How to grow potted hostas and display hostas in containers

Using mini hostas in containers

Arrangements using mini hostas are only limited by your creativity. The variety of colors, forms, textures, and blooms of mini hostas give you the flexibility to make visually appealing displays. Below are some examples created by members of the Minnesota Hosta Society at the July 2009 Cut Leaf Show. Thanks to all who allowed us to photograph their creations!

Hostas can be successfully grown in containers. The advantage is that containers make your hostas portable. Be sure to provide soil with adequate drainage so the roots do not rot. The containers need to be large enough to allow for root and plant growth. Potted hostas should have enough holes to ensure good drainage, but the holes themselves should be covered with rocks, wire screening, or porous matter so that the growing mix does not slip through the drainage holes. Consider replanting them back into the ground in the fall and digging them up again in the spring and repotting.

As hostas grow larger, they should be transplanted into larger pots to prevent them from becoming root-bound. Hostas in containers must be watered every day or two in hot weather or wind. They will also need regular fertilizing as the nutrients will leach away with regular watering. Like all hostas, container hostas need to go through dormancy in the winter. Containers cannot be left outdoors for the winter or the plants will rot. The containers should be placed in a location away from overhead moisture and that drops off to at least 30 to 40 degrees. An unheated garage or porch is ideal. Check the plants about once a month, and if the soil is dry, you can water them lightly. When plants begin to grow in the spring, they should not be placed outside until danger of frost has passed. You can put them outside during the day, or when temperatures are above freezing, but the plants should be brought in if frost is forecast. Remember, water expands as it freezes which can cause pots to break or hostas to heave from the soil.

To select hostas by various sizes for your containers, consider using the HostaSearch^(TM) Database.

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