Wisteria germinated from seeds can take 15 or 20 years to flower, and some wisteria never flowers at all. For this reason, many gardeners prefer to cultivate their plants from cuttings. Even if your wisteria is purchased from a nursery or home and garden center, you should find out how the plant was propagated. For flowering wisteria, only purchase specimens that were propagated through cuttings. Chinese wisteria is a very common type of wisteria in the western United States. It is hardy to USDA zones 5 through 8, and will flower best in full sunlight. Keep wisteria moist during dry seasons by watering once per week.
Softwood Cutting
Cut off the green end of a wisteria that is known to flower regularly. Do this during the growing season, either in spring, or early through midsummer. The portion you remove should have no flowers itself, and should be approximately 4 inches long. Cut the stem just below the leaf joint.
2. Dip the end of the stem in hormone rooting powder.
3. Insert the base of the cutting into a pot of fresh cutting compost. Cutting composts have high phosphate content for encouraging root growth. This type of compost is sold at nurseries and many home and garden centers.
4. Place the cutting somewhere humid, either by covering it loosely with a clear plastic bag, or placing it in a greenhouse or enclosed aquarium. Keep the cutting somewhere warm, around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Expose the cutting to diffuse bright light. Mist daily to keep humidity high and soil moist.
5. Transplant cutting to permanent home after approximately 10 weeks. Cutting may be transplanted after the last frost of spring.
