Scrapbook image

Your scrapbook

Forgotten your details?

Enter your email address and we'll send your username and password to you

London

  • Partly CloudyToday
    7°C/12°C
  • Partly CloudyTomorrow
    1°C/12°C
  • See Gardeners'
    7-day forecast

Our Gardeners' 7-day forecast warns you of changing weather conditions (including frost, high wind and drought) and suggests actions to take to protect your plants.

Advertisement

Gardeners' World

Shade-lovingBold and beautiful hosta

Hosta in a pot

You will need:

  • 1 Hosta nigrescens
  • Large, glazed container
  • Crocks
  • Pebbles or gravel
  • Loam-based compost

Overview

Hostas reign supreme when it comes to striking foliage. All types look great in containers, but for something a little more unusual, try Hosta nigrescens. Its upright habit makes an eye-catching patio feature.

How to do it

  1. Putting crocks in the base of a containerChoose a container that suits the shape of your plant and put crocks in the base for drainage.

  2. Adding layer of pebbles Add a layer of pebbles or gravel to improve drainage and add weight in order to stabilise the pot.

  3. Adding compostPour in a layer of loam-based compost. This will provide nutrition for long periods and add weight to the pot.

  4. Placing plant in the potWater the plant well, remove it from its pot and pop it into its new container. The rootball should sit just below the rim.

  5. Filling the pot with compostFill around the rootball with compost, pushing it down firmly until it is level with the top of the rootball. Water regularly, adding a liquid feed every week from late spring through to late summer.

  6. Adding a layer of pebblesCover the compost and any gaps between the leaves with pebbles or ornamental mulch, then water thoroughly.

Adam's Tip's

Adam's Tip

"Choose a large, heavy terracotta or ceramic pot for greater stability."

"Plant a single hosta in a pot. A single plant will produce a more pleasing shape than a group of small ones."

Advertiser Links

Subscribe to the magazine

November edition of Gardeners' World Magazine

In November...
The November issue is on sale from 30 October. Subscribe today and receive the next three issues of Gardeners' World magazine for just £1.

The UK's number 1 gardening magazine

TV & Radio

Television icon

What's on this week

Find out what gardening programmes are on TV and radio this week. And read more about the Gardeners' World programme.

Offer

Planter

Buy three astrantia plants for £12.98.

BBC Magazines

© BBC Magazines Ltd. BBC Worldwide Ltd.

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine word mark and logo are trademarks of BBC Worldwide Ltd.

BBC Magazines is owned by the BBC and our profits are returned to the BBC for the benefit of the licence-fee payer.