I'm moving out of state on Monday, and want to take a few of my Hosta with me. I'd don't want to pot them up unless I have to because of the lack of room I'm going to have. Will they do okay in plastic bags that aren't tied shut, and I'll leave some dirt on them? I plan to get them planted again as soon as we get to the new house.

Thanks for any help!

If you wrap the roots in wet newspaper or paper-towels, then put the root of the Hosta in the plastic bag with a tie or rubberband around the roots, so they stay moist and the top gets air. If the roots are long you can fold the gently after the wrapping.

Here is a nice example from a mail-order company.

Thanks Susan! Looks perfect! I forgot to ask if I should trim the foliage back some, but I see that I can leave it. I really appreciate the help!

virginiarose said:If you wrap the roots in wet newspaper or paper-towels, then put the root of the Hosta in the plastic bag with a tie or rubberband around the roots, so they stay moist and the top gets air. If the roots are long you can fold the gently after the wrapping.

Here is a nice example from a mail-order company.

and, if you have monster-sized clumps with lots of dirt (mine come out in big clay blocks ), you can just pack them in a box or a tub just as they are. They'll be okay for a day or two, if they don't get too hot. Maybe carry a jug of water and a hand-mister along for the ride...just in case. The mister will be for your peace-of-mind, the plants probably won't need it.

Thanks chelle! I just dug up a monster clump, and was scratching my head. I wasn't about to try and get the dirt off the roots and divide and wrap it (no time!), so it's in an oversized grocery bag. I figured if it survives, fine. If it doesn't, I'll survive. It has plenty of dirt on it so it should be fine. It's going to be nice and cool for the trip, so I'm not too worried about things overheating. I remembered earlier that I've bought hosta bare root before (shriveled up and dead looking too!), and they did okay, so I'm probably stressing out over nothing.

These are just special hostas to me. The ones that I'm taking with me came from the neighbor who dug them from their grandparents yard when they died, and they wanted me to have them. They are very special friends, and I want to take them with me for sentimental reasons more than anything. I divided them two weeks ago and gave half of them back, as they wanted them to remember me by. It's a crazy way to remember people, moving plants back and forth, but it works for me!

Don't worry Natalie...most of my 90 or so hosta were either shipped with plastic bags around their roots Or put into
WalMart bags with some dirt on their roots and they were fine Lost a couple due to weather change

I have received Hostas in Walmart bags in the mail, no problem. Another good tip is to water them with a diluted miracle-grow solution and it will prevent them from going into shock, just in-case they get stressed out.

Susan, I think I might take a bath in a diluted miracle grow solution because I'm stressed out!

Shannon!!!

Natalie, it only works for plants! Sorry, you are stressed out.

Now you tell me!!! I'm short, and I could swear I was starting to grow just a tiny bit! Must have been my imagination!

I honestly don't know why I'm so stressed out. This is our 18th move, so I'm used to moving. My husband retired from the Navy, so it was a fact of life for us. I can't wait to get to the new house we've bought, so I'm excited about that. I think I'm just getting too dang old to enjoy moving! That, and I have at least 1,000 plants that I'd love to move with me, but most of them have to stay behind. We have a lot of land at the new place, but no flower beds to speak of. I think maybe it's because we've just put this house on the market today, and maybe I'm worried that it won't sell right away. I know it will sell fast, but probably not fast enough for me. I just want to get the selling part over with, but it will be so much easier if we're not living in it and having to show it to people. Hey, I'm no longer stressed out!

Natalie - good luck with the move and when you get settled in, let people know what you need. I bet people will be willing to send some divisions to you. I know I would if I didn't have an International border between us.

Ann, that is so sweet of you to even think that way! Plant lovers are the nicest people! I think I'll be okay since I'm taking a lot of plants. Just not the 1,000 or more that I'd like to take. When I was at the new house in March, I scattered well over 100,000 wildflower seeds, so at least I'll have those to look forward to! I've got another 200 to 300 thousand more the spread when I get back, so I'll get some color going fast. The rest will take some time, and I've got nothing but time!

I am happy to report that my hostas made the move just fine, and they are as happy as I am with their new home! They actually grew some while stuck in plastic bags too, which was a surprise! I left plenty of dirt on them, and kept them watered, and they seem to be happy as ever, and bigger than ever!

Whoohooo!! I love a happy ending,...and happy hostas. I got a box of daylilies from Floyd Cove and was shocked to see they had grown three inches while in a box! I still can't comprehend that.

That's crazy, but good!!

I LOVE the iris in your photo!! Now that I have over 12 acres, I'll be able to plant more iris! I gave up my obsession with them when I got the daylily obsession, but now I can have whatever I want! I just don't have enough shade yet for a million hosta! But, I'll work on that!

When we bought this house it was nothing but hot blazing sun out back and we could not stand to be in the yard. Also the 6 foot wooden privacy fence blocked any breeze and held in the humidity. I planted a Cherry Tree (Yoshino) because they grow fast and we have nice shade now but also the Birch Trees have gotten huge so might still be able to squeeze in another hundred or so under those, we shall see. LOL
Thanks for the compliment about the Iris, I bought 30 last year and made up a small Iris garden but it already needs to be widened. Like the Daylily Beds. I have a little of everything here on a corner lot in the city. If I had 12 acres, watch out!! The good thing is that most of the stuff we buy will multiply and can be divided over the years to make more and more plants.

Sadly, I had to leave most of my plants behind, but that just means I can start fresh. I crowded things too much, but it was pretty. I haven't been here in the summer yet, but I hear it gets blazing hot. I'm just glad that there is no humidity And. we live in a river canyon, so I think the wind blows a lot. That will help when it gets really hot.. At least I know how to work with these conditions, since it was the same in Utah. But, it's much lower in elevation here, so the winters aren't as bad. I'm looking forward to being able to plant new things that were out of my zone before! Now if I could just figure out where to put all these new beds I'll need, I can get started! Oh, and I need some shade!

Plant a tree first. Get something nice for yourself. (what is your new zone?)