Why do you grow hostas in pot? Here's why I do

11 years ago

Planted Wide Brim in 2011. Decided to move it today. Dug up so many roots entangled in the hosta. It was disappointing to see. I think I will have to keep the majority of my hostas in pots if I want them to do well. Here is a photo of the roots and hosta.

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Babka NorCal 9b

11 years ago

Because:
...they don't do well in the ground here.
... I don't wish to look at bare dirt during the dormant season.
...so I can tuck them out of sight in during the Winter months.
...Forgot to say that I am fickle, and I like to move them around, on a whim. I like to put my "fav of the week" or brand new baby right where I can see it most of the day. You know, sometimes you look at one and are just totally captivated. But when a beautiful blue loses its glaucous bloom, well...to the back, or if the white edges burn a bit...to the back. That is why my containers don't get over the 3 gal size.

-Babka

This post was edited by Babka on Fri, May 3, 13 at 11:35

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Comments (11)

Gesila
11 years ago
WOW, that sure was a tangled mess! I keep some of mine in pots for the same reason.

I also keep them in pots so more hostas will fit in a smaller spot.

And, last but not least, I have a ton of them in pots because I didn't have time to plant them last summer!

Gesila
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User
11 years ago
And here's why I grow them in pots.
Landscape fabric beneath that layer of mulch. We have a good bit of rain, and the ground is low and gets mucky and there is little possible natural drainage except for raised beds and containers. Plus, raised beds would require a specific piece of real estate be committed spring summer and fall, which might have really intolerable exposure problems at some point.

So I am a "pothead!" :)
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The article from the 20's does not compare directly sown seeds to potted up from my recollection. It does review the effect on root development on potted up vs. non potted up. The roots on the potted up plants looked more substantial and fibrous. The problem is that the results of the testing certainly did not seem to advocate potting up to me. In one experiment, seeds were started in pots. Some of the seedlings were then taken out of those pots and then placed back in the same pots. Later, some of the potted up seedlings were transplanted one more time in the same manner. So, before planting in the field, they had some plants that had not been potted up, others that had been potted up once, and others that had been potted up twice. The appearance of the roots seems to convince people that potting up is a good idea. However, the results of production of the plants convinces me that potting up is not a good idea. How many of you, when potting up, tranplant into different sized pots? Have you not noticed that the larger the pot, the faster the plant grows? When I pot most transplants into 3 inch pots, and others into 5 inch pots, within a few weeks the ones put into 5 inch pots are consistently 30% larger than the ones that were put into 3 inch pots. The are also in large enough pots that they do not require an additional potting up before set out. In the end, the ones that were potted up once are larger at set out, and took less work. The big caveat is larger pots need more space and are more of a pain for that reason alone. As for results in the garden, my experience is the larger the plant was when it went in the ground, the more production I get (but the main reason for this is in my opinion the fact that I have a short growing season). In terms of leaving the plant in a smaller pot to force root growth, that is certainly possible but nobody that has mentioned this has provided any empirical backup that I recall. Transplanting does appear to result in different root structures, but who cares unless someone can show that these root structures produce more fruit. Ham what you say about tap root might be correct, but what is the difference in fruit production (and were is the evidence to back it up).
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Ludicious Acres
11 years ago
I grow mine in pots as a temporary means until I am both satisfied with where I want them to live in the garden and also the soil where they will be planted is decent enough to not stall any progress they might be making. It sort of gives me a flexible buffer so I donÃ¢ÂÂt feel pressured or rushed to get them in the ground.

I also pot them up to allow me the opportunity to Ã¢ÂÂbabyÃ¢ÂÂ them, if need be. There is a down side to that though. Sometimes I fuss too much and I know if I just left them alone they would be fine. But, I am still so new to hostas that I feel like I would be a bad parent, throwing them straight out into the wild unknown that I call my front yard. I want to tame the jungle before I let the kids out to play. That sounds corny, but you get the point. :p

I think the biggest perk though is when they are in pots I can take the whole plant and plunk it in the garden where I think I might like to place it permanently. Once I have a plant anchored I will then plan around it, and slowly the garden grows. I have tried to sit down and map out an entire bed, but I always end up more frustrated than satisfied. I need to SEE them and the other plants around it to know if itÃ¢ÂÂs a good fit.

Plus, I can leave them in the spot in the garden while still in the pot to test out sunlight and wind. If they end up blanching or breaking I know it might not be the best place for permanency.

Ludi
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leafwatcher
11 years ago
Moccasin, do you give Forum friends the ALL YOU CAN CARRY option for coming over to visit? hahahah
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leafwatcher
11 years ago
Moccasin, do you give Forum friends the ALL YOU CAN CARRY option for coming over to visit? hahahah
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brandys_garden
11 years ago
I put them in pots for several reasons...

1. The ground is too hard and rocky here. Soil is not good. Hostas in ground don't do well here.

2. It's easier to keep slugs and other pests controlled and out of hostas.

3. I can move them whenever and wherever I want without a lot of hassle.
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andi_mn
11 years ago
I plant some in pots because I saw some of YOU planting in pots. and they looked gorgeous
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bkay2000
11 years ago
I grow in pots because I accidently found that hosta do well in pots. I had 4 hosta purchased from Sam's in a box about 15 years ago that did not do well in the ground. I stuck them in pots until I could decide what to do with them. They came back as nice plants the next year, so I left them in pots.

About 4 years ago, I found the hosta forum and a whole new world of hosta. Since I still had those original 4 hosta, I knew they would do well in pots here.

bk
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don_in_colorado
11 years ago
I grew these in pots because I was SICK and TIRED of cold weather, so I cheated and started some in pots! Ha ha Now I will site them in the garden. (Except for 'Queen of the Seas' in the widest pot. I Think I'll showcase that one by the front door) :)

Actually, because of your inspiring pics, potheads, I'm planning on getting some varieties for potting up by the front door and the deck in back. Don't worry, I won't block the exits.

Don B.
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ilovetogrow z9 Jax Florida
11 years ago
Because I am taking them with me when I go.
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Why do you grow hostas in pot? Here's why I do

Babka NorCal 9b

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Gesila

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