- Down to -25 °C - that's the minimum!
- Some hostas prefer to protect from freezing cold
- The foliage serves as winter protection
- Remove old plant parts after the winter and take good care of them
Its leaves look like they have come from a tropical rainforest. Their heyday is short-lived. Nevertheless, the hosta is extremely popular with German gardeners. Is it hardy enough or does it need to be overwintered?
Hostas can easily cope with temperatures down to -25°C
Down to -25 °C - that's the minimum!
Hostas originally come mostly from Japanese forest regions. They tolerate frost with bravura. In this country they are considered to be very hardy. In unprotected locations, most hostas can withstand temperatures down to -20 °C. In sheltered locations, they can cope with temperatures down to -25 °C. However, this is their absolute minimum!
Some hostas prefer to protect from freezing cold
But not all hostas are guaranteed to survive the winter time unscathed. Specimens newly planted in autumn should be protected in their first winter as they have not had time to take root properly. Hostas that are in pots on the balcony or roof terrace, for example, also need winter protection.
A protective layer of fleece and a location on the wall of the house can be helpful for potted plants. Outdoor hostas are protected, for example, with the following materials:
- bark mulch
- compost
- fir branches
- foliage layer
The foliage serves as winter protection
Your own foliage can also overwinter the hostas. For this you should not cut off the withered leaf dress in autumn. Leave it on the plant. It eventually falls off and covers the root area. Although it will turn brown and possibly mushy, it has a frost protection function for the hosta.
Remove old plant parts after the winter and take good care of them
When winter has passed, hostas will look 'old' if you don't pay attention to them. Therefore it says:
- Remove winter protection (by April at the latest)
- pour more again
- Cut off or remove old plant parts completely (usually the majority is rotted)
- Fertilize with compost or, for potted plants, with liquid fertilizer
- divide and propagate before new shoots
tips
Hostas need a lot of moisture. Even in winter, the substrate in which they are stuck should not dry out! If necessary, water sparingly!