Hostas are often associated with large borders and shady woodland gardens, but they're equally at home growing in pots. In fact, some of the smaller varieties are perfectly suited to container gardening, bringing beautiful foliage and texture to patios, courtyards, balconies and greenhouse displays.
If you've got a small terracotta pot sitting empty and are wondering what to plant in it, a hosta could be the perfect choice.
Why Grow Hostas in Pots?
Growing hostas in containers offers several advantages. Firstly, it allows you to enjoy these handsome foliage plants even if you don't have a garden border available. Pots also make it easier to showcase particularly attractive varieties, placing them where their leaf colour and texture can be appreciated up close.
Container growing can also help reduce slug and snail damage. While hostas will always be a favourite target for hungry molluscs, raising them off the ground and keeping a closer eye on them can make protection much easier.
Choosing the Right Hosta
Not all hostas are created equal when it comes to pot culture. Large varieties can quickly overwhelm smaller containers, so it's best to select compact or miniature cultivars.
Excellent choices include:-
Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'
Hosta 'Pandora's Box'
Hosta 'Golden Tiara'
Hosta 'Baby Bunting'
Hosta 'Fire and Ice'
These smaller varieties maintain attractive proportions and won't outgrow their containers too quickly.
Selecting the Perfect Pot
Hostas naturally enjoy moisture-retentive conditions, making terracotta an excellent choice provided the pot is large enough and watering is kept consistent.
A pot around 20-30cm wide is ideal for most miniature and small hostas. Ensure there is a drainage hole at the base and consider using pot feet to raise the container slightly off the ground, allowing excess water to escape freely.
The soft, mounding habit of hostas also pairs beautifully with the timeless shape and warm tones of traditional terracotta.
Planting Your Hosta
Fill your container with a good quality peat-free compost mixed with a small amount of garden compost or well-rotted organic matter.
When planting:
- Place a small layer of drainage material over the hole.
- Fill the pot partially with compost.
- Position the hosta so the crown sits level with the soil surface.
- Backfill around the roots and firm gently.
- Water thoroughly.
A layer of decorative gravel or fine bark can help retain moisture and finish the planting attractively.
Positioning Your Pot
Most hostas thrive in partial shade. Morning sun followed by afternoon shade is often ideal.
Varieties with blue foliage tend to prefer shadier conditions, while golden-leaved cultivars can tolerate a little more sunlight, helping to enhance their colouring.
Avoid placing pots in hot, exposed locations where compost can dry out rapidly during summer.
Watering and Feeding
Hostas dislike drying out. Containers naturally dry faster than garden soil, so regular watering is essential during the growing season.
In warm weather, daily watering may be required, particularly for terracotta pots.
Apply a balanced liquid feed every couple of weeks from spring until mid-summer to encourage strong growth and vibrant foliage.
Protecting Against Slugs and Snails
The greatest challenge when growing hostas is usually pest damage.
A few simple precautions can help:
Raise pots on feet or stands.
Use copper tape around the container.
Check regularly for slugs after rain.
Many gardeners find container-grown hostas significantly easier to protect than those planted directly in borders.
Winter Care
Hostas are fully hardy and will die back naturally in autumn before reappearing in spring.
Once the foliage has collapsed, remove any dead leaves and move smaller pots to a sheltered spot if particularly severe frosts are expected. Keep the compost slightly moist throughout winter but avoid waterlogging.
A Perfect Match for Terracotta
There's something particularly pleasing about the combination of lush hosta foliage and traditional terracotta. The cool blues, greens and variegated creams of hosta leaves contrast beautifully with the warm earthy tones of clay, creating a display that looks elegant throughout the growing season.
Whether positioned beside a doorway, on a shaded patio table, or nestled amongst a collection of pots in a courtyard garden, a small hosta in a terracotta container is one of the easiest and most rewarding planting combinations you can create.
