Sounds like you need to buy a big pot!!

Consider the Empress and annual. Use it as a thriller in a mixed container and then be done with it, lol. BTW, I have a Regal Splendor growing in a drum from the inside of an old washing machine. Its not a look I like so I have underplanted it with some things that will trail out and cover the pot. Dang, I should take a picture.

Utog grows a lot of pots…….see if she chimes in….she is also in very warm weather. Good luck with whatever you do. Keep BS in shade, mine died in sun, despite it being on the sun tolerant list.

debra

Thanks, Debra. I had Brother Stefan a few years back. I don't remember why I lost it. It may have been lost when they got that root rot problem. I lost so many I just got numb to it. I just looked back at my photos and it looks like it grew just fine. I don't grow anything in full sun, though. Squash Casserole is said to take full sun in the south, but I haven't tried it.

bk

Maybe give it a try for a year or so? Might be a conversation piece? Hey, it might grow on you? Can you separate the eyes and keep one? Can you give it away or sell it?

I mean, if worse comes to worst you have this option. They get a bit dingy after a year or so, but they work like a champ for my potatoes. https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Pots-100-Gallon-Soft-Sided-Container/dp/B0055E8R38

"Grow a hosta as an annual"? How exactly does that work? My folks live in northern Michigan. they have a couple largish plastic pots (think they're about 12" diameter and about 18" inches tall or so) containing mini hosta. (Names long lost, unfortunately. Unlike me, they don't care about knowing such things so threw the tags away.) The pots are by the house sitting on a couple cement pavers. The pots sit there all year long. They are not moved to a more sheltered spot for the winter, nor is any effort made to provide some cover or insulation. The pots have been in the same spot for years. The hosta have completely filled each pot. Not sure how much more one could do to treat them as annuals. :-D

As far as large pots go ....

Well as suggested, you could simply grow EW and when she gets too big, divide her and either sell, trade, or gift the divisions keeping one for yourself with which to start anew.

How picky are you with the look of your pots?

You have some time to look around. Hit estate/garage sales, thrift stores like GoodWill/Salvation Army, check your local FreeCycle and CraigsList. If you are on FaceBook, you could check there too. You could also simply get one of those huge pickle buckets from Lowes/HD (the type contractors often use). If the look of a bucket appalls you, you can try painting it or even, after sanding the outside a bit to rough it up, smearing some cement over it to give it more of a rock look.

Thanks, Paul.

I have big enough pots for now. (As I get older the plants get heavier and harder to refresh and repot.) This year, I dropped my Blue Angel on it's "head" while repotting it and messed up the first flush. I guess my first vision about Empress Wu was trying to repot it in a 50 gallon using a front-end loader.

I just got the pots out of the shed for the new plants and bleached them this morning. I guess I'll wait to pot the plants until the morning. It's already 105 according to the thermometer on my front porch. It's supposed to be cooler tomorrow.

I'll just pot up the Empress and deal with repotting it when the time comes.

Thanks for all the help.

bk

Paul's Glory is another fast grower in my yard. Not like EW but I've split mine in half every 4-5 years.

My Paul’s Glory has barely grown since I got it, certainly not enough to even do one divide.
debra

Aww, bkay, good luck! I remember your posts of previous problems with hostas , those things do become personal somehow.

I did grow EW in a pot , there was no chance of moving it, I just covered top for the winter and refreshed top sides a bit. Lasted about 5 years.

You're right, Babka. Thanks. I may not be in this house or any where else in 3-5-7 years. Enjoy it while it lasts.

bkay

djcobz,

My Brother Stefan gets some early afternoon sun and still gets some browning in July. I don't see it as sun tolerant in my zone. Just divided Paul's Glory again 2 years ago--it's still recovering but maybe you need a piece of mine since nothing seems to stop it from growing rapidly.

Paul's Glory did a whole lot better for me than Brother Stefan. PG would take some sun and love it.

bk

Maybe my PG needs more sun…….🤔🤔🤔

debra