share-out is caring !
If you ’ve ever wander past a shady garden and catch yourself admiring those gravid , lush parting that expect like they go in a fancy botanical garden , you were in all probability asterisk at hostas .
I get it . I fell intemperately for them , too .
Hosta Sum and Substance - Photo:Dutch Grown
But when you do n’t have a lot of garden quad ( or any shady heyday layer to talk of ) , you start think , " Can I just grow these beauties in smoke ? "
Good news — yes , you may !
And honestly , develop hostas in pots might even be easy in some room . Besides , you get to move them on your front porch , yard , or even thatsmall - blank backyardas you wish . Let me take the air you through what I ’ve learned ( mostly through tryout , error , and a few frightened Google search ) .
Prerequisites for Planting Your Hostas in Containers
Pick the Right Pot (Bigger is Better)
Here ’s something I did n’t realize until my first hosta outgrew its small mountain in , like , three months : genus Hosta have serious origin systems . They are n’t exactly fragile small thing .
If you start them in a humble pot , you ’ll be repot faster than you’re able to say " why is my plant life so sad ? "
A good rule of quarter round ? Get a tidy sum that ’s at least 18 inches all-embracing and abstruse . bragging if you’re able to swing it . believe me , your genus Funka will be happier , and you wo n’t be jumble to repot mid - season .
Drainage is Non-Negotiable
Hostas like water , but theyhatesitting in soggy soil . I take the hard way when one of mine bend into a soupy mess . Always , always make certain your great deal has drainage holes .
And do n’t just stop there .
I throw a handful of rocks or broken clayware pieces at the bottom of the mint before adding territory . It keeps the holes from clogging up and carry through you from sad , drowned roots after . Note : the rocks are meant to prevent drain holes from clogging , not necessarily to help the drainage .
Learnwhy add rock ‘n’ roll in pots to ameliorate drainage is dull – it ’s a controversial slice , but it will be deserving your sentence .
Use the Right Potting Soil
Speaking of territory , Funka are n’t super finical , but they do appreciate well - drain potting mix . I ordinarily grab a good - character all - purpose potting soil and mix in a niggling compost for additional nutrient .
You desire the land to hold wet without becoming a swamp . If you notice H2O pooling at the top after you water , it ’s probably meter to rethink your soil situation .
Choose the Right Hosta Variety
Hosta Sum and Substance - Photo : Dutch Grown
Not all hostas are created adequate — especially when you ’re growing them in pots . Some varieties gethuge(like , “ could be slip for a lowly shrub ” huge ) , while others stay healthy and compendious , which is perfect for containers .
appear for change labeled as " mini " or " minor " if you ’re mold with limited space . A few well ones to try :
If you require to go bold and dramatic , youcanpot up a larger hosta like‘Sum and Substance’(photo above ) . Just be ready with a really freehanded pot and a circumstances of patience ( and maybe some extra snacks for yourself ) .
Pro crest : control the plant tags or descriptions before you grease one’s palms ! They ordinarily list ripe size of it , and that ’s going to make your life so much easier afterward .
Find Their Happy Place
Hostas are pretty chill about where they live , as long as it ’s shady . Most character like morning Dominicus and afternoon shade . Too much direct sun and their leaves can get crispy and deplorable - looking . ( Kind of like how most people experience when they forget sunscreen at the beach . )
If you ’re not sure , err on the side of more shade . incentive : spate make it easy to move them around if you realize you picked a too - sunny spot .
Planting Your Hosta in Pots
plant your hosta is super simple once you ’ve got your pot , stain , and industrial plant ready . Here ’s how I do it :
That ’s it . No complicated rituals or moon phases involve ( although planting during a skillful mood might help ) .
Caring Tips for Your Hostas
Watering
Water , but do n’t go overboard .
I know it ’s tempting to baby your plants with tons of water supply , but hostas do n’t really necessitate to be soaked every day . In pots , they dry out out a little quicker than they would in the ground , so youdoneed to check them more often .
I unremarkably stand by my finger about an in into the soil . If it feel teetotal , I irrigate . If it ’s still damp , I go forth it alone . ( I call it the " lazy gardener ’s wet meter . " ) .
Fun fact : A 2012 report inHortTechnologyfound that lachrymation base on soil moisture rather than a laid agenda improved plant wellness across the control board . So , entrust your bowel — and your finger .
Fertilizer application and nutrition
Hostas are n’t huge divas when it comes to fertiliser , but they do appreciate a niggling snack now and then . I like to use a obtuse - release fertilizer in the spring when they start waking up .
you could also give them a dilute liquidness feed once a calendar month during the growing time of year if you ’re feel fancy .
Just do n’t exaggerate it — too much fertilizer can glow the roots . ( I learned that after a tragical incident involving a very enthusiastic overfeed session . )
Watch Out for Pests
Okay , confession time :
I used to cerebrate container plants were resistant to pests . Not on-key . Slugs still find my potted Hosta like they ’re hosting an sole party .
To keep them in check , habituate crush eggshells sprinkle around the top of the grime . It ’s not foolproof , but it does make the biff think doubly . you’re able to also sample pet - safe slug lure if things get out of hand .
Overwintering your hostas
If you inhabit somewhere that gets really cold , do n’t panic — you could still grow Hosta in green goddess . You just need to help them out a little .
In winter , move your pots into a sheltered spot like an unheated garage or against the house where they get some protection from freezing winds . Some people even forget the pots in mulch to isolate them .
Either way , think of : hostas actuallywanta dormancy period . It helps them come back stronger in the bound .
One year , a friend tried to bring hers indoors like a houseplant . It got very broken and sulked all winter .
Conclusion
Honestly , once you get the bent of it , develop genus Funka in good deal feel like having a little piece of a plushy refinement garden right on your terrace .
They ’re problematic , forgiving , and ludicrously satisfying to maturate — even if you ’re not the macrocosm ’s most attentive nurseryman .
plunk a good variety , give it a roomy green goddess , water it when it ’s thirsty , and you ’ll have a gorgeous , leafy companion to vaunt about all season long .
Plus , if you ever get the itchiness to rearrange your outdoor space ( like I do … incessantly ) , you may just peck up your hostas and move them around like living , leafy furniture .
