Container grown hosta

13 years ago

I have always grown hosta in the ground with issues. Each spring I would scratch compost into the soil around the pips and watered them when needed. I also used some fish fertilizer on them when I fertilized the tomatoes.

My mom has three (thought it was only two) hosta in barrels outside. The hosta were planted a few years ago ( how many years ?) and wiinter outside.

I checked them and they are coming up, two have twelve pips one has 20 pips. Last year they were demolished by an intense hail storm at the end of May here in Colorado. I have read that sometimes events like the hail storm can cause them to come back small and weak.

I am aware over fertilizing them can cause them to grow weak leaves, cause them undue stress, and set them back in their growth cycle. Since they are in whiskey barrels they do not recieve wormy benefits. Is it reasonable to scratch compost into the barrels?

Thanks in advance
Pam

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Comments (4)

Linda's Garden z6 Utah
13 years ago
Hi Pam, yes I would go ahead and do it. I fertilize mine in the spring and maybe a couple of time during the summer. Be sure and stop fertilizing by September.
don_in_colorado
13 years ago
Wow, somebody else in Colorado besides me and one neighbor grows Hosta? I am amazed!

Don B.
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Cliftons
Original Author
13 years ago
Sorry I meant to say "I have always grown hosta in the ground without issue" but that was in Missouri and this is my second year here. Having to relearn gardening and baking all over.

So potted hosta is new to me and the method I plan on using on some TC hostas later once I know what my mom has growing so I can order reverses and complimentary hostas.

Yes Don I am just south of 470 in Highlands Ranch. Even though my hostas are in planters, your hostas are so much further along. One of the hosta in the planters is labeled krossa regal, it is just pips and yours is already unfurling its leaves. Yet our bulbs are already spent and yours are in bloom.

Oh well, I am anixous to identify the hosta once they are leaved out. At least we got rain yesterday instead of snow, in my book that means spring has truely arrived.
don_in_colorado
13 years ago
My 'Krossa Regal' seems to be the exception; that is much further along than any others I have in the ground(My 'Olive Bailey Langdon' I cheated with and started it in a pot, then brought it inside so it wouldn't get dinged by frost/freeze).

OK, that's not too far from us, we're in Westminster, near 100th and Wadsworth. Hope your Hosta didn't get hit too bad by the hail today.

Don B.

This post was edited by Don_in_Colorado on Thu, May 9, 13 at 22:14