AusBonsai

Hi all,

A quick question if I may...I have a small miniature Wisteria that has been growing very well through spring. It is about 10cm tall from top of pot and very young (1 yr?), but recently the leaves have started to go very pale. I gave it a feed with Seasol and it picked up a bit of colour, but is still looking faded.

I keep the wisteria in part shade to protect it from the heat and wind. I live in south west Sydney. Should I have this little wisteria in full sun, or could it just be a matter of needing more food?

I will try and get a picture of it on here tonight as I am at work.

I appreciate any feedback, suggestions, or further questions if what I have described is unclear.

Cheers,
Simon.

I have my wisteria in almost full sun but it is in a very large pot. I think part shade sounds good for yours. Seasol is not a feed it is a hormone and soil conditioner. I would give it a chemical feed so that the nutrients are available straight away. Feed every two weeks until winter sets in should be good.

Bretts wrote:I have my wisteria in almost full sun but it is in a very large pot. I think part shade sounds good for yours. Seasol is not a feed it is a hormone and soil conditioner. I would give it a chemical feed so that the nutrients are available straight away. Feed every two weeks until winter sets in should be good.

Thanks Bretts,

OK...no wonder it didn't pickup with Seasol. I have miracle grow at hand and also some general purpose pelleted fertiliser. What would you suggest as a good chemical fertiliser?

Simon.

Just a quick note....the mini wisteria is in fact not a wisteria to my knowledge, however, I have found that they do love water - just like a wisteria.

Cheers,
Leigh.

I would build up the fertiliser to it - maybe start with a half dose of maxicrop - progressing to full - then half dose of nitrosol - progressing to full.

Cheers,
Leigh.

Thanks Leigh and Bretts,

I managed to pickup some Nitrosol and will work with that. Also, upon further investigation, while watering the wisteria I noticed that it was not draining as freely as I would have expected. As soon as I moved the mesh that was covering the hole in the pot, water started to flow freely.

I think the plant had become water logged. The mesh is now gone, I have fed with Nitrosol, and it is now free draining and I will leave it to dry out the soil well. We'll see how she goes.

Cheers,
Simon.

Simon, just make sure the water is penetrating into the rootball, not just running around the sides and out the bottom of the pot. That often happens with plants that have been left too long in one pot.
My experience is that (ordinary) wisteria do not like to dry out so be careful. Mine wilt very easily if they get a bit dry. I currently have one sitting in a tray of water all the time to see how it goes as I have read that they like this.

Leigh Taafe wrote:....the mini wisteria is in fact not a wisteria to my knowledge,

Leigh, If Miniature wisteria is not a wisteria, What is it?

Thanks for the advice Shibui,

I had repotted the wisteria in Spring earlier this year from a starter pot, so I think the water should be penetrating the root ball OK.

I agree about not letting it dry out. It was only that I have just discovered, that while the soil may have looked dry at the top, because of the mesh blocking the hole on the bottom of the pot, the plant was probably still quite damp at the bottom of the pot. Not to mention that probably led to poor air circulation. With the mesh now gone, and water now free draining I am expecting the pot to dry out in a more uniform manner and the wisteria to pick up it's colour and grow on!

In regards to Miniature Wisteria not being Wisteria, I don't know. It has bud like structures along it's very small trunk that looks like Wisteria. It was a very small starter that I found at the local nursery for only $1 (bargain). It was too cute to go past...who knows what it could become!

Thanks all.
Simon.

When you say Miniature Wisteria I wonder if you mean what is commonly called Summer wisteria.
I had one a few years back. I think I got it at the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden. I thought it was a normal wisteria but started to wonder why it flowered when in leaf not before like a normal wisteria. Also the buds where much more delicate.
I killed mine although I would gladly get another I haven't come accross them again yet.
Indigofera decora
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/kumagaisan/flowers/niwafuji.html

Here is a picture of mine in good health just about to flower. It is good to see my technique has gotten a little better over the last 4 years

I am trying to hunt down the name - I might need to contact an old friend - she will know for sure!

I have Ray Nesci miniature Wisteria 'bonsai starter'. Just hope it will look like this one one day:

http://www.livinggifts.net/miniature_wisteria.html

In Peter Valder’s book “Wisterias – A Comprehensive Guide”, Chapter 7 - Summer Wisteria is another name for Millettia. The Australian species is listed as Millettia japonica.

Hope that helps,

Jan

Thanks Jan - That is the one I was trying to think of ! Cheers, Leigh.

There is a miniature wisteria that is a true wisteria but it doesnt flower. I think it is Wisteria japonica 'nana' but im not sure.

Joel

Hey guys
i just picked up this tree for $20 the other day it was marked as Wisteria, also that it had been in pot since 2006, I'll let you guys know if it flowers
Also any advice on how to care for it as i live on the gold coast with heat and high humidity.