The leaves have exactly what the plant needs, we know this because the plant just took those things from the soil and made hosta out of it. Let the leaves compost where they are.

Plant the White Feather and mulch it. It has a much better chance in the ground than in a pot.

HOw would it be, to plant a potted hosta in the ground, in the pot? Of course, I'd mulch it tons, as well!

If you know where you want to plant it then plant it.

If you want to move it next spring then plant the pot and Mulch as J says, at least 2 inches and perfer 4 inches either way mulch.

odds are.. the freeze thaw cycle.. will crack a clay pot in my neck of the woods...

soooo .. you have to remove it from the pot.. and store the pot empty and dry .... preferably in a building ...

ergo .. the hosta needs to be planted in mother earth for winter... to stay dormant ...

go for it ..

ken

If your terra cotta potted White Feather is dry and dormant, move it into an unheated building now. Keep it DRY till Spring . . . . it's the moisture that cracks pots and rots hosta as temps fluctuate. I've done this for years. Also have about a hundred planted pots. They'll all be raring to grow next season when I can easily move them around.

Maryann, do you have ceramic pots and I'm sure your garage freezes in Chgo?

I doesn't take much moisture to crack a ceramic or clay pot, well clay easier than ceramic but still it doesn't require much moisture.

I'm with Ken and Esther Opal and Josh on this one.

Plant that puppy. In the pot, out of the pot, doesn't matter to the plant.

Does matter to the pot, though, which will probably crack, so if it's a special one, take the plant out of it.

I have clay, Mexican pottery, and concrete pots that stay outdoors all winter, too heavy to move. All are raised above the ground soil by bricks or wood slats, preventing them from absorbing moisture from below. These are mulched with leaves and evergreen boughs after Christmas. Ceramic pots are stored upsidedown and empty. Survival rate is 100% with the pots, 50/50 with the hosta.

My decorator pots are planted with nursery pots that are slipped out and into the unheated shed. I rarely lose any there unless the roof leaks. That happened once.

I have a couple of hypertufa concrete that have gone through a few winters fine but simple concrete not so well. I was in the concrete business and what is called drymix, which is similar to the cheap stepping stones that crack easily while poured pots do better. I can tell the difference but the average citizen will not know. With poured concrete then reinforcement is important which, again cannot be seen. One may be able to ask about technique and do a better job purchasing concrete products.

Please note, if you have any trouble with Voles, the leaves can create an environment that encourages moving in. I always take away the leaves after they fully die back (melt) so the voles don't make a home under them after the snow falls.

maryann, I have a "pot tree" here that is clay pots, suspended above ground. I toyed with Hostas in them, but have always planted with shade annuals for some height and color... in my Hosta beds. They are always dead as a doornail by Sept. because I neglect watering. Not a one of those pots has cracked in 8 years, and if it did, 2 bucks could replace it.
Melissa, I let the Hosta leaves blow with the wind here, but no varmits to speak of.

Hostarox what size are your pot tree clay pots?

You might try sedum, they can stand neglect and I do the same thing one of the reasons I stopped with the annuals.

with pretty pots.. a lot of peeps... get slightly smaller plastic pots .. and use them inside .. and when the time comes.. the plastic pot slips right out .... with the plant ...

ken

EO, I went out and took a picture. I guess the pots are about the size of a standard nursery trade pot (1 gal.?)
The pots are clay....I just spray painted them. I don't know if sedums would get enough sun in this location.

Don't the Hostas look wonderful this time of year lol.

Rox, I have some sedum on the porch that I leave year round, they do not bloom as well as in the sun but they are green and don't require much to stay that way.

Next year try my water reservoir in those pots with impatiens which require a good deal of water and the constant source in the bottom of the pot may help. Maybe others can offer plants with or without the water reservoir. If you don't remember it just a pot that doesn't drain inside the other pot.