How to renew my newly potted Photinia plant?

[savio14]

Hi Experts, 

I recently got my landscaping completed. The landscapers plantted some potted Photinia and Murraya. All are growing good, except for one Photinia plant which appears to be drooping and not looking as green compared to the other plants.

It usually gets good sun, and I dont water it much, only when its very hot. I just got the landscaping completed end of March 2025 so its already cool in Western Sydney as I write this post (April 2025).

Out of curiosity, I was able to inspect the roots to see what is happening, I pulled out the potted plant easily from the ground, I thought it would have been a harder task assuming the roots would have latched on to the soil but that was not the case, not sure if that is an issue. The soil appeared moist and the shape of the soil was still like it was when it came out of the pot with the roots curling. Anyway I was searching for any curl grubs but there was'nt any, I did not break apart the roots and soil to check this, I losely checked this from the outside that it. I just potted the plant back in its position. 

Could anyone please offer some advice as to what is going wrong here?Left most plantRight most plantRight most plantOther plants

[JacobZ]

Hi @savio14,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

It’s great that the others are doing well; that means your general conditions are likely fine. This one just might need a little hands-on attention to get going.

The fact that the plant was so easy to pull out and still had its pot shape suggests it hasn’t started to grow out of its root ball and into the surrounding soil yet. That’s quite common if the plant was pot-bound when it went in, and no one teased the roots out at planting time. When that happens, the roots often keep growing in a circle instead of spreading, which limits water uptake and stability.

The drooping and lack of colour compared to the others is likely the result of transplant stress combined with poor root-to-soil contact. Even though the soil feels moist, the plant may not be absorbing enough water if the root ball is dry internally or repelling water (especially if the potting mix has become hydrophobic). Also, if you haven’t watered much since planting and the roots haven’t spread, the plant might not be accessing much moisture at all.

I’d suggest removing the plant again and gently breaking up the roots. You'll want to loosen them up so they can start growing outward into the surrounding soil. 

You'll also want to check the root ball for moisture. If it's dry inside, soak it in a bucket of water for 10–15 minutes before replanting. Replant it at the same depth, and press the soil in firmly around the root ball to eliminate any air gaps. 

Water it in deeply, and continue to water regularly, once or twice a week, until it’s properly established.

Hopefully, this will get your photinia thriving in no time.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[savio14]

Hi @JacobZ really appreciate the advice, I will follow the recommendations and will update you on how it’s going 😊

[savio14]

Hi Jacob, looks like my plant has not revived since I tried fixing it. When I try to yank the plant, it easily comes out of the dirt, so looks like the roots have not caught into the soil at all. I initially thought its winter so its dormant? but looks like the plant has diied. Its strange because all the other plants are doing well in the same line. I will need to get a replacement plant I guess. Just wondering why this might have happened and how to avoid it again in the future. Would you receommend a good product in terms of soild and fertiliser to maintain general health of my Photinia + Murraya plants? Have a look at the new photos.

[JacobZ]

Hi @savio14,

Yeah, unfortunately, that plant looks like it has died. At this stage, it would be best to remove it and replace it with a new one.

I can't say for sure why it has died; it could have just been a dud plant, but when you replace it with a new one, I'd make sure you mix a high-quality planting mix, such as Scotts Osmocote Garden Soil Premium Planting Mix, in with the existing soil before planting. This will ensure the soil has the right nutrients it needs to thrive in its early stages of development.

The early stages of root development are crucial, so once it is planted, don't try to pull it out unless you are sure it is dead. Water it deeply with some Seasol once a week and simply monitor its health.

Hopefully, the new plant has more success than this one.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[MitchellMc]

Hi @savio14,

I just wanted to mention that if your landscaper purchased these plants from Bunnings, and you could obtain the proof-of-purchase, then we have a Perfect Plant Promise that would allow you to exchange the plant for a new one.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell