Grow Indian hawthorn in a pot with drainage holes and a mix that drains. Water the mix when the top is dry, and keep the shrub outdoors.
Use a pot with drainage holes and a mix that drains
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Pot | A pot with drainage holes, about 18 inches across, or about 6 inches wider than the root ball | Do not use a pot with no holes |
| Mix | A potting mix that stays open; add perlite if the bag packs down | Do not pack garden soil into the pot |
| Light | Full sun on a patio or deck, out of a winter wind tunnel | Do not park it in a dark corner for bloom |
| Kind | Minor for a smaller mound in an 18-inch pot | Do not expect a six-foot hedge to stay happy in a small tub |
Choose a pot with holes in the bottom so water can leave. An 18-inch pot, or one about 6 inches wider than the root ball, gives the shrub a few seasons before you size up. [1] Use a potting mix, not garden soil, because packed soil stays wet around the roots. [2] Indian hawthorn will outgrow a small tub. Minor fits an 18-inch pot longer because the mound stays shorter. [3]
- Pick a pot with drainage holes. Line the bottom with a scrap of landscape fabric if you need to keep mix from washing out.
- Set the root ball so the top sits just below the rim. Fill with potting mix even with the top of the root ball.
- Water until mix runs from the holes. Add mix if it settles. [4]
What size pot does Indian hawthorn need?
Use a pot with drainage holes, about 18 inches across, or about 6 inches wider than the root ball, so the shrub has room for a few seasons.
Water the mix when the top is dry, and keep the shrub outdoors
A pot dries faster than a bed. Let the top 2 to 3 inches of mix dry, then water the mix — not the leaves — until water runs from the holes. Keep the shrub outdoors. It is not a houseplant, and a dark room will stretch it and drop bloom.
- Water when the top of the mix is dry. Soak until water runs out, then empty a saucer so the roots are not sitting in water.
- In a freeze, wrap the pot, or move it to a sheltered wall. Prefer plastic or composite over terracotta if the pot will freeze and thaw.
- Do not grow it as an indoor plant. If a full-size shrub outgrows the pot, plant it in the ground — see Planting Indian Hawthorn.
Can I grow Indian hawthorn indoors?
No. It is an outdoor evergreen. A dark room stretches the growth and drops bloom. Wrap the pot in a freeze instead of bringing it in as a houseplant.
Use a draining pot, water the mix when the top is dry, and keep the shrub outdoors.
FAQ
Do I need to fertilize a potted shrub?
A potting mix runs out of nutrients faster than a bed. A light spring feed for shrubs, then skip extra nitrogen in late summer, is enough.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Plant Addicts -
https://plantaddicts.com/growing-indian-hawthorn-in-pots/ - [2] Wilson Bros Gardens -
https://www.wilsonbrosgardens.com/planting-indian-hawthorne.html - [3] Garden Design -
https://www.gardendesign.com/shrubs/indian-hawthorn.html - [4] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rhaphiolepis-indica/
This note is part of Rhaphiolepis Guides.
More container notes by plant live in Container Growing Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors