Â鶹Éç

Garden inspiration  permalink

Photinia "Red Robin" or similar

• Message 1. 

  Posted by indeedee (U14627962) on Friday, 10th December 2010

  Can anyone tell me whether Photinia "Red Robin" (or "Little Red Robin") can be grown successfully in a large container ? - if it is possible, what tips (based upon experience) would ensure success - optimum container size, soil, aspect, etc ?
  
  Thanks, Indeedee.

  Link to this forum: Photinia "Red Robin" or similar

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by TomBradbury (U3349234) on Friday, 10th December 2010

  Any plant should be able to withstand being grown in a container. Just need to make sure that it is well fed, well watered, has good drainage, and is grown in a container that is suitable (ie, big enough) for its needs. I always use John Innes Number 3 in my containers as this is the best (apparently!) growing medium or compost for container plants. Every spring I "top dress" my container plants by removing the top 3 or 4 inches of compost and put in new compost I also add in some slow release fertilizer. that sees it thru' the spring and summer.
  
  The size of container needs to be big enough to contain the plant, but as it grows, so will the size of the container. You can limit its size, which will limit the growth of the plant, however if the plant becomes pot bound (ie, fills the pot with all roots and very little compost), it will suffer and it will dry out very quickly and any nutrients will disappear quickly.
  
  For drainage, I like adding broken up bits of polystyrene as it provides a good way of stopping the compost from blocking the holes, but being light doesn't make the container heavier.
  
  Location is anywhere you like as long as its consistent with what the plant needs. I have containers that I move around the garden so that they are in the best place for looking at when they are at their best. Otherwise they get shoved sideways or to a less obvious place when they are not 'in season' (ie, flowering, etc). Photinia like to be in sun, so this is the ideal location, although bare in mind that if your containerised Photinia is in sun, it will dry out quicker and need watering often.
  
  Photinia grows tall and bushy but you can control that with vigorous pruning. If you do it at the right time of year (Spring in my opinion), it ensures that the new growth that appears fills up any gaps for the summer. You will also get a lovely flush of new red leaves.
  
  Photinia is quite a hardy plant and is quite resilient to a hard prune. I had one that I outside my front door that I took back from 6 foot to a 3 foot stump. It survived the onslaught and was back to 6 foot in a couple of years but because I controlled the growth the second time around, was shapely and compact.
  
  Photinia can suffer from Black Spot (same thing that affects Roses), so if you see any obvious signs, treat as necessary.
  
  Hope that helps.
  

  Link to this forum: Photinia "Red Robin" or similar

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by indeedee (U14627962) on Saturday, 11th December 2010

  Tim, many thanks for all the detailed info.
  
  I feel, however, as though I'm between a rock & a hard place, as the saying
  goes ! - I only have a miniscule courtyard garden, so any plants need to have maximum impact - hence my interest in the Photinia...... - but the elected position is against a West-facing 6' high x 2' wide trellis section, with a gold-leaved Jasminum on an adjacent trellis. The container would therefore be fixed, and limited to 60 x 30 cm, x 45 deep. None of my books seem to include any Photinias in lists of plants suitable for container culture. All-in-all, I think it's going to be a no-no - I'd love to try, but at 66 I'm not sure I have the time to find out unless there is a sure chance of success !!
  
  Alternative is possibly a Lapageria, which may be too tender, or a Pieris 'Forest Flame' (which could limit any climber in the same container), or a Euonymus radicans 'variegata' through which a suitable Clematis could scramble ; but none would have the same impact as the Red Robin !
  
  Thanks again, Indeedee.

  Link to this forum: Photinia "Red Robin" or similar

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by mister-grow-it-all (U14591945) on Saturday, 11th December 2010

  Pieris 'Forest Flame' can be grown in a pot , you could try pieris little heath ,hope ive spelled it ok , i have seen lttle robin for first time this year , i think it should be ok in a pot for a few years and as mentioned above can take a prune now again to keep to shape , its habit even with a prune is still a little open , i like jasminum sun rise ,but found it needs a nice warm spot as not as hardy as some

  Link to this forum: Photinia "Red Robin" or similar

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by mister-grow-it-all (U14591945) on Saturday, 11th December 2010

  just been thinking how about Leucothoe axillaris 'Red Lips' or any of the Leucothoes so you get a slow growing plant with red leafs ,evergreen , regards mgia

  Link to this forum: Photinia "Red Robin" or similar

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Salino (U2550900) on Saturday, 11th December 2010

  Tim has given you very good advice and I wouldn't be put off by planting a Photinia in the pot you have. I have seen tall specimens of them in smaller containers than that. They are a very accommodating plants and suitable for growing in containers up against walls. West facing is perfectly alright.

  Link to this forum: Photinia "Red Robin" or similar

  Report message6

• Message 7

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by indeedee (U14627962) on Sunday, 12th December 2010

  Many thanks, mister-grow-it-all - I think Little Red Robin could be a good solution, as I would like to include a climber & a coloured-foliage perennial in the same container !
  
  I've no experience of Leucothoe, although the pictures look good - but it would, of course, limit any other planting to acid lovers.....
  
  Thanks again, Indeedee

  Link to this forum: Photinia "Red Robin" or similar

  Report message7

• Message 8

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by indeedee (U14627962) on Sunday, 12th December 2010

  Many thanks, Salino - that's good to know and opens-up my choice once again !
  
  Indeedee.

  Link to this forum: Photinia "Red Robin" or similar

  Report message8

Back to top