Hosta pot idea

jamesharcourt · October 2020

Hi, I have one of the large Hostas in a large pot… I think it’s “Sum & substance” or “”BigDaddy” and it grew really well in a large pot this year after I moved it out of a ground spot where we couldn’t see it.

I had the idea of adding a few inches more soil and putting some snowdrop or Crocus or early spring flowering bulbs in there so give something in Jan-Apr before the Hosta gets going.

Is a Hosta sensitive to planting depth? Is this a bad idea?

Dovefromabove · October 2020

Maybe @Hostafan1 is around and can help ... it’s his specialist subject after all 😉

Fairygirl · October 2020

Have you actually got room to add more soil?
You can add a little bit, and poke the bulbs down as well, so that they're deep enough. It should be fine. It won't affect the hosta much. I often cover them a bit when in pots, as the soil level drops. I only grow one or two as they're just slug bait here.
Snowdrops and crocus don't need to be very far down either, although snowdrop bulbs aren't always successful.
If you get squirrels, they'll dig them up though, so it's worth putting a bit of chicken wire or similar over the pot until the bulbs come through.

jamesharcourt · October 2020

Fairygirl said:

Have you actually got room to add more soil?
You can add a little bit, and poke the bulbs down as well, so that they're deep enough. It should be fine. It won't affect the hosta much. I often cover them a bit when in pots, as the soil level drops. I only grow one or two as they're just slug bait here.
Snowdrops and crocus don't need to be very far down either, although snowdrop bulbs aren't always successful.
If you get squirrels, they'll dig them up though, so it's worth putting a bit of chicken wire or similar over the pot until the bulbs come through.

Thank you - the pot is fairly big and tall but it has sunk in the pot so should have space. Will give it a go :-):smile:

Fairygirl · October 2020

I think unless you're covering the whole crown with 3 or 4 inchers of soil, it should be fine. You won't need a huge depth for those bulbs.
You can always keep the additional soil mainly round the edge anyway - which is where you'd presumably be putting the bulbs.
Next year it would be worth emptying the pot and replanting everything, just to get it in better shape

jamesharcourt · October 2020

With my maples I repot every 2 or 3 years depending on how much growth.

Fairygirl · October 2020

It just refreshes the medium they're in, and is a good idea for perennials. They're reliant on our efforts when in pots

Hosta pot idea

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