If you happen to’ve ever wandered previous a shady backyard and caught your self admiring these massive, lush leaves that appear to be they belong in a flowery botanical backyard, you had been most likely watching hostas.
I get it. I fell onerous for them, too.
However once you don’t have loads of backyard house (or any shady flower beds to talk of), you begin considering, “Can I simply develop these beauties in pots?”
Excellent news — sure, you possibly can!
And actually, rising hostas in pots would possibly even be simpler in some methods. Moreover, you get to maneuver them in your entrance porch, yard, and even that small-space yard as you want. Let me stroll you thru what I’ve realized (principally via trial, error, and some panicked Google searches).
Stipulations for Planting Your Hostas in Containers
Choose the Proper Pot (Larger is Higher)
Right here’s one thing I didn’t understand till my first hosta outgrew its little pot in, like, three months: hostas have critical root methods. They aren’t precisely delicate little issues.
If you happen to begin them in a small pot, you’ll be repotting sooner than you possibly can say “why is my plant so unhappy?”
A great rule of thumb? Get a pot that’s no less than 18 inches vast and deep. Larger should you can swing it. Belief me, your hosta might be happier, and also you received’t be scrambling to repot mid-season.
Drainage is Non-Negotiable
Hostas like water, however they hate sitting in soggy soil. I realized the onerous manner when considered one of mine was a mushy mess. At all times, at all times be certain your pot has drainage holes.
And do not simply cease there.
I throw a handful of rocks or damaged pottery items on the backside of the pot earlier than including soil. It retains the holes from clogging up and saves you from unhappy, drowned roots later. Notice: the rocks are supposed to forestall drainage holes from clogging, not essentially to help the drainage.
Study why including rocks in pots to enhance drainage is dumb – it’s a controversial piece, however it is going to be price your time.
Use the Proper Potting Soil
Talking of soil, hostas aren’t tremendous choosy, however they do recognize well-draining potting combine. I normally seize a good-quality all-purpose potting soil and blend in a bit compost for further vitamins.
You need the soil to carry moisture with out turning into a swamp. If you happen to discover water pooling on the high after you water, it’s most likely time to rethink your soil scenario.
Select the Proper Hosta Selection
Not all hostas are created equal — particularly once you’re rising them in pots. Some varieties get large (like, “could possibly be mistaken for a small shrub” large), whereas others keep tidy and compact, which is ideal for containers.
Search for varieties labeled as “mini” or “small” should you’re working with restricted house. A couple of good ones to strive:
- ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ – tiny, cute, and tremendous powerful
- ‘June’ – a beautiful mid-sized hosta with golden facilities and blue edges
- ‘Golden Tiara’ – smaller, fast-growing, and actually forgiving
If you wish to go daring and dramatic, you can pot up a bigger hosta like ‘Sum and Substance’ (photograph above). Simply be prepared with a very massive pot and loads of endurance (and perhaps some further snacks for your self).
Professional tip: Examine the plant tags or descriptions before you purchase! They normally listing mature dimension, and that is going to make your life a lot simpler later.
Discover Their Completely happy Place
Hostas are fairly chill about the place they reside, so long as it’s shady. Most varieties like morning solar and afternoon shade. An excessive amount of direct daylight and their leaves can get crispy and sad-looking. (Form of like how most individuals really feel once they overlook sunscreen on the seashore.)
If you happen to’re undecided, err on the aspect of extra shade. Bonus: pots make it straightforward to maneuver them round should you understand you picked a too-sunny spot.
Planting Your Hosta in Pots
Planting your hosta is tremendous easy when you’ve bought your pot, soil, and plant prepared. Right here’s how I do it:
- Prep the pot. Ensure that it’s clear and the drainage is sweet. A couple of rocks on the backside assist, too.
- Add soil. Fill the pot about midway along with your soil combine.
- Place the hosta. Gently loosen the roots in the event that they’re packed tight (you don’t must be aggressive — simply tease them a bit).
- Modify top. Set the hosta in so the crown (the place the stems meet the roots) sits about an inch under the rim of the pot.
- Fill and agency. Add extra soil across the plant, urgent gently so there aren’t massive air pockets. You need it cosy however not crammed.
- Water nicely. Give it an excellent drink proper after planting to assist it settle in.
That’s it. No difficult rituals or moon phases required (though planting throughout an excellent temper would possibly assist).
Caring Ideas for Your Hostas
Watering
Water, however don’t go overboard.
I do know it’s tempting to child your vegetation with tons of water, however hostas don’t really must be soaked day-after-day. In pots, they dry out a bit sooner than they might within the floor, so that you do have to verify them extra usually.
I normally stick my finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, I water. If it’s nonetheless damp, I depart it alone. (I name it the “lazy gardener’s moisture meter.”).
Enjoyable reality: A 2012 research in HortTechnology discovered that watering based mostly on soil moisture moderately than a set schedule improved plant well being throughout the board. So, belief your intestine — and your finger.
Fertilizer software and vitamin
Hostas aren’t large divas in the case of fertilizer, however they do recognize a bit snack from time to time. I like to make use of a slow-release fertilizer within the spring once they begin waking up.
You may as well give them a diluted liquid feed as soon as a month in the course of the rising season should you’re feeling fancy.
Simply don’t overdo it — an excessive amount of fertilizer can burn the roots. (I realized that after a tragic incident involving a really enthusiastic overfeeding session.)
Watch Out for Pests
Okay, confession time:
I used to suppose container vegetation had been resistant to pests. Not true. Slugs nonetheless discover my potted hostas like they’re internet hosting an unique social gathering.
To maintain them in verify, use crushed eggshells sprinkled across the high of the soil. It’s not foolproof, however it does make the slugs suppose twice. You may as well strive pet-safe slug bait if issues get out of hand.
Overwintering your hostas
If you happen to reside someplace that will get actually chilly, don’t panic — you possibly can nonetheless develop hostas in pots. You simply want to assist them out a bit.
In winter, transfer your pots right into a sheltered spot like an unheated storage or towards the home the place they get some safety from freezing winds. Some individuals even bury the pots in mulch to insulate them.
Both manner, bear in mind: hostas really need a dormancy interval. It helps them come again stronger within the spring.
One yr, a good friend tried to convey hers indoors like a houseplant. It bought very confused and sulked all winter.
Conclusion
Actually, when you get the hold of it, rising hostas in pots looks like having a bit piece of a lush shade backyard proper in your patio.
They’re powerful, forgiving, and ridiculously satisfying to develop — even should you’re not the world’s most attentive gardener.
Choose an excellent selection, give it a roomy pot, water it when it’s thirsty, and also you’ll have a beautiful, leafy companion to brag about all season lengthy.
Plus, should you ever get the itch to rearrange your out of doors house (like I do… consistently), you possibly can simply choose up your hostas and transfer them round like dwelling, leafy furnishings.