I'm in a warm climate, (9b) but it is totally different from TX. I think you said once that you are from TX? Don't let the crown sit under water. Perhaps Bkay will advise.

-Babka

Thanks, Babka, yes, I'm in Texas, Houston that is. I checked and the crown is above the water, thanks for that info.

EAH, if you plan on getting MORE hosta, might as well spring for the big bag of MiracleGro potting mix WITHOUT the moisture control in it. That will rot your hosta, who like good water but also like good drainage.

I get a pot thats a nice size for the roots, and build a cone of potting mix in the center of it high up to the top of the pot. I then drape the roots like a wet mop around the sides of the cone, push down to seat the crown on top of the cone, and begin covering the roots with more mix. Make sure all the roots are covered, but the crown is not buried.

Water gently and let the pot drain. Where needed top it back up with potting mix, and water again. Set the plant in the shade for a couple of days to get over the shock.

It is highly recommended by Ken Adrian that you use some low tack masking tape (I use the blue stuff) to gather the petioles of the hosta together and wrap with the tape. This keeps them from flopping over, because once they flop, they will not stand up straight again. Also, if a leaf is torn, or a petiole/stem is damaged, do not break it off, but leave it be. It is doing its job unless it is brown and dead.

June is a strong grower, so she will probably perk right up for you. So pleased that you have become enamored of the hosta. That's why I suggested getting BIG BAG of MiracleGro. I bet you cannot stop with JUST ONE hosta! :)

(And I'm 2 miles south of I-10 in Mobile, lack about 20 miles being as far south as Houston is according to latitude. And I am familiar with the Houston weather.

Good luck and happy growing.

Eaamel, I still struggle with the best medium. We have such hot dry periods, that mine need to have enough peat to hold the moisture a full day, but not enough to rot the plant in the spring. It's a fine line. Right now, I'm mixing 1/2 miracle grow potting soil and 1/2 pine bark mulch.

What you want is something that will drain. Houston is much wetter than Dallas, so I would consider Babka's approach. She plants in pure pine bark. It doesn't get very hot where she is, but it's dry, so her daily watering works with just bark mulch as a medium.

Hosta come from a climate that gets 70" of rain per year, most of it in the fall. Then, I understand they go into a dry period to rest until spring. In the photos I've seen, they are often growing on hillsides, so drainage is a great.

Think about those things and find a planting medium that works for you.

Good luck and let me know if I can help further.

bk

Moc and bk, thanks! I usually use Baccto potting soil, or Sunshine Mix combined with a good azalea mix. But the Sunshine mix is very dry and must be wetted first and that can take some time. I'll get a bag of Baccto this morning and will use it. I have a lot of plants that need repotting right now, so it won't go to waste even if I don't get any more hostas right now, and I probably won't, though a local nursery had some Guacamoles last time I was there....

Anyway, here's a pic of the little critter. Very perky, and looks great. The pink coming through the folded paper towel is from a piece of beet that I didn't realize was there, it's the same color as the counter. Just have to keep the snails away from it and my other hostas, I'm sure they would love to munch on the leaves.

You got it from Ed's Hostas, didn't you? It's where I got my fire and ice, fire island, blue mouse ears and pineapple upside down cake from. Plant it in a small flower pot and let it grow in that for a season or 2. It'll do good. Use Miracle Grow potting soil and some mulch on top.

Mine all came back so he gives good and healthy plants!

Hi, I am about 70 miles south of DFW, and I use pine bark mulch. I have lost some in it, but I seemed to lose more when I tried soil in the mix, I also use pots with a constant level of water. I finally started getting some mature leaves after I started using this system. (Here is the URL that explains the system. I can't get it to work in the link http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hosta/msg041935089063.html

The last couple of summers were tough, but most of my plants are doing ok. I added a drip irrigation system last summer. I am still tweaking it, but it sure was nice not to have to get out in 100 degree weather to water

Brandy, yes, that's where it came from. I'm impressed with the one I got from him.

I just came from the nursery with a bag of Miracle Gro and will put my baby in a 2" pot that's deep and let it grow in that pot until it needs a larger one. I've tried growing things in bark, or a non-organic mix iwth charcoal, vermiculite, perlite, etc. and it doesn't work very well for me, though others have had great success with it. Thanks, everyone, for the good help.

I was never very much of a green thumbed person either before hostas. They changed my mind about gardening. I take great pride in mine now. The good thing about them is they are pretty hardy so you can't really screw them up unless you just don't pay attention and put them in too much sun and don't water them at all.

Mine are still in the flower pots. I might move them over at the end of the season? But I think they might be able to do another season in them? We'll see. They are 8inchers though.

The 3 on the step are from Ed. This is their 2nd season. Beautiful!! Just thought I'd give you some encouragement!

A clickable link for mary.

tj

Here is a link that might be useful: Click

Brandy, those all look great! Thanks for the pic. What is the first one on the step, the light green with long, pointy leaves? I'm glad they have changed your mind about gardening. There are a lot of rewarding plants you could be growing with little trouble. Someone could introduce you to roses, for instance, like antiques that don't need spraying, but maybe that's another addiction for another time.

I've been growing everything I could since I was about 20. I've just gotten into hostas, many years later, because it's generally believed that they won't survive in our heat, but I found out by accident that they will, and now I have not the one that was dormant instead of dead, but have 3 more, including June.