How can I best care for potted hosta plants during the winter?

Njones47
by Njones47

I have 2 small hostas that struggled to grow in my front yard last year. I noticed they were not growing bigger so I moved them to flower pots and gave them extra attention this summer. I don't know how long it takes a hosta to grow but they still are only about 4 inches. Can I leave them in the pots on my deck during winter? Should I re-plant or bring in house? Any tips appreciated.

  4 answers
  • I would bring them inside so the pots don't freeze.

  • Njones47 Njones47 on Sep 12, 2019

    Thank you

  • Columbia GB Columbia GB on Sep 12, 2019

    I have hostas that have been in pots for 3-4 years. They were planted directly from the nursery into 10" pots of good loamy soil and have filled in nicely. I live in zone 5-6 (they keep changing it). I leave mine out all year. In winter, I shovel snow from the patio over them so they get watered. Our snow melts within a day or so. If your snow stays all year, the snow will act as a protective blanket, but it's not needed. Hostas are perennials and are cold hardy. You can leave them out. No worries.


    In regards to size, they may be getting too much sun. Also, the soil needs to be loose, friable, loamy soil. Hard packed soil will stunt root growth. Not enough water can stunt them. Too small of a pot can stunt them; small root ball means small top growth.



  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Sep 12, 2019

    Yes, my mother leaves hers in pots for many years. She gifted me some last fall and I brought some in while leaving some out, all in pots. Outside did much better than inside. Then I planted some of the survivors and kept 1 in a pot. The pot is much better so I'm going to put in a bigger pot so that it will continue to get larger.

    • See 1 previous
    • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Sep 12, 2019

      Thanks for the inspiration. I bought a HUGE pot but I've got to buy another bag of potting soil before I can transfer. The hosta I have is in a "store" type plastic pot. The kind with slits at the bottom and they are growing out of one of the slits. I'm very excited because it's a frost proof pot that was on clearance. I'm hoping for a giant hosta but also have to figure out where I can put it so that it doesn't get full sun. It's brutal here in mid AL, zone 7b, where the temperature is still around 100 every day in mid-September.