My Chinese Wisteria Will Not Bloom

Juvenility

• Chinese wisteria often fails to bloom as expected because the vine is still too young. The length of its juvenile state can vary depending on how your Chinese wisteria vine was cultivated. Chinese wisteria vines that have been grown from seeds may take between 10 to 15 years to bloom, according to Ohio State University Extension. For a shorter juvenile stage, select vines that have been grown from wisteria cuttings; cutting-grown Chinese wisteria vines usually bloom within three years.

Inadequate Sunlight

• Chinese wisteria is a sun-loving vine that performs best in locations with full sunlight. While the vine is capable of surviving in partial sun locations, it may fail to bloom satisfactorily, or at all, without full sun exposure. To ensure that your Chinese wisteria has the energy that it needs to produce its characteristically fragrant blossoms, plant the vine in a site that receives six or more hours of direct sunlight per day.

Improper Fertilization

• Like many popular garden plants, Chinese wisteria can benefit from regular applications of water-soluble fertilizer during its growing season. However, using the wrong type of fertilizer, can stimulate the vine to produce an excess of foliage at the expense of flowers. To eliminate this problem, avoid fertilizer products that are high in nitrogen and, instead, look for one that's high in phosphorous. Fertilize your Chinese wisteria monthly during its growing season with a high-phosphorous "bloom booster" fertilizer to encourage it to produce bountiful blossoms.

Improper Pruning

• Chinese wisteria is a vigorous vine that can grow up to 30 feet if left unchecked. Though the annual pruning required to keep your Chinese wisteria in check takes a bit of work, it can actually increase the number of blossoms that the vine produces, according to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Prune your Chinese wisteria each year in the late winter to restrict its growth. Use sharpened and sterilized pruning shears to cut leader shoots back to half their length; cut the side shoots on the leader shoots back to just 2 to 3 inches.