Planting a bare root hosta

6 years ago

In the past few days I planted a few bare root hostas in pots. Looking back, I did not make a mound of the soil and then drape and spread the roots over the mound. I just kind of held the bare root piece dangling in the pot, hanging straight down, (some of these were L-O-N-G!) and filled in with soil and watered in.

Is it significant that I didnt spread out the roots? Everybody seems to say to spread out the roots. I am not going to take out those plants and pot them again but for future reference.

Thanks so much!

Featured Answer

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

6 years ago

when i potted 1700 odd hosta to move house...

i laid the pot on its side.. filled it half full with media.. and then laid the hosta in there .. fanning the roots across such.. then filled up the other side ...

not perfect.. but at least spread apart somewhat ...

the concern.. is how water flows thru the media. .. and insuring that at least some of the roots are in contact with moisture...

i have seen.. over the years .. various potted plants.. where the middle of the pot is bone dry.. and that was one reason all the roots grew to the sides .. where the water moved ...

ken

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Comments (9)

dhaven
6 years ago
They will be fine, but also for future reference, as you pot, fill each pot then shake it or tap it several times against something to settle the soil. If there's a large empty space, it will become apparent and you can add more soil.
katyajini thanked dhaven
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
with a plant that you can throw on the driveway .. bare root .... for a week .. .and it will not care... i highly doubt yours will have a problem ...
katyajini thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
phone rang.. now the rest ...

potted hosta need to be repotted every few years.. as the media breaks down .. so next time.. spread them out a bit more ...

i dont recognize the name.. where are you.. big city name..

and do you have or need a plan for storing them over winter ...

ken
katyajini thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
undertheoaksgardener7b
6 years ago
I plant the bare root Hostas like you did, Katyajini. I try to keep the roots apart as I pour the soil in. When the pot is 2/3, 3/4 and then all full, I give the pot a little earthquake shake to settle the soil around the plants' roots better.
katyajini thanked undertheoaksgardener7b
katyajini
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you friends! Good to know these guys are so resilient and are going to be OK. I did shake to make sure the soil was entering between the roots and once again shook the pot while watering.

Ken: I dont live in NYcity anymore but out in westchester county and have a garden :)! I am potting hostas for now because the places I want them to go in the ground are not quite ready yet. I am having a lot of fun with this.
undertheoaksgardener7b
6 years ago
Katyajini, I like potting the new hostas first. That gives me a chance to isolate and observe them, as well as mobiilty to determine the exact right spot in the garden.
katyajini thanked undertheoaksgardener7b
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
6 years ago
If you are planning to plant the potted hostas this year, then there should be no problem with the way you potted them up. If you overwinter them, then the potting medium and size of pot would be also something to consider.
katyajini thanked newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
katyajini
Original Author
6 years ago

Thank youeveryone

undertheoak: it is largely for that ability to see what that plant will look like and play around with where I might plant it that I chose to put the bare roots in pots.

ken:you dug up and potted 1700 hostas????? You are superman! what a thought that the center of the pot can become dry. And that is a great tip of how I can plant any new bare roots, :)