Red robin in a pot

Hi, my first post i have just purchased a Photina Red Robin full standard 150cm stem + 1m head. I plan to keep it in a pot. It comes in a 30ltr pot and i cant decide what size pot to repot it in. Can you help with this please, i have seen a 40ltr 44h x 49d also how often will it need to be repotted in the future. I plan on keeping it trimmed to keep its current height. Thank you.

 

Have you taken it out of the original pot to see what size the root ball is ? My experience of these is that they will grow fairly quickly when given the chance.
Much will depend on how well yours does kept in a pot rather than planted in the ground. Do you have a pot size limit in mind - ie maximum size you have room for ?

 

Hi, it gets delivered on Tuesday, so i have not seen the rootball. There is no limit on the pot size, i have space. Just wasn’t sure to go really big or just size up to the 40lts?

 

I would start with a minimum of a 40 litre pot for the first year and see how it develops. They are thirsty plants so will need regular watering. Use a loam based compost like John Innes No 3 with some added organic matter like farmyard manure or composted bark. Also, if you are planning to put the plant near a wall or doorway, rotate it regularly to make sure each side gets a good amount of sunshine/light. Photinias can also be root pruned when the root system gets too big for the pot which will also help to restrict the height and volume of foliage. Good luck with it.

 

Thanks ill do just that!

 

Reflect upon the 'size of the lollipop' when selecting pots. Give it stability by adequate weight because it may otherwise fall over in windy weather. Shape and base diameter plus a good mass low down to balance the top.

 

Thank you i will consider this also

 

Cube shaped planters are good for stability. They can get heavy when filled with compost so consider a lightweight composite or recycled plastic version, some are made to look like slate or stone and are quite convincing. Avoid the faux lead material though, it doesn’t last more than a couple of years. Use pot feet or similar to raise your pot off the ground to ensure good drainage.