I read your comment on Hosta starting their roots in July.

Some hostas that I got last year and were potted, then planted in to overwinter, then lifted back to pots.

I noticed that hostas did not developed new roots over winter, and some lost large roots they came with.

The ones I had for longer I can just lift out of pot roots and plunk or unplunk as a whole.

So am questioning what is best for root development? Obviously planting and not disturbing but when do they grow roots? And what will help them grow faster? If the large roots that came with bare root plant all die how does this work?

Hosts seems so different from other perennials and their cycle. I like to think that I know what I do in my garden so it scares me when so well tended hostas has half of the Roots from last year. Anyone has experience? Specially planting in the pots?

I am wondering why you dig them up to overwinter? Hostas go dormant naturally in the winter in our zone 5. In am just a bit north of you in Milwaukee and do not bring in hostas for the winter. Someone help out, but I believe the dormant period is necessary for the new root growth.

I have run out of real estate long time ago. I have quite a number of hostas grown in pots,some stay in pots and some get planted out in the patch to overwinter and be lifted again into pots.

Either leave them in the pots or leave them in the ground.

Well, it is all about priorities for sure. Hosta that I really like or rare one is planted into ground permanently. Then there is less pricey or less rare but still too precious so those go into ground to overwinter. Then there are either too big or fairly common so those get piled up in the pile, get covered with mulch and overwinter this way.

Stop moving them around for a while! Why don't you leave them in the pots?

All hostas, once planted in the ground, should stay. No matter if it’s rare, beautiful, common or inexpensive—-they all should stay in the ground. Can’t understand. If you have that many potted plants, perhaps try storage in garage. If you always put them in pots they will not grow any larger as the roots will not be able to expand out. I agree with lisanti , stop moving them.

I'd say it depends on the hosta. I have two clumps of Honeybells that spend summer in big pots and move to the ground every fall. They've been happy campers for 10-12 years. Of course, Honeybells is an old tough-as-nails cultivar, and the pots have a mix of potting soil and bark mulch. They come out of that loose mix very easily.