Q.My Wisteria Keeps Turning Brown and Won’t Grow Up the Post
I have 6 huge clay pots about 4′ tall and wisteria planted in each next to a post leading to an arbor trellis on top. The vines have made it to the top of the trellis but keep turning brown and dying after a while. We don’t see any galls, so don’t think that is it. We live in an extremely windy southern gulf zone. My husband waters, could he be watering too much? He may even have fertilized them once. But anyway, they keep turning brown and falling off. The growth at the container level stays green but the vines die on the post.
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
It could be that they simply need additional watering since they are in containers and prone to warm, windy conditions, which will quickly dry out a plant. Check the soil to see if it is moist and water at least once daily, twice if temps reach 85 degrees F. or more.
OR it could have a fungus. If this is the case, leave the brown stems for now. The leaves may be dead, but the stems may be alive (they will be pliable if they are still alive) and will regrow their leaves when the fungus is addressed. Treat the affected plants with a fungicide. A general fungicide will be fine. I personally like neem oil because it is both a fungicide and a pesticide, so it can take care of most issues that may be affecting the plant.
