Hostas in Containers in Zone 5

13 years ago

Here in the flatlands, near Chicago in Zone 5, IÂve been growing some hostas in 7 to 15 gallon containers for several years. It solves the issues of planting under maples; it gives the garden varying heights and showcases some specimens. I am not sure if IÂve just been lucky or if my winter regimens are necessary. In addition, I've heard that container grown hostas may not achieve mature leaf size and other characteristics. I use a loose soilless planting mix with additional perlite added. In winter I partially dig in the planters and tilt them at a 45 to 60 degree angle. I mulch heavily with leaves and wood chips. I try to keep winter sun from shining on the planters. Good snow cover seems to help too, but lasting snow is not reliable in Chicago. I tried placing containers in my attached unheated garage at first, but it gets too warm there and the hostas begin growing too early.

Freezing and thawing with too much moisture in the pots seems to be the big concern. One year I forgot to tip and mulch a 15 inch planter of Warwick Curtsey and by the time I checked on it in spring the plant had turned to mush. I salvaged only two eyes out of what had been at least 15. The plant had been a raffle prize and it was likely its first year in the container.

It would be good to hear what others with more experience with containers in cold zones have learned.

Below is Satisfaction filling a 15 gallon planter after four years.

Mark

Featured Answer

Vivien23- Zone 6B

5 years ago

Post Script: I was complaining about losing my "Frisian Waving Steel" in my May 2nd post. It turns out that I was impatient. This hosta is now growing beautifully.

I picked up a plant from a nearby hostaholic who sells them to us locals. She said she pots them up in the fall (in 5 or 6" pots with not much soil. It was garden soil, not a potting mix) and stands them upright, outside, between her and the neighbour's house. Only snow cover in winter. And they do fine.

There is a LOT of information in this and many other forums. For insurance, I'll be planting pieces of my potted hostas in the garden - just in case.

Many thanks to everyone in this post and the others. The only contribution I can make is - be patient. Give the plants time when they come out of "storage".

Comments (9)

Wendys_garden
13 years ago
You're doing something right-- that Satisfaction is beautiful!

I'm in Milwaukee, and I have some Hostas in large plastic pots. I water them one last time around November and put them in my un-heated (not attached) garage. Your garage probably gets warmer because it is attached. I ignore them till early April when I bring them back out. Usually they don't show any growth till I bring them out. I've never had any problems.
Do you have a shed you could put them in?
hostared
13 years ago
With a small suburban garden and over 150+ varieties in our collection I also had to be creative. Since my husband likes the larger varieties and I still enjoy my perennial gardens we have had to elevate and place the 75 containers in interesting spots. Most are elevated and like you Mark we place them in large 15 to 20 gallon containers. Like Wendy we do keep them in a garage in winter. We bring them in just before Christmas and place them side by side. Never stack. Depending on weather they need to thaw slowly because spring rains can create rot if not thawed.

I find that the large varieties grow larger. We've been doing this for 10 years with little loss. I have tried tipping some last year and it seems to work. I may do more of that this year because it is a chore to bring those babies in for the winter! Some that I have loss seems to be ones that I planted late in the season. Not sure why that is. But all in all I believe we've only lost 6 in the past 10 years...and they were replaced. If what your doing works keep doing it.

The plus is when you have an empty spot in the garden you can just place a nice container in and enjoy it's beauty.
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Carole Westgaard
13 years ago
I've seen hostared's garden and it's gorgeous with many levels!!! She also turns some containers upside down to place another on top so she has more than two levels - sometimes three - which is beautiful in the inside corners of her house. You never see the containers because the hosta are spilling out. It looks amazing.

Westy
greenmulberry
13 years ago
I grow a few hostas in pots, I am finding it is good thing to do in areas where the chipmunks hide. My dogs are chipmunk assassins and sometimes a hosta falls victim to the rampage, but they are safer from trampling in pots.
Vivien23- Zone 6B
5 years ago
I'm so sad to have lost my Frisian Waving Steel last winter. It overwintered beautifully the year before. Are there varieties that overwinter better than others?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
viv... why didnt you start your own post??? .. rather than pulling up an 8 year old post ...

was your in a pot ... did you lay the pot on its side ...

if it was in a pot.. its probably more of a pot issue.. than the hosta type ...

ken
Vivien23- Zone 6B
5 years ago
ken - this looked like the info I am looking for , so I just tagged on. I didn't put my pots on the side - I hadn't found that information before I put them in the shed last fall. I assumed drainage wouldn't be a problem because of the drainage holes in the pots. All was well the previous winter, but we had a very cold spell (-17C) in January. Ironically, one hosta I didn't care about was left in a small pot outside, upright - and is doing well!
gardencool
5 years ago
Why was drainage a problem when you had them in a shed?