Cuidados de la glicinia o Wisteria sinensis: cómo conseguir una cascada de flores en tu jardín

¿Quieres saber cómo cuidar tus glicinias para que tu jardín se llene con sus racimos de flores? Descubre cómo aquí.

Take a look at the image accompanying this article.

Do you recognise the place?

It's the arbour of the Botanical Garden of La Concepcion, in Malaga. A very famous structure for its enormous iron pergola covered with flowers that (these ones) are sure to ring a bell.

Wisteria.

Wisteria is one of the most spectacular climbing plants available.

Its beautiful clusters of purple, blue or white flowers are unmistakable and perfect for decorating any wall or pergola.

And the best thing is that it is a very rustic plant and easy to care for.

But of course, it is one thing to know how to maintain it and quite another to get it to give us that beautiful bloom in spring.

For the latter, it is necessary to give it some specific care. 

Do you want to know which ones?

Then pay close attention to this post, because here we are going to tell you everything you need to know to take care of your wisteria.

You will see how, with these tips, you will soon be able to enjoy this shower of flowers in your own garden.

How to care for wisteria to bloom in full splendour

As we said, the wisteria is a very hardy shrub.

It withstands both light exposure (which it appreciates) and semi-shade, high and low temperatures, and can even survive frost. 

That's why you can grow it even if you live in the south of Spain or in the middle of Madrid.

If we know how to look after it, when spring arrives the plant will display its unmistakable flowering in clusters, and with a bit of luck and affection it will keep it almost until autumn.

Let's see how to achieve this.

1. When and how to plant wisteria

Wisteria is a very strong woody shrub.

So much so that if you use a weak structure to guide it, such as a hollow tube, it is very likely to deform it. Instead, it is preferable to use iron or steel structures that can withstand the pressure of the stems.

If you choose to sow seeds, the best time is during autumn or spring.

However, bear in mind that it can take several years from the time the seeds germinate until the plant starts to flower.

If you want to speed up the process, it is best to plant a cutting.

To do this, dig a hole twice the diameter of the pot and insert the root ball into it. If you are going to plant it next to a support, make sure the stems are pointing towards it so that the stems go around it.

2. What substrate do you need

It is an undemanding plant in terms of substrate, but it does best in sandy and slightly acidic soils. 

The most important thing is good drainage so that the roots do not become waterlogged.

If you plant it in a pot, a mixture of universal compost will suffice.

3. Better sun than semi-shade

The wisteria is a plant that adapts to any conditions.

It can live in semi-shade as well as in full sun. But if you want it to flourish at its best, you must make sure it gets several hours of light a day. 

The only exception is if you live in a very hot area where summers are too hot. In this case, limit the plant's exposure to the sun so that its leaves do not burn.

4. Temperature

This shrub is able to withstand all kinds of climates. As we said, it even withstands frost.

Of course, in areas where the climate is mild, it will grow a little better, but even if you live indoors, this is no obstacle to growing a wisteria in your garden.

5. Irrigation

If you want to see your garden with those spectacular floral cascades that wisteria is known for, you have to be rigorous with risk.

This plant adapts well to drought, but that does not mean that we can be careless.

It is important to keep the substrate slightly damp (remember, always avoid waterlogging), especially during the hottest periods.

When the plant is less than 3 years old it will need a little more constant watering.

6. Pruning

Wisteria is a plant that can easily outgrow its space.

This is why regular training pruning, which is usually done at the end of winter, is so important. For the rest, you can simply cut back any malformed or diseased branches and let the wisteria grow on its own.

In summer, it is important to remove withered shoots. If you do this, your wisteria will come back in full bloom the following year.

7. Fertiliser

A good supply of nutrients will encourage wisteria to flower.

Ideally, you should add extra organic fertiliser every year. However, avoid fertilisers with too much nitrogen, as this can reduce the volume of flowers produced.

8. Diseases

The main enemy of wisteria is fungi.

Diseases such as phytophthora are very common when we overwater, and can kill the plant (they attack the roots).

This is why soil drainage is so important.

On the other hand, it is also common to see aphids and mealy bugs attacking the plant, but with a systemic insecticide they should disappear.

Is it possible to grow wisteria in pots?

This is a question we are often asked.

Many people only have a terrace or a small garden, and are not sure how to grow wisteria or whether it is possible to grow wisteria at all.

And the answer is yes.

With the right care, wisteria is capable of growing just as well in the garden soil as it is in a pot.

In fact, when decorating a pergola, the trick is often to plant four wisteria specimens in four different pots, and place each pot next to one of the legs of the pergola.

This way, as they grow, the four specimens meet on the roof of the pergola and end up covering the entire pergola.

In this case you can use a universal substrate.

It's time to start growing and caring for your wisteria.

As you have seen, the wisteria is a very grateful plant.

With just a little care, it will give us a beautiful flowering and a very special look to our garden.

Remember that if you have any questions about how to take care of your wisteria or any other plant, just contact us.

We will be delighted to help you bring your garden to life.