Duscha varmt hosta
Like snowflakes, no two leaves of ‘Revolution’ hosta are the same. This amazing variety shows off dark green leaves with spots, speckles and bands of cream. For extra color, the plants develop lavender flowers in midsummer. It grows 24 inches tall and wide. Zones Hostas are a staple in many gardens, prized for their attractive foliage and ability to brighten up shady spots. These popular perennials are also commonly grown in containers.
But when winter arrives, special care is required to help potted hostas successfully survive the colder months. Hostas are hardy perennials that go dormant during winter.
The key to healthy hostas is allowing them to experience a sufficient cold period. Bringing containerized hostas indoors for winter interferes with their dormancy and can weaken or even kill the plants. So in most cases, hostas in pots should be left outdoors over winter. The best place to store them is an unheated garage, shed, or cold frame. Ideally, winter temps should remain between °F. Just be sure to lift them back out in spring.
Cover the pots with burlap, fabric row cover, or an old tarp to protect from rain and prevent freezing and thawing of the soil. Transplant into garden spaces or larger containers in late spring once the risk of frost has passed. Choose containers at least inches wide and deep. Hostas have expansive roots and need sufficient room.
Hostas Need Special Care in The Fall—What You Should Do Right Now For Happy Plants
Dry soil and hot sun exposure can cause brown leaf edges or spots on hostas. Move pots to shadier areas and water thoroughly. Excess moisture around the crown can cause rotting. Improve drainage and allow soil to dry between waterings. Rodents are attracted to the roots and may chew on plants in winter. Use hardware cloth to line pots before planting. These garden pests are attracted to the tender foliage.
Remove them by hand or use non-toxic slug bait. With their wide variety of colors, sizes, and shapes, hostas offer almost endless possibilities in containers. And their low-maintenance nature makes them an easy way to add beauty to patios, porches, and small urban gardens. By providing the right care before and during winter dormancy, you can successfully overwinter hostas in containers year after year. Her passion is focused these days on growing ornamental edibles, and foraging for food in the urban and suburban landscape.
Hostas grow well in containers and make a statement in the garden or patio. We did the research to tell you how. One way to overwinter potted hostas is to place them in an unheated outside building, such as a garage, during the harshest winter months. If hostas are in large pots, they can simply be left outside during the winter. Or, you can take the hostas out of their pots and plant them in your garden during the winter.
A Zone 4 to 8 hosta cultivar grown in Zone 6 is going to need less fussing over than the same plant might if it was grown in Zone 4. Although hostas are hardy, those in containers are more susceptible to winter damage than those in the ground, so you may wish to offer a bit of extra protection in very cold regions. Ruth Hayes, a gardening expert, suggests fleecing or mulching the root area of hostas to keep the plants protected from frost over the winter months.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When you start closing down the rest of the garden for winter, bring the hosta pots inside. They could go into a heated garage or basement. As long as temperatures stay above freezing and some light is available, they should survive. You can cut the leaves back and give them just enough water to keep the roots moist. Small varieties of hostas work excellent in containers.
Caring for Hostas in Containers Over Winter – A Complete Guide
Whirlwind works great, but there are other varieties as well. Dragon Tails and Baby Bunting hostas are also elegant. Annuals grown in containers are discarded at the end of the season, but many potted perennials, shrubs and small trees can be maintained over the winter if steps are taken to protect the plants and their containers. The more cold-hardy the plants, the more likely you are to succeed in keeping them alive.