I wouldn't think so. We get deep freezes in the winter here and the pot can be frozen and then the weather changes and we get rain. And the rain will sit in the pot for days and I am always concerned that the sitting water will rot the crown. I store all my pots in my unheated shed for the winter just to be on the safe side.

As long as you use a suitably draining potting soil in the containers, they will be fine. I grow all my hostas in containers to keep them out of reach of slugs and snails (only partially successful with that). And they stay outdoors, exposed to the elements, all winter long. And we get most of our annual rainfall in winter :-) I have never had a hosta rot from being wintered in damp (not sodden) potting mix.

Thanks. The pots drain very well. They have had snow sitting on top of them for a few days now since its been in the single digits at night after the 5-6 inches we received Friday. Supposed to be in the 40's tomorrow, so we should see some melting soon.

Gardengal I live in the same place as you and I can grow enormous hostas in the ground. For some strange reason the slugs never touch them. My sister calls hostas slug food, but they don't seem interested in mine. BTW I think those plants in pots will be okay.

koffman..my opinion would be that snow is more helpful than harmful..aren't these big temperature changes crazy?..

I have thought that may be the case as well. The snow acts as a cover probably prividing a little warmth for the crown. Yes, the temp was 63 here Thursday and by Friday night we had 6 inches of snow and the low was 9.

smiley, consider yourself very lucky :-)) As I noted, my attempt is only partially successful.....snails can climb up to amazing locations slugs cannot!! And I have deer as well, so my hostas in pots are kept quite close to the house to keep the deer away. Between the slugs, snails and deer, I sometimes wonder why I even bother!! LOL!

Rot from damp soil is the very least of my problems :-))

in your zone snow is just water suspended due to temps .... all its going to do.. is melt.. and moisten your media ... no down side to that ...

in my ground freeze.. frozen pots ... additional water can only create an ice cube in the media .. which the roots are in ... as such.. they could be deprived of air ...and potentially rot ... though that doesnt happen until spring ... to avoid such.. we tip the pots over.. to retard water accumulation ... you could do that also.. if you had nothing better to do.. or need some exercise ...

in your zone ... i would suggest you find something else to WORRY about ... but if all you want to do is discuss it.. thank god.. the forums been dead.. lol ..

ken

Thanks Ken and everyone for the responses. Seems to be nothing to see here, so see you guys in the spring when the pips start showing.