Hostas, in general, are a very hardy group of perennials, once established, and need very little care. The exception to the rule is the Hostas that fall into the group of Miniatures, which also include the very small Hostas.
What is a miniature Hosta?
In 2010, the American Hosta Society (AHS) defined a miniature Hosta as having leaves that are no greater than about 6 square inches (39 square cm) in size after five years of good growth. The petiole, or leaf stem, is not counted. The height and width of the clump are not regulated.
More recently we tend to include the eventual height and spread as part of the classification. It makes life easier for the nurseryman at point of sale. A suggestion of a spread of about 12” and a height of between 4” & 8”. This is just a guide, as there will be exceptions.
Miniature and small Hostas are what they say… a much smaller version of the larger Hostas. They have the same colours, variegations and flower colours as the bigger ones.
They are as hardy as the larger varieties, but because of their size, their growth rate is usually slower, and they may need just that little more attention, particularly when younger.
There are many reasons to grow little miniature Hostas and they are all just as valid and important as any other.
But here are few popular reasons people often give:
They don’t take up a lot of space and are easy to plant and manage.
They need minimal resources for care, as they do not have a lot of bulk to maintain.
Works well with many garden designs and styles as foliage plants.
Adaptability to smaller gardens is hard to surpass.
Add a pop of colour easily to gardens and fill in dark or empty areas.
Unique foliage sizes, colours, and textures offer a dramatic flair to any garden space.
Interesting conversation pieces thanks to their unique colour and shape.
Easy to care for and perfect for low maintenance and low fuss home gardens.
The very nature of a miniature Hosta, is that they will be very small. That said some varieties are extremely teeny tiny. From such a small root structure it is amazing that so little, can produce so much plant growth. They are not much to look at, particularly in the dormant season, but are perfectly heathy plants, and with the right care they will put on a great show.
Where should you plant them?
They have the same requirements as the larger Hostas, in respect of soil conditions, levels of shade, nutrition and watering.
They can indeed be planted in borders, but as small or miniature, you would tend to plant them at the front of the border.
Sadly, these delicate little plants do tend to suffer from the competition from the larger plants, for water, food and light. Generally, they will usually suffer because they can’t compete fairly.
My preference for miniature Hostas is to be displayed in pots or containers, sometimes singly or even as a group. This means that there is nothing to compete with, other than other miniatures.
Having them in containers also means that you can see them better. They are not hidden under any foliage. They can also be moved to another location, at any time of year, without having to dig them up.
Take a quick look at my video about planting miniatures in a small trough.
The compost can be controlled in a pot. My compost is a mix of home-grown leaf mould & garden compost, as well as proprietary compost, mixed with a good amount of horticultural grit, probably 30% or more, for good drainage. Everyone will have their own favourite mix. That’s fine too.
Planting them singly, an individual pot should only be a little bigger than the plant itself. They do not like over large pots as they grow very slowly and will suffer trying to fill a pot with roots, that is far too large.
Once planted, covering the pots with a layer of horticultural grit will help in several areas. It will mulch the surface reducing weed growth. It will help hold in any moisture given when watering, but I think the real benefit is that it stops any soil splashing on to the foliage when watering. Who wants Hostas covered in dirt?
Leave enough room between the surface of the compost/grit and the top of the pot, to allow for watering.
You may need to split every 3-4 years depending on the variety. Something like H. Blue Mouse Ears will be happy to split in 3-4 years yet a slower growing variety such as H. Pierced Mouse Ears, may take longer, perhaps as much as 6 years.
Feed them, in their pots, with a balanced fertilizer 10-10-10, at least once a year, preferably in the Spring, but never in the Autumn. It goes without saying, keep them watered well. The well drained compost dries out a little quicker than standard compost, but do not over-water. They cannot cope with their feet in water for very long.
During the winter, when your miniatures are dormant, if they have been in the pot 1 yr or less, they will benefit from a little shelter from the worst of the winter weather. Just put them in a sheltered corner or under overhanging shrub foliage until the are ready to burst forward again. Pots that are established will be perfectly OK left wherever they are. Do not, I repeat, do not, put them in a garage or indoors. Just like the larger sized Hostas, they need their period of dormancy in the winter. Have faith. They will be fine.
Your miniature Hostas need to be shown off, after all they weren’t cheap to buy, so let’s look after them and get the best view of them.
Create an area so that they can be seen easily, perhaps in pots of different heights, or even colours.
Remember, you need access to the pots for weeding, watering feeding etc, so don’t put them where you can’t see them or get to them easily.
My collection of miniature and small Hostas are very dear to me, and I will always take that little bit more care to look after them.
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John Plant
Rewela Hostas
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