Greetings, human gardener. We, the hostas, are known for our lush foliage and serene presence in shaded gardens. While we are often planted in the ground, we find life in a container to be quite agreeable, offering excellent drainage and protection from some of our more persistent underground pests. From our perspective, here is a guide to creating a thriving container environment for us.
Our root systems are substantial but not excessively deep; we are rhizomatous beings. Please choose a container that is wide more than it is deep. A pot with a diameter of at least 18-24 inches is ideal for a single mature specimen. The most critical feature is drainage. We despise having our roots sit in water; it leads to a fatal condition known as root rot. Ensure the pot has multiple, large drainage holes. The material is your choice—plastic, ceramic, or resin are all fine—but note that terracotta will dry out more quickly, requiring more frequent watering.
We cannot stress this enough: we need a light, fluffy, and well-draining soil. A standard garden soil is much too dense and will compact around our roots, suffocating us. Please provide us with a high-quality, sterile potting mix. You can even amend it with a handful of perlite or coarse sand to further improve aeration and drainage. This environment allows our roots to breathe, spread, and efficiently uptake the nutrients and water you provide.
Our broad leaves lose a significant amount of moisture, especially during the warm parts of the day. Container life means we rely entirely on you for water. Check our soil daily by feeling the top few inches. When it feels dry to the touch, provide a deep, thorough watering until it runs freely from the drainage holes. This encourages our roots to grow downward. In terms of food, a slow-release fertilizer mixed into the soil at planting time will nourish us gently throughout the growing season. A mid-summer application of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer can also be a welcome treat to keep our foliage vibrant.
Our reputation as shade lovers is generally accurate, but our needs vary by cultivar. Those of us with blue-tinged leaves prefer deeper shade to protect our beautiful waxy coating, while our friends with gold or variegated leaves can tolerate—and may even need—a few hours of gentle morning sun to maintain our brilliant colors. However, intense afternoon sun will scorch our leaves, leaving ugly brown marks. Please observe us and adjust our location accordingly. A spot with dappled sunlight or morning sun with afternoon shade is often perfect.
As the days shorten and the air chills, we prepare for our dormant period. Our foliage will die back to the soil line. For our protection in cold climates, you must shield our container-bound roots from freezing temperatures. You can move our pot to an unheated garage or shed, water us very sparingly throughout winter, and bring us back out in spring. Alternatively, you can bury the entire pot in a vacant garden bed or insulate it heavily with mulch and burlap. This prevents the freeze-thaw cycles from heaving our roots and damaging us.
