Cindee,

A lot of people grow hostas in pots. You'll need to water them very often though.

Just my opinion, I have sworn off Walmart hostas. I've found them to be often mismarked (yes, they are a hosta but not the variety stated on the package) and virused.
Check out the HVX virus on the Hosta Library.
There are lots of reputable hosta vendors you can order from online.

Also, I am not entirely sure hostas will do well in zone 9 California. They really need a cold dormancy period, I believe. Maybe some others from warmer zones than I can weigh in on this?

Char

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta Library

Hi,
Welcome to the wonderful world of hostas. I grow mine in containers in mostly pine mulch. We really need to put the potting medium discussions in the faq. If you want to try some different hostas, I highly recommend Hallsons or White Oak (if they have any left). If a hosta will make it for you, one of theirs has the best chance. The early ones like montana areomarginata, plantaginea or any of the sports like Guacamole, Fragrant Bouquet, and so on. You get the bonus of fragrant flowers with the plantaginea family. Good luck and keep us posted.

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant delights has a good list to choose from.

they are dug up in fall and put in coolers for winter... at some point they are taken out of the cooler and then the countdown starts to breaking dormancy ...

they are then wrapped in plastic ... against mother nature.. put in a box ... contrary again .. and trucked to the distribution center.. and then to the store ... by the time this happens they are questionable as to viability ... IMHO ...

if god had meant plants to be wrapped in plastic and stuck in a box .. he would have designed the plant to do it itself ... hey .. they grow on driveways.. but this is wayyyyy beyond that ...

now the same hosta can be pulled out of the cooler. potted up .. and trucked all over the world.. and a great many of them will thrive ... go figure ...

this in no way addresses the disease issues ... ken

Wrapped in plastic and put in a box is not the problem. Vendors do it all the time and so do we when we trade by mail.

Displayed indoors in a hot store for weeks on end dries out the packing material, very difficult for the crown and roots to remain viable. Early in the season, fresh off the truck, they have a good chance at thriving.

I have gotten some nice hostas from Wal-Mart,including a couple of nice Fragrant Bouquets,and a really nice Polar Moon,both of which still thrive in my garden. Their biggest thing is,you don't always get the plant they say it is on the label. Oh, and I forgot my Enchantment,which has been a excellent grower,and is looking good right now,in my garden! Buyer beware,because of the condition of those plants. BTW,the ones that I described were potted plants,not bare-root. Phil

I'm glad you weighed in as well, Phil. I was wondering about the potted WM version... they had some Halcyon and Blue Angel and I think a couple of other thick-leaved (=slug resistant) varieties for less than $8 that I wondered about. I may go back and get a couple.

I think the ones I bought last year (Francee, So Sweet, another one Gold something) - and put in a spot the $75 landscaping lady called "perfect for hostas" but turned out to be too sunny because they all seemed to get burned periodically - will be moved to a *very* shady spot this week, and I want something big and slug-resistant to go along with them. The Halcyon and BA looked nice the other day. If they look nice the next time I look, I'll get a couple.

I bought 2 Halcyons last year for $5.00 total from Walmart...they were potted, not bagged. They look fantastic this year! I wouldn't make Walmart my regular shopping place for buying hostas; the forum has warned me about possible diseased hostas from there.

thanks for all of your great advice. I guess I need to wait and see how these do first before I get anymore(-: One is maybe being eaten by a snail. I need to get some snail bait I guess. All three are sitting next to each other in pots right now. I haven't planted them in the ground yet because I wanted to see how they did first. they are getting some sun too. I don't have them in the shade yet either. Guess I should move them.

Last year I bought this Clifford's Comet at Wal-Mart for $5.95.

{{gwi:954838}}
I've kept it in a pot to see how it would do and it is doing great this year so far too.

Like someone else said, I can't resist checking out the plants wherever I go. You just have to be on the lookout for suspicious looking plants. I'm not fond of bagged hostas, I'd much rather have an actual plant to see when I make a purchase.

Janet

I have bought several hostas from Walmart and any other big box store I pass , I have never had a problem except for my passion for theese plants.When you get started its hard to stop because of all the varieties.I try to find the best deals because I purchase so many. Now I have been surfing the internet to find the deals.SO SAD.

I have found some really great hostas in containers at Lowe's and Home Depot. Recently bought 'Revolution' & 'Sea Thunder'. Last year I bought too many to name!
These stores seem to be increasing the number of hostas they sell; must be due to a bigger demand.

I have bought several hostas from Walmart and any other big box store I pass , I have never had a problem except for my passion for theese plants.When you get started its hard to stop because of all the varieties.I try to find the best deals because I purchase so many. Now I have been surfing the internet to find the deals.SO SAD.

Just saw this and these posts, but in the past 5 years of hosta purchases and some have been from wal mart, as single or double plants...they have been just fine. tall healthy happy and return each year from VA and from NC. The blue angels are easy to find and cheaply in NC so they do well. Guacamole too. Also have seen pauls glory and patriot. So if any one is around and shopping in 2021, the growers that wal mart uses now are good!!!