Chapter 11. Wisteria Bonsai

How to start with an old plant

If old living stumps are cut off 1 or 2 feet from the ground, and all the big roots are also cut off close to the stump, the stump can be transplanted into a pot or bed—where it quickly becomes established. When its new life has started scions of garden varieties suitable for dwarfing are grafted on the upper portion. In a few years beautiful flowering potted trees are formed. White and purple Kabitans and pink wisteria rarely have their flower buds damaged by frost. Ebicha and Issai are floriferous and more dwarf in growth.

Author photo The wisteria variety Issai is one of the most popular in Japan

I raised by layering, some years ago, the two plants in the photograph. The variety is Issai, one of the most popular wisterias in Japan, as it blooms heavily every year, even when young and in pots. By repeated cutting back to the two low est buds of each shoot, for several years, and by cutting back the strong roots each time, nice dwarfed potted trees are obtained which gradually lose their vine-like habit. In the course of these years, some spurs and small buds are produced. To encourage these spurs to form flower buds in a season or two, repeated pinching should be practiced during the summer growing season. Floriferous dwarfed wisterias will develop (as seen in the photograph). At the end of the growing season, or in winter, all shoots are cut off—only a few promising buds remain for next year's bloom. K. Y.