If it works, you have great potted plants that come back every year. If it doesn't work, you dont' have a lot invested. I might ask for suggestions of varieties that do well in the heat. Folks on the list will be glad to help.

Oh, grow them on some kind of "pot feet", which seems to cure the slug problem.

Barbara

Photos below - the first is sum and substance. It has huge leaves and is chartruse (that's a 3x3 sticky note). The second is an unknown common emerld green variety that does very well for me. It blooms early with pure white blossoms. The third is my blue variety. These three photos were taken last spring, so the colors have not developed like they do later in the year. The last one is "so sweet". I have to admit that there were three plants in that pot. I accidentally ordered 3, so I just put them all in the same pot.

I graduated from Ocala High, (1965 ) now called 'Forest High' and I grew up on the northern end of town, closer to Anthony!
Not as far out as where John Travolta has a home, now, but within a few miles of his place (toward Ocala. Who knew--he could
have been a neighbor had I stayed home instead of marrying a yankee and moving 'north'!!! But then, I'd probably never have
gotten the chance to find out about hosta!! Gasp!!!

I sure hope you do pull off growing hosta in your area! I think the biggest problem will be their short winter dormancy--but,
I've heard some determined hosta addicts (living in the South) have even refrigerated their plants to give them more dormancy!!

Did you grow up in Ocala or move there from the North with an already well-developed love for hosta?

Hope you hang with us awhile, Sandy!!

Janice

Teresa

Welcome. I would suggest you start with the plantaginea (fragrant) family of hosta that have their origins in warmer climates. If successful with these then lighter colored hosta as Barbara suggests might be your next challenge. Should you choose to accept it.

Pots would help give you better moisture control as you will need a lot of water.

Jon

Just keep in mind that they do go dormant, and during that time you will need to tuck those pots elsewhere, so you don't have to look at pots with dirt in them when everything else is green. Also, they most likely won't get anywhere near as large as those in Chicago that you (and I) have seen.

Still, they are fun and adictive plants to grow. Why not try a few and see what happens? A fun adventure.

-Babka

My location is just south of I-10 in near-coastal Alabama, Mobile to be exact. You have the record as far as I know of being the furthest south poster on this forum.

I'm about headed to bed at this hour, but will think about the ones I'd recommend you grow. Like JonnyB says, the fragrant flowered hosta or plantaginea family of hosta, grow the best for me, so far. But I've really been doing this only for less than two years. I LOVE what I've discovered about hosta, and I was always before that growing sub-tropical things.

Look for another Floridian to show up, Paula over in Jacksonville, who goes by the screenname Ilovetogrow. So very pleased to have you join us.

I liked that Teresa in MN. :o)

Theresa in IL
ps: Janice, I like your smiley with the cute button nose also I hope you don't mind my borrowing it.. 'T'

Okay, I looked at the membership list of the American Hosta Society and discovered another member just across Mobile Bay from us. I thought about this a bit, and a scenario came up which involves growing out tissue culture hosta and having masses of hosta ready for market at least a month earlier than the folks further north using their greenhouses to get a jump start on shipping to market. Not a nursery that sells their own product, I'm seeing this as a ripe possibility for a commercial grower located here in a milder climate, who will then ship to the (shudder) BIG BOX STORES or other nurseries whose own-grown hosta would not look as developed or vigorous that early in the season.

I guess as an amateur I am overlooking the logistics of commercial hosta marketing, but it sounds possible to me.
So. Am I naive? Or with good transportation to market, could it be profitable?

Now Bradenton is pretty much coastal, and Ocala is inland, and I know how the climate here in MI is dramatically different from the central highlands to the Big Lakes coastal lowlands, so perhaps and hopefully that will make the difference for you.

Bet ya most of us here are interested in what you find!

happy trails,

hh

-Babka

But now I'll just think about it myself a bit more.

NYnic- I am assuming that you are also near Ocala? Watering is of the utmost. One has to be committed to that almost daily. Get a bubblier attachment and soak each pot good. And drainage is so vital also. It is raining in Florida today all day and sometimes torrential. Water has to drain fast. I drill extra holes in my pots to help with this. I use a mix of soil, perlite and pine fines, lots of pine fines. Did I mention the pine fines? OK. I use pots and only pots as I found I could not keep them moist enough and trouble with invading roots when they were in the ground. Keep it simple and they will grow. Watch out we will enable you. I get my pine fines where mulch is sold. Timberland is a good brand.