Too much media stays too wet. Put it in a pot that just contains the roots. You could try it both ways if you like, but IMHO a small plant in a big pot will rot.See what works for you. Where did you hear about putting it in a bigger pot to prevent root rot??????

-Babka

Ok, I was reading newhostalady’s thread about overwintering her minis.... Ken was encouraging her to put them all together in a bigger pot. I just reread it - I guess his point was keeping the temperature more consistent... not the moisture.

I have a couple hostas that sit in the ground over winter. In spring I dig them up and put them in huge pots that are mini bark little over halfway up, then potting soil. They're to the point I can barely carry them. They put roots right down into the mini bark.

If you want Dream Weaver in a bigger pot, mix 1/3 soil and 2/3 mini bark in the lower part of the pot, and it shouldn't rot. I mean in spring - up here in zone 5 I've had no luck over wintering in pots.

Ken was encouraging her to put them all together in a bigger pot. I just
reread it - I guess his point was keeping the temperature more
consistent... not the moisture.

==>> bazinga .... AND SHE DIDNT EVEN NEED TO TAKE THE OUT OF THE SMALLER POTS ... carp ...

ken

What??? She is supposed to put the smaller pots into a larger pot without even taking the little hosta out of their pots???? My plan was to unpot the minis and put them in a larger pot. I will have to rethink that one!

Windymess, repotting this hosta sounds like a great idea. What I have learned is: never be afraid to take a hosta out of its pot to check on the roots---your own or in a garden centre or anywhere! It will give you a really good idea of what is going on in that pot!

Repotting in the spring and fall is different. In the spring the new roots will help fill the pot (hopefully). In the fall there is little or no root growth, so if there is a lot of media, the hosta could be prone to root rot.

Madplanter, I hadn't thought of filling the bottom half of a pot with just bark. That sounds interesting. So if one is worried about root rot because they think the pot they are repotting into is a bit too large, then placing bark on the bottom of the pot could help with drainage and reduce moisture in the pot. I like that!

Madplanter, when you pot your hosta in a large pot in the spring, are you using the bark on the bottom just for drainage in case the hosta roots grow into it? When I plant very large pots with hosta or not, I put large plastic containers on the bottom of the pot to help fill it up without adding weight. I find most of the plants don't grow very deep in one season.

Hahahahaha.

I’m going to do both. I’ll take it out, then replace it in the small pot with fresh/better media. Then I’ll place it in a larger pot surrounded by something- probably more of that same mix (because I can’t really just make that small amount).

I’m planning to do something different with my potted hostas this year- and there are only two this time. I usually overwinter them in the unheated garage. But last year we had a mild winter and I thought they came out of dormancy a bit early. This year I think I’ll put them on the screened porch, in a spot with no direct sun. The porch is on the side of the house facing NNE. With only two, i think it’s a chance with taking.

The screened porch sounds perfect!

newhostalady,

I originally used the bark because the pots used about 3 cubic ft. soil, and I didn't want to pay for Miraclegro the plants would never touch. Weight is fine, the heavier the better, since the pots never move.

Anyhow, the hostas seem to love sitting on bark. They put roots way down, much further than an in the ground plant would. Over the years the bark has mixed into the potting soil and decomposed a bit, so they're in a very airy mixture.

Good luck with the garage overwintering. At least they'll stay dry but not too dry. I lost mine to root rot, then tried putting a mini on its side and it dried up and died.

I have been gardening with perennials for many years but have limited experience with containers. Few of my hosta stay in the pots and those that do either stay as is/ ok, it is common lancifolia so would not have been huge loss/ or bigger pots turn over on the side/ few fancy ones that have no problems year after year/.

I do plant into bigger pots, even for the winter. Point is to create large enough surrounding mass to prevent it from changing temps too fast and contain enough moisture to prevent root from desiccation. Small pots will not provide that. You must control the moisture though.

I do garden some tomatoes in containers and use modified earthtainers, as in there is water collection system on the bottom and no bottom hole, just holes on the side. Those pots might have old tomato roots for the winter and are turned on the side and they are large pots. They get VERY dry this way. Anything smaller will just destroy roots by drying up too much.

For above size of container, I would just dig a hole somewhere and put that pot and all level to the ground, cover it up for overwintering and be done. Multiple small pots can be placed cheek to jowl into ground same way too. I have done this with other small perennials like heuchera which I routinely grow from seed and it is too small during first year, works just fine.

The worst rot happens when soil medium is wet and frozen. It will more likely to happen in the porch than in the shed- less air circulation in the porch.