Growing Hostas In Containers

Pots of hostas can add great interest to shaded decks, patios and other areas near the house, particularly where paving prohibits planting. A strategically placed container can make a feature, or a group can be used to screen something that you do not want to see. In the garden itself, particularly in the mixed border, sometimes gaps appear that were not in your plan when you started it. If the other vegetation will not cover the pot, dig a hole and bury the container. Sometimes if your garden has mature trees, you will find that roots prevent you from planting anything under them. This is another place where you can put potted hostas.

Container gardening provides immediate impact and is easy to do. It is also great if you live in a small apartment or retirement home where there is very little space for gardening. Any area that has paved, graveled or concrete areas is ideal for containerized plants.

Choosing suitable containers

There is a wide variety of pots available for a wide range of prices. There are many brightly colored and patterned terracotta pots on the market and you could have a lot of fun color coordinating your collection. Wooden containers look natural and will last for quite a long time, and stone or concrete containers can be unsuitable because of their weight, but could be considered if they are to be placed in a permanent position. Fewer but larger pots will make the most visual impact when you are container planting. Larger pots also require less watering than smaller ones.

Planting up your containers

Your pot must have drainage holes. To keep them from getting blocked, place pieces of broken pots or some stones in the bottom of the container. After that, add a layer of gravel to ensure that drainage is free-flowing so the plant does not get waterlogged, which would cause it to die. Fill your container with potting mix and add some slow-release fertilizer. Before placing the plant, it is helpful to water the mix in order to settle it down, and then top it up with a bit more potting mix.

Now it is time for you to plant the hosta. If the hosta comes out of a bag or pot, tease its roots so that they come free and can start to move out into the mix. Water well after planting. Once the plant has started to grow strongly, add a layer of well-rotted manure to the top of the mix. If you do not have manure, compost also works well. If you wish, you could also occasionally give your plant a foliar feed. Other than watering when needed, which may be as often as once a day in the summer months, you do not have to fuss with the plants. Weeds are not usually a problem because the hosta's leaves will shade them out.

Container gardening in cold climates

Just as hostas in the garden require attention every so often, so do container grown hostas. If you don't suffer heavy frosts or snow during winter you will probably only have to tidy up the plants as they die back, and water them occasionally during winter. But for everyone else it is necessary to take more affirmative action -unless you want to treat your hostas as annuals.

As the temperature falls and the plants die back, remove the spent flower scapes and leaves, then move the pots to a shed, garage or even a sheltered porch where the temperature will stay relatively constant and not drop too far below freezing point. An even temperature will prevent the plant from trying to grow out of season. Don't let the pots experience a hard freeze-thaw cycle either; not only will you damage the plant, but you may also end up with cracked and broken pots. Water the containers lightly through the winter -you don't want the soil to dry out completely.

Hostas in containers are less insulated from temperature shifts than plants in the garden, so they will usually shoot up earlier. Don't be fooled into thinking it is safe to place them outside just because they have started to grow - wait until the danger of hard frosts has passed; otherwise you will lose your carefully saved plants. If your pots are too heavy to bring indoors, you might like to try burying your plants in the garden and repotting them come spring.

Positioning your pots

Pots look best in a variety of ways. You can place them in groups of the same type, or create a composition with different-sized containers and different varieties of hostas, or you can simply use one pot as a focal point. At this exciting stage of planning it is essential to remember that it is hostas that you are planting and not daisies, and so it will be necessary to choose places that do not get afternoon sun. Morning sun is perfectly acceptable; in fact, if they do not get some sun the plants will look unwell and will certainly not flower.