Or another option - what if I plant them in pots now - which I can keep watered and shaded more easily - then move them later? Or is moving them not a good idea?

Plant it and keep it watered.

The green parts go above the ground and the rest gets covered by soil. You should be able to see where that is on a leafed out hosta, after all it just a plant with the soil washed away.

It would probably be a good idea to soak the roots in water for about an hour before you subject it to the elements.

Don't worry, they will be fine.

-Babka

If you can keep them out of the sun for now in pots, that will be just fine too, then get them into the ground 6 weeks before frost, or when this heat wave stops. Your ground temps are probably lower than your air temps, but I know the hostas will appreciate being in some shade with all the heat.

-Babka

Thank you Babka (I thought I had already responded but it seems to have gone missing). I will go ahead and plant. I just heard the weather report and presumably our hot spell is going to break tomorrow evening.

So if I understand correctly, if I put the white part of the stems below ground, then the place where the roots emerge from the stems will be an inch or so below ground, correct?

tHanks for the help!

Yes. That is the way it was growing before the dirt got removed. OBTW, which ones did you get?

-Babka

Thank you again. You saved me from my initial panic!

I got Guacamole, Maui Buttercups, Liberty, Pineapple Upside Cake, Rainbow's Edge, Baby Bunting, and my bonus (much appreciated) of El Nino.

My choices were very largely based on comments and photos posted on this forum. I am especially excited to see how Pineapple and Rainbow develop. I previously had NO minis, so Baby Bunting and Maui Buttercups are welcome additions. I have coveted Guacamole for a year now based on its reputed fragrance. Liberty came up high on all your ratings (the thread about which hosta you cannot live without). El Nino will pair perfectly with my Halcyon so I am very pleased about it as my bonus.

I got five of the seven planted tonight. The other two have had the wrappings dampened and will get planted tomorrow.

Thank you so much for helping me out.

You and I got our orders on the same day, and I live only about an hour and a half away. I ordered mine early Friday morning. Anyway, mine are still soaking in a bucket of water, the roots, not the crowns. I'm planning on potting mine up for now until I decide where they'll go. I got: Rainbow's End, Hoosier Dome, Dragon Fire, Brother Stefan, Lakeside Cha Cha, and for a bonus Great Arrival. I couldn't believe the size of the plants, and the roots on Hoosier Dome are huge! I also got pretty much a clump of Dragon's Fire, I think there are at least four eyes, if not five. And the bonus was a surprise. I wasn't expecting one. Tomorrow I'll take pictures before and after I pot them up. I'll definitely order from them again.

Karen

Karen, sounds like you also got some fun hostas! Funny that we both got Rainbow's End (I mis-typed when I called it Rainbow's Edge). Brother Stefan is very high on my wish list. Hope all do well!

So if I understand correctly, if I put the white part of the stems below ground, then the place where the roots emerge from the stems will be an inch or so below ground, correct?

===>>> not in my world ...

roots in the ground.. leaves above the ground... the middle part.. the crown.. at the surface level .. in the ground ... but not like an iris ...

you say.. where the roots come out of the crown should be one inch deep .. maybe on a larger hosta.. your comment is an over generalization to some extent ...

but one thing for sure.. the petioles... the celery-like stalks that hold up the leaves.. which come out of the top of the crown ... should NOT be in the soil.. MUCH AT ALL ...

i dont understand why you can not tell.. looking at what you got in the mail ... which creamy white parts.. have never seen the sun .... that stuff has to be in the ground.. if the parts are green.. they were and are supposed to be.. above ground ....

now.. here is the real issue ... all of the above [including your thoughts] is within the realm of OK .... but the issue is whether .. when the soil settles.. they end up another inch or two deep ... and then.. all of a sudden.. they are 3 inches underground ... and that is where the problems will be ....

now .... something like liberty.. a potential large.. will probably not care .... but if baby bunting ends up 3 inches too deep... you will have problems.. make sense???

it usually ends up being a function of what you use to 'fluffify' your soil.. what you amend with.. and how it reacts to ground freeze and the freeze thaw cycle ...

but never forget.. they are hosta ... and but for totally ejecting themselves in the freeze thaw cycle in winter.. you are going to be hard pressed to kill them quickly ... if something just doesnt look right next spring... odds are.. they ended up too deep.. and at that point.. you will lift them.. and set them properly .... most of us.. at looking at a pic.. can quickly tell.. what is planted too deep ... [sometimes i think babka.. in tx.. with her pot culture.. forgets what a witch mother earth can be.. lol ...]

good luck .. it sounds like you are already having fun...

ken

ps: is this your first mail order??? did it make you feel like a child at xmas again.. lol ..

Come on, Ken. If I can't tell a plum from an almond (referring to a thread in another forum), how can you expect me to tell white from green????

OK, I honestly think I've been overthinking this - but just in case, here is a photo showing where I believe the soil level should come to. Correct me if I'm wrong! This is the Liberty, so a bigger plant. As you said, the little ones were much closer to the roots.

Ummmmm, I didn't fluffify my soil. Please tell me what I should be doing about that? My feeling was that my current hostas seem to grow well, so my soil must be okay. (please don't roll your eyes).

you are going to be hard pressed to kill them quickly Exactly. I told DH just last night that one of the reasons I am loving hostas is because I believe I have only killed one, ever (Rootin Tootin - it just vanished).

I have mail ordered perennials (in soil) but not hostas before. That's why I'm so nervous. And yes, had to make DH come look at them IMMEDIATELY because I was so excited.

Here's Liberty with arrows showing where I plan to put the soil line.

Prairie Love- Great photo! I stand by my words "green up white down", in a pot or in the ground.

Ken- I'm near San Jose California, not TX. (good)

-Babka

fluffify? Exactly what is fluffify? :-)

Bkay

I think that you are overthinking because you have crossed over to the dark side, or have become a hosta holic! When I receive bare root hostas, I put them (roots) in a pail of water for a day and let them soak. Someone else has recommended that you lay the hosta down leaf and all in water to rehydrate, haven't tried it. Exciting to be able to plant. Mary