Emerging hostas-Newbie ??

16 years ago

I was going to post 3 photos, but I do not see that option on this form. If there were photos, they would be as follows:

#1-Lacy Belle purchased last summer, now emerging from under soil.

#2-Gold Standard - beginning 3rd year in same pot

#3-Unnamed hosta - beginning 3rd year in same pot

Issue:

#1 Crown of Lacy Belle is covered with soil, so it is emerging completely from beneath soil. #2 Gold Standard and #3 Unnamed hosta each have crown very close to, or above soil surface,w ith a trace of roots showing above soil as they are emerging. Some of my hostas in the garden also have some crowns and a bit of roots exposed as they begin to emerge.

Question: Should I use good composted soil to the crowns and roots of the ones that are exposed? Or should I only cover the roots of the ones expose? Or leave them alone?

Your help would be appreciated as this is worrying me, especially since we are having unseasonably warm weather tht is spurring growth, but we will still have heavy frost before spring really arrive. Thank you.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
#2 and 3 are properly planted.. the crown is supposed to be at soil level ...

the first MIGHT be too deep ...

you have to join photobucket or some similar site to host your pix.. check the FAQs for info in that regard

but the bottom line.. unless you really screw up .. it is hard to kill a hosta ... ya know... they can grow on the driveway without soil ...

so dont go overboard about WORRYING .... be concerned.. but dont lose sleep about it ...

good luck, and

welcome

ken
capehorn
Original Author
16 years ago
Ken, thanks for your advice and encouragement. I was really concerned about the roots showing, but also read that it is important to keep the crowns from being smothered with mulch, etc. So maybe I better resist the urge to sprinkle dirt on them. I did what you said regarding photos, and it worked. Your input was most appreciated.
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Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
16 years ago
capehorn, I'd be careful how much compost I use in a pot. It'll be fine if you intend to plant these Hostas out in the garden this year, but longer term compost collapses and impedes proper drainage of containerized plants. Improper drainage leads to crown rot. There's a forum here that deals with gardening in containers and one thing you learn very quickly on there is that the overriding concern with container soils is drainage of the planting medium. And the repotting of containerized plants every 2-3 years in order to refresh the medium. Several posts deal with mixing your own planting medium and you'll discover very quickly they differ quite substantially from the off-the-shelf garden center mixes in that the use FAR less peat, since that compacts way too easily over the course of one year and the use of compost is restricted to an absolute minimum for the same reason.

You're not far from where I am, geographically speaking, I'm just north of the border in B.C., and I'm experiencing the same issue of emerging potted Hostas. Just take a look here in this post to see how far along one of mine is. All courtesy of El Nino.

Pieter

Here is a link that might be useful: GardenWeb Container Gardening
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
good catch pete ...

in pots.. you should use POTTING MEDIA ...

mother earth provides soil ...

potting media is engineered for specific purposes which pots require ... like water drainage.. retention ... air movement ... etc ...

that is not to say that you cant use soil in pots.. it is just all about making it EASIER ...

ken
hostahillbilly
16 years ago
Ken makes good points about how rugged most Hosta are. We came across a steal of a deal on some Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' last year that were potted in real heavy clay and rocks. They were doing just fine even with practically no real drainage or air! Trying to 'bust them out' was a real pain.
capehorn
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, everone for all your helpful advice and reassurance about growing hostas.

Ken,thanks for clarifying soil, potting medium, etc. It really helped my understanding.

Pieter, I really enjoyed visiting your web site, especially since I grew up in Vancouver BC and am very familiar with Richmond, too. I picked blueberries there when I was a teenager. My Mum and Dad moved from Kerisdale to Richmond when Dad retired. Thanks for your advice on the hosta foum regarding my question about hostas in pots. I went to the link you suggested, "Just take a look here in this post to see how far along one of mine is" and the photo of Curtain Call 2-10-2010 shows roots like the ones I mentioned, and thought I should cover up.

Your emerging hosta was coming from the soil and did not show exposed roots? so do you think I should put a bit of potting medium (see explanation below) on top of exposed roots?

Regarding soil, compost, planting medium, I did learn from the owners of Sebright Hosta Gardens in Brooks, OR www.sebrightgardens.com to use a special mix that is perfectly suited for hostas. And I am making my own with potting mix, peat, wood shaving, and a bit of Osmocote. I am also putting a cup or two of llama manure in the bottom of the pots, which I cover with the special mix before putting the plant in the pot.

Hosta gardeners are always welcome to stop in to visit us if you come down to the Columbia Gorge area. Just Google Quinn Mountain in the Columbia River Gorge to find us. Best, Christina