Bright red or orange berries, which stand out attractively from the dark green foliage, as well as the rich floral decoration in spring make the firethorn popular. You can find out in this guide whether the shrub also does well in a pot on the terrace or balcony.
Can I cultivate firethorn in a pot?
The firethorn (Pyracantha) can beplanted well in a pot and, thanks to its dense growth, offers an attractive privacy screen for sunny balconies or terraces. It is robust and thrives even in difficult urban climates.
How to plant firethorn in the pot?
It is important to have a sufficiently largeplanterthat holds at least 30 liters of soil and hasvery good water drainage.
- Place shards of pottery in the holes in the bottom of the pot and fill in a drainage layer of expanded clay about three centimeters thick.
- Use high-quality potting soil as it is structurally stable. It gives the planted firethorn support and allows a lot of oxygen to reach the roots thanks to its airy structure.
How is firethorn watered and fertilized in the pot?
Make sure the soil iseven moisture and water the firethorn moderately but regularly. The pretty shrub tolerates drought much better than constant wetness. Therefore, make sure that no water collects in the coaster.
Fertilize the firethorn once a month from May to August with a commercially available liquid fertilizer that you add to the irrigation water.
Does the firethorn in the pot need winter protection?
Thanks to the planter and the small amount of substrate, thefrostcan reach therootsof the firethorn almost unhindered andfrostbite. Therefore, ensure adequate winter protection:
- Place the pot on a Styrofoam or wooden plate.
- Wrap the planter with a warming fleece.
- Move the plant to a sheltered spot near the wall of the house.
- Water the firethorn regularly, even in winter.
Tip
Scab fungi can also be a problem with potted plants
Some firethorn varieties are quite susceptible to scab infections, which you can recognize by the brown fungal growth on the foliage. The fruits are cracked and brownish in color. Scab fungi mainly spread in damp weather and can then attack balcony plants. Since control is difficult, culturing scab-resistant variants is recommended.
