Many gardeners living in the middle lane, hopelessly tried to grow wisteria in their plots. In some cases, this beautiful plant simply did not bloom, but basically such experiments ended in the death of the pet, the reason for which were too cold winters. But the obstinacy of gardeners made the seemingly impossible. Now, every lover of flowering vines, even living in areas where the winter air temperature can drop to -40 degrees, will be able to plant frost-resistant Wisteria Blue Moon. The article today will be devoted to the description of the Blue Moon, the rules of its landing and departure. To begin with, I would like to talk about how and who managed to develop an extremely frost-resistant variety.
Appearance story
Not only in Russia, gardeners unsuccessfully tried to grow wisteria, but many did not even take it, believing that there was no need to torment the plant, and reserved the right to only dream. In America, too, there was a problem with growing beautiful vines, especially in those states that are located in the north. A couple from Minnesota decided to make their dream a reality and enthusiastically set about developing a frost-resistant variety. Bridget and Harvey Bachita, gardening, constantly, like us, faced with the problem of lowering temperatures so much that Asian Wisteria could not survive. It is not known how they managed to do this, but it is worth paying tribute to the couple: Harvey and Bridget were able to get a seedling from Wisteria macrostachya, which is unusually resistant to cold winters and can withstand temperatures drop to -40 Fahrenheit. But not only the plant conquered it with its winter hardiness: it pleased the breeders with flowering three times per season. Frost-resistant Wisteria Blue Moon macrostachia is not as aggressive as its Asian ancestors, which are striking in their incredible length, but still it is frost-resistant and can be planted in middle lane sections. Now this plant is popular among gardeners around the world.
The incredibly beautiful Blue Moon will be a wonderful decoration for the gazebo, balcony and terrace, and is also ideal for growing near the hedges.
Plant characteristics
Wisteria Macrostachia Blue Moon is a deciduous vine and belongs to the legume family. Its use is possible only for decorative purposes. It is much smaller than its relatives from Asia, but still striking in its length, capable of reaching seven meters, and in some cases more.
Flowers of an unusual shape (a bit like small irises) are painted in light blue, lavender blue or pink with a violet tint (depending on the variety), have a pale yellow neck. It blooms with "grapes", which can reach thirty centimeters in length. You can see a photo of the Wisteria Blue Moon in this article.
The described plant has a dark green, glossy, complex foliage consisting of seven or nine pairs of leaflets. Sheets are complex, alternate.
The root system is powerful, strong, and Wisteria Blue Moon can withstand frosts that reach a point on the thermometer -40 ° C. The plant is perennial.
Wisteria frost-resistant Blue Moon (Blue Moon) is not without reason has such a name. When flowering in the daytime, it is similar to a fragrant, refreshing waterfall, and at night, clusters of flowers unusually flicker with silver.
Planting soil
For planting, it is best to choose seedlings that have reached the age of one to two years. The root system should be closed - so Blue Moon wisteria will less likely to suffer adaptation to a new place of residence.
The plant is completely not whimsical to the type of soil on which it will grow. For good growth and abundant flowering, drained, slightly alkaline earths mixed with humus are suitable.
If you have strongly acidified or peaty soil, it is better not to plant the vine there - it will not tolerate such soil well, it may even die. She will perceive other types of land and will annually please her with abundant flowering.
Blue Moon Wisteria can be planted in two ways. It depends on the time of getting the first flowers, adaptation to the soil and getting used to the climate of the new region. We suggest considering both options.
Wisteria Blue Moon: Planting and Container Care
If you are worried that for some reason your beauty will not be able to survive the winter, then you can drop her in a decorative pot, the volume of which will be at least forty liters. But this method of cultivation is permissible if you have the opportunity to move this burden every year, which includes not only the weight of the pot and soil, but also the plants. If you are ready for such feats, then you can start landing.
The seedling is placed in a container and in warm time it grows quietly on the street. In winter, Wisteria Blue Moon is transferred to a dark, heated room. Top dressing in the winter should be canceled, and watering is carried out only if necessary.
A month before the planned time of transfer of the plant to the street, it is taken out to a lighted place, they begin to water intensively (about three times a week). Wisteria is taken out of the room only when there is confidence that frost can no longer harm, otherwise the pet may die. The fact is that the Blue Moon planted in the soil takes root underground, where the cold does not penetrate, and the plant growing in the pot undergoes frostbite of the root system, because the roots are above the soil, where it will freeze.
Open ground
To plant Blue Moon wisteria in the ground, you need to prepare a hole, the depth of which will be at least twenty centimeters, and fill it with humus. You can use shabby foliage as fertilizer, and add sand or clay-soddy soil to the ground. A seedling is planted so that the neck of the root is not immersed in the ground. The plant is watered daily.
For planting, a young seedling is certainly chosen, which is purchased only from companies that grow such plants from seeds. If you decide to germinate the seeds yourself, then be prepared to provide future seedlings with high humidity and temperature. Direct sunlight on a sprouted plant is fatal. It is important to know that seeds must be taken from the plant that grows in your region. When planting seeds, you should not wait for fast flowering - it will begin only in five years. For good development of the root system, after planting in the soil, you can spread dry grass around wisteria in which there are no seeds. This will allow moisture to remain, the seedling to develop faster.
The advantages of self-growing wisteria from seeds is that the plant will be adapted to various climatic conditions, will not hurt, and will easily endure the most severe winters.
Choose a place to land
If you are planning to land the Blue Moon on your site, choose a suitable place - the flowering, adaptation and well-being of the plant depend on it. Wisteria Blue Moon loves sunlit areas with light, drained soil. Drainage is necessary to prevent the accumulation of excess water at the roots. This will ensure rapid plant growth. Large inflorescences will appear only when during the flowering period the day will last twelve or more hours.
The sun should illuminate the plant for at least six hours a day, but the landing site should be protected from the north wind in the winter and drafts in the summer. This wisteria does not like and is necessarily capricious. Therefore, the site should be fenced off on one side with a wall. The best option is to plant a plant near the south wall of the house.
It is also necessary to prepare supports on which creepers will crawl and curl around. Absolutely different materials will do. Put and spin them as you would like to see your plant.
Top dressing
Wisteria needs to be fed only when inflorescences are formed. This is necessary so that the flowers are larger, more plentiful and have saturated shades. Top dressing should consist of mineral and organic fertilizers. The frequency of application should be moderate, not more than once every three days, and fertilizers are applied alternately. How to make top dressing? Take ten liters of water and twenty grams of fertilizer per square meter of land. You can use compost in a ratio of 1:20 (one part of compost and twenty water). Or a solution of chalk, which is prepared from a bucket of water and a hundred grams of chalk.
Pruning
This operation must be performed to create a beautiful, neat crown and more abundant flowering. Spring pruning in the first vegetative season is to cleanse the plant of all unnecessary. All parts outside the five strongest axillary kidneys are removed. It is also necessary to rid wisteria from damaged and frozen shoots.
Autumn pruning is necessary to make the Blue Moon more comfortable overwinter.
Getting ready for winter
Blue Moon wisteria should be prepared immediately before the onset of the first cold weather. To do this, you need to moss or peat overlay the roots of the plant. Wisteria, planted from a seedling, especially needs such a "blanket", before preparing for the first winter. If its branches have not yet strengthened, then they are also wrapped with any covering material, but not synthetic.
Watering
Blue Moon does not tolerate waterlogged land. Abundant watering is necessary only during the formation of the root system, and later on, inflorescences. A lack of water will entail a slow development of the plant and poor flowering. Before the onset of cold weather, watering is completely stopped. If wisteria grows in a container, and you put it away in the heat, then watering in winter should be minimal.
Pests and diseases
Wisteria is a poisonous plant, so pests infringe on it rarely. Usually, diseases and harmful insects attack the beauty during periods when she is weakened, especially when it comes to pruning. To protect the plant, treat the cut sites with garden varieties.
Only one can kill her disease, and this is chlorosis. It can be recognized by the yellowed, falling leaves. By the way, the disease indicates that wisteria grows in alkaline soil. Fighting chlorosis is simple: it is worth adding fertilizer with iron salts to the ground.
There are more pests. It:
- Clover mite. Gives its presence by the fact that the color of the foliage of the plant changes. You can get rid of the tick with the help of treatment with acaracides.
- Spraying the foliage with biological preparations will help to avoid eating them by caterpillars.
- Green aphids leave damaged leaves and flowers. Get rid of the pest immediately after its detection. Use insecticides to fight.
Wisteria Macrostachia Blue Moon: reviews
As soon as the plant came from America to Russia, there were many who wanted to grow it on their site. Someone managed to cope with the task, but someone did not. According to reviews, Wisteria Blue Moon seems unpretentious, but still requires considerable effort for good growth.
They write that at shelter for the winter she feels great. But when it grows, it is difficult to cover it completely, twigs may remain, and they freeze. But these reviews were written by those who live in regions whose air temperature in winter can drop to -45 degrees.
Wisteria Blue Moon in Moscow and Moscow region takes root perfectly, and numerous gardeners' comments confirm this. People write that the pet blooms profusely (from early June to September), the aroma in the area is magical. But for such flowering, top dressing is necessary, without them the color is faded, not so plentiful.
There are reviews from those who grow wisteria in containers. They write that leaving is less problematic, frosts are not terrible. And the problem with the movement of gravity is solved: two or three people can easily cope with the task.