Don't Shy From Planting Hostas In Containers, It's Easier Than You Think

Hostas (Hosta spp.), with 22 species and more than 2,000 cultivars, are popular with gardeners who need a long-lived herbaceous perennial that thrives in shady spots. Foliage variations in color and variegation, flowers in white or shades of purple, and a growing USDA Hardiness zone that stretches from 3 to 9 present a huge variety of choices for the landscape. They generally do better in the garden than in containers because of their water requirements and their need for a dormant period in the winter, but they can be successfully grown in containers as long as these two needs are met.

Improper watering is one of the biggest problems with container gardens. Hostas that are grown outdoors need about an inch of water a week from rain, irrigation, or a combination of both. They do better with a deep soaking rather than frequent shallow watering. Container plants need more frequent watering because the soil dries out more quickly—how much water depends on the size of the pot and whether or not you keep the plants indoors or outdoors, as outdoor plants will benefit from the rain. Keep the soil in container plants moist, but not soggy—make sure the pots have good drainage so the roots don't become waterlogged. If you're unsure about when to water, stick your finger in the soil. If the top inch is dry, it's time to water the hosta until liquid flows out of the drainage holes in the bottom.

In the garden, hostas need a couple of months below 40 degrees Fahrenheit after the foliage dies back. You'll need to mimic the outdoor dormancy conditions the plants need if you're growing them in containers to avoid the mistakes everyone makes when caring for dormant plants. There's more than one way to do this. If you have a garage, basement, or shed, that isn't totally dark, water the container plants thoroughly and store them there for the winter. They may benefit from being watered once midway through the season if they seem to have totally dried out. Otherwise you can leave them alone until it's time to put them back in the sun in the spring. If your hosta containers are outdoors, cover them with a foot or so of leaves for the season.

If your hosta starts outgrowing its container, you have two choices. You can repot the plant in a bigger container, or you can divide it. To divide the plant, dig it up and use a sharp knife to cut it into sections, leaving plenty of roots attached to each new plant, set them in new pots, and water them thoroughly. Your hosta needs to be replanted or divided if it dries out more quickly than it used to, if roots are growing out of the drainage holes, or if the plant has stopped growing. Repotting a wilted hosta plant will not solve problems like disease.