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The cuttings should begin to root in two to three weeks and at this pointremove the plastic bag. The cuttings should then grow and the best time toplant them out in their final position is next April / May when the dangerof frost has passed.
Most cultivars put out young leaves that are in shades of pink and red while a minority have coppery, bronze, marbled or cream-edged foliage. Our suggested routine would be an annual prune in early to mid June when the flowers are dead or dying down. If you prune at this time of year you will be likely to have flowers again the next year. In all likelihood your Photinia will not be the only shrub affected, although Photinias are particularly susceptible. We suggest you research this disease online / in books because it is extremely difficult to eradicate. Often the only course of action is to dig up and burn the affected shrubs and plant those which are resistant to honey fungus. HOW AND WHEN TO PROPAGATE RED ROBINS
The technical name for this shrub is Photinia x fraseri‘Red Robin’.Photinias, as a group plants are native to North America and Asia. Photiniax fraseri is named because it was first discovered as a seedling in FraserNurseries in Birmingham Alabama in 1943. The particular hybrid ‘Red Robin’was bred in New Zealand and is the most popular of all the Photinias by alarge margin. It retains the red leaves and at the same time is the mostcompact of them all. Main interest is from bright red leaf tips which turn green as theymature. If left unpruned the previous year, it produces masses of tinywhite flowers in June. The flowers are attractive but the scent is not! The frequency of pruning depends on the shape and size you want the plant to grow to. Without pruning, Red Robin will grow quite happily and form a bush sized about 4m / 13ft high and wide after seven years or so. Pruning is as described above although you may want to prune more frequently tokeep the plant to shape and an appropriate size for the container. It does helpif the shrub is in a heavy container to avoid it easily being blown over. PESTS AND DISEASES OF RED ROBINS However, if you use a wide enough planter, you may plant 2 or more of the more reasonably-sized varieties in it to create a containerised decorative hedge. Potted Photinia Care
Fill an 8cm wide pot with multi-purpose and insert three evenlyspaced cuttings in it about 4cm / 1.5in deep. Firstly, the container should be large enough to accommodate your photinia variety at its given stage of maturity. Outdoor baskets are so on trend and it’s not hard to see why! Our basket planters ooze elegance with a rustic edge and are so versatile, making them the perfect addition to any outdoor space. Our Grey & Buff Rattan planters make a real statement, especially when filled with a selection of your favourite plants and flowers! The Basket Company Plant Pots: A Planter for Every GardenIf you opt to grow a largeish, spreading variety in a container, a planter would be very suitable. Compost Requirements We have noticed that it is the shaded side of plants which are most affected.The above photo shows the sun side of a Red Robin which is totally unaffected byleaf spot. The shade side was affected, but only to a minor degree. Prepare a mix of garden soil with added grit combined with organic compost and well-rotted manure and blend the two mixes in approximately a 7:3 ratio. In fact, the aptly-named Photinia ’Little Red Robin’ and the dwarf cultivar Photinia × fraseri were specifically developed for container growing. Suitable Container Sizes Red Robins do have a tendency to drop leaves throughout the year and for those who like to keep their gardens tidy this can mean frequent sweeping up. Where the fallen leaves accumulate at the base of the plant, this will provide an ideal hiding place for slugs and snails. HOW AND WHEN TO PRUNE RED ROBINS
Take the cuttings in late July to early September time. If the bushis some distance away take a plastic bag to store the cuttings in andprevent moisture loss. Also, take the cutting longer than needed andmake the final cut (see below) when you are ready to plant the cutting.This will minimise the cut healing over which makes rooting moredifficult. It can be planted all year long if the soil is not frozen and youcan water well when conditions are dry. Mid March to April and midSeptember to October are the best times to plant this shrub. It depends on the variety, as while several varieties attain manageable sizes of up to 2m in height and about 1.5m in spread, several other varieties grow to over 5m and some of these have a fast growth rate to boot. Soil that is light, friable, moderately fertile, and free-draining is best for photinias in containers.
Robin Planter
Though open-ground photinias do not need feeding, container-grown ones will do better with a spring shot of fertiliser. While the biggest varieties will become too large, bulky and unwieldy for any container, you could certainly grow one of the intermediate-sized varieties in a large container, pruning it regularly after it reaches the desired size.
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