I gave up this method, every attempt ended up with a dead hosta. I think the freezing, thawing and moisture in the open make them mush. My only successes are storing the potted hosta in my shed and ignoring them over the winter. I also tried laying pots on their side in a protected area… that didnt work for me either.

If you come up with a successful idea let us know.

Sherry

oh no..I think you lost them 😢..I'm giving up growing hostas in pots..like Sherry I overwinter pots in my shed or garage..they're going in the ground soon..it's easier..

pics yesterday after a second frosty night..if you look close I have frost damage 🙁..but that actually happened weeks ago..I hate cold weather..
Empress Wu..some leaves are a little cupped..

Great Expectations..

Coast to Coast..Yellow Polka Dot Bikini has bite marks..why didn't I move that piece of bark? 🤦‍♀️..

Wonderland is a messy place!..

Krossa Regal..

We know you can grow in pots left outside because your Komodo Dragon is beyond fabulous! Have you been having a chilly spring like many of us? Pity about AF but Liberty should be fine. It looks like some of the pips (bottom left) could be a tad low in the pot after settling in over winter. I might pull back just a little soil from them.

Well, I dug up my Liberty and a huge mess of healthy roots, some curled around the bottom of the pot are almost two feet long. Many roots are growing up from the crown, I guess indicating planted too deep. The crown is hardly visible through the roots. Last year it grew great and I didn't change anything.

Should I replant it as is or cut away some of the surface roots?

Sherry - I Leave all my pots outside and cover them with a thick layer of chopped leaves on top and on all sides. I've been doing that for years and seldom lose any, if I do lose some it is usually very small starts or divisions. I think I lost the Autumn Frost because they were up in the air with no side insulation.

Liberty roots this year

Liberty last year

Thanks all :)

Hmmm, would cut away those surface roots and replant. Good luck!

debra

Old dirt, I am glad that works for you. It must be the small zone difference that makes the difference??? Gardening is a mystery at times. Its good when we can figure out what works for where we are.

Make sure you show us a photo of Liberty now that you rescued it.

Sherry

I can't overwinter pots at new house for the life of me. I give up on overwintering pots but will plant them in the fall, pot and all. I usually do pot in a pot set up on the summer.

I started planting in pots 5-6 years ago. I used to drag all of them to an old kids play structure that is still in our yard. Last year, I couldn't do that and left all of them where they were and even though we had a very cold, brutal winter, all of the pots did fine. I am in zone 6 now, so that may make a difference. I didn't cover them. I did manage to lose all of my herbs since even the really tough ones died. I can't replace some of them this year. I know that pots worked for other people in my hosta club otherwise, I wouldn't have tried doing it. Now that we've had to take down 2 trees recently, I really like the fact that I can move the pots around

and avoid the direct sun some of them are getting.

OK, I trimmed up the root mass of Liberty and planted it in a pot. This is what i have now, not much but it still is alive. Will see what next year brings. I think I will purchase a new one regardless.

After seeing the root ball it is surprising the result is small…..so disappointing. Hopefully it will look better next spring. I have rescued a few hosta that looked awful……took so long but did work.

Sherry