Growing in pots and growing in the garden are very different. This is what I would do. I would give Delta Dawn more shade from any intense sun by putting a chair over it or anything else you can come up with. After the heat is over, I would move it to a different location. It looks like its planted too deep. If you think this location is good, then lift the hosta to plant it a bit higher and amend the soil with some peat moss or composted manure.

As for the ones in the pot, since they look like they are deteriorating, remove them from the pot. Check if there is root rot and/or crown rot and remove it. If it has some rot, it will just continue to rot and you don't want this. Do not plant it in a bigger container. Plant in a smaller container separately so you can monitor each individually. Repot in a lighter media.

Thank you newhostalady. I don't think Delta Dawn is getting any direct sun in this location.

Based on the overhead shot, I agree with NHL. First thing I thought is DD is planted too deep, and that's why it's struggling. I've had some that settled after planting, and lifting them made a world of difference.

My Tootie Mae looks like your PP. only difference is it was in the ground and then I potted it. Still looks bad. We’ve had so much rain I think some of my potted hostas are not getting a chance to dry out. Maybe I’ll also remove it from the pot and inspect roots/crown. Probably put lighter media as well.

debra

I think Hornbakers posted somewhere their potting mix recipe, seems like mainly bark. I have been really happy with mine. Now if I transplant anything now am asking for trouble. Which I have no choice sometimes.

If you pull that PP out of the pot maybe we can see pic of the roots?

Lindalana, I would be interested in knowing what the Hornbaker's potting mix recipe is.

Here's the roots of my LS Paisley Print, after clearing away just a few mushy bits.

And this is Delta Dawn after clearing the mulch away from the crown. The plant was struggling before I applied this mulch.

Roots look great. Here is my recipe for potting mix I think hostas do well. I use pro mix about half with pine bark mulch. I add handful of chicken compost sold at Menards and a pinch of bone meal . Add some Osmocote. Our local Menards has very nice pine bark mulch in small nuggets as well as dried up chicken compost. For best results if planted now leaves need a lot of water misting on them. Honestly I would pull out you Delta too and give it tlc.

Thanks for posting that information lindalana. Ben, I agree that heat and high humidity are not ideal conditions for potting hostas, but as lindalana said, sometimes we have to do what we have to do. I just dug up my poor pathetic Night Shift… part of the crown came off but there was enough to pot. There was one very long root and some smaller ones. I have placed it in mostly shade for now. I hope it recovers.

debra

Debra, I'd plant that 'Night Shift' a LOT higher in the pot by putting sufficient potting mix in to raise it to the level at least to where the concentric ridges start. I want to give my re-plants as good a chance as possible and having the potting mix only fill about half or so of the container means you'll have a fairly high perched water table, something you really don't want when trying to encourage root growth. As you probably know, I grow most of my hostas in pots and I always reach for a pot that gives me the lowest possible perched water table to encourage healthy roots and avoid root rot. It's hard to tell from the picture what the size of the container is but it looks to be no more than half-filled; top it up, you'll get much better results!

Pieter

it root growing time.. do it imediatley .... or sooner...

and since you already did it..

good work ....

ken

I dug up Delta Dawn today. Here's what I found:

It looks like it might have been trying to grow a bit sideways. I potted it up by focusing on keeping the roots pointing down, which left the upper part leaning to the side.

While I was at it, I decided to pot up this Lady Bug too. I planted this back in May, and it has lost a few leaves.

Its roots look healthy enough. Looks like it's developing a new crown which is trying to grow over an old crown.

It's possible both of these hostas have been competing with viburnum roots, although several other hostas near the viburnum are doing well.

I discovered this today too -- Church Mouse that was also planted last May:

(I was out of town yesterday, this could have happened more than 24 hours ago. Grrr!)

I add mushroom compost and "sweet peat" (an Ohio company sells it to amend soil) along with large pine nuggets and shredded pine mulch along with potting soil in my pots. Most of my hostas have done very well in this mixture. It's a loose mixture which works well for us since we are using large pots instead of planting in the ground due to a lack of yard space.

Thanks Pieter for your advice. I’m new to potting hostas. The roots on Night Shift were mostly short, but there was one about 8” long. The pot is a tall one gallon pot. I will try to repot today. It’s blazing hot here in Milwaukee and we have had so much rain, I think my pots are not getting a chance to dry out. Not sure if that’s good or bad.

debra

Pieter,
Hope this looks better. I may put it on the screen porch for a few days to let it dry out a bit.

debra

I know I replied earlier and hit "submit".... and it's not there....

Anyways, Debra, that looks much better 😊... If you're planning to put the pot on the patio you don't want to impede drainage so it's best to put the pot on feet/risers. Leave it where it is on the mulch, you'll get decent drainage!

Pieter