17
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Hi. Every year about this time, my wisteria has many small flower racemes actively growing. My problem is - long before the racemes reach maturity, the tiny buds on many of them fall off, leaving just a bare stem. Consequently, I lose more than half of the racemes. Has anyone any idea what may be causing this? Thanks.
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11/05/2012 06:25 PM
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Hi Seven 11, welcome,
If it was just this year I would blame the early warm spell followed by late frosts, but if it is happening every year it would suggest that the plant is being stressed by dry soil, which is a common issue for plants growing up walls. Wisteria likes a slightly damp site.
Do you mulch every year? Do you water it in dry weather, especially in late summer / early autumn when the flower buds are forming? Is it growing up a wall with a gutter above it that would block rainfall from reaching the soil around the plant?
Also, do you prune it twice a year in the recommended manner?
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=242
A soil test to determine if the soil is low in phosphorous is also a sensible idea.
Have fun,
Ed
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11/05/2012 11:20 PM
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- seven11
- cornwall
- 11 May 2012
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17
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Thanks, hedgefolk, I think you`ve hit the nail on the head. My wisteria is growing up the side of a conservatory, surrounded by a paved patio. I do water it but probably not enough, from what you say. I shall heed your comments to the letter over the next 12 months and see what happens. I will duly report results. Many thanks!
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12/05/2012 01:36 AM
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My pleasure. If the soil test indicates that it needs feeding, use a fertiliser like sulphate of potash that doesn't contain nitrogen: Wisteria's roots have symbiotic bacteria that produce soluble nitrogen in the same way as clover or peas. Excess nitrogen will encourage leafy growth at the expense of the flowers.
Ed
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25/05/2012 06:02 PM
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- seven11
- cornwall
- 11 May 2012
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17
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The vast majority of my wisteria baby flower racemes have now shed their tiny buds. Very few have survived to flower. However, I`m following your advice to the letter this year, so hopefully, I`ll see a difference next year. Just one more question - is there any hard and fast rules as to how many main stems (runners) there should be? For example, I have 1 main stem rising from soil level. This subdivides into about 3 or 4 stems by the time it reaches about 8 ft. At this height, there are several runners in each direction around my conservatory intertwining with each other. Is it OK to have all these main runners, or would it be more advantageous to have just one, or maybe two, in each direction? Many thanks.
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