How do I make my hostas bigger?

Hosta plants are the low work, super easy, perennial plants of the north. In the below photo you see two of my absolute favorite hostas; Hosta ‘Guacamole’ on the left and Hosta ‘idontknowwhaththeheckthisis’ — yep, I’m a classic gardener just like you and I sometimes lose or forget what my plants are called. I believe the plant on the right is ‘Blue Angel’, but I’m not for certain. I have a total fascination for larger hosta varieties and have picked up some tricks over the years for increasing the size of the leaf during the growing season.

Tips for Making Hosta Leaves Bigger

• Variety — #1 tip — if you want a larger hosta leaf, get a hosta that has naturally large leaves. Top “large” varieties I love include; Blue Angel, Blue Mammoth, Empress Wu, Komodo Dragon, Sum and Substance, and T Rex.
• Planting — Plant in super rich, organic soil. Amend soil if needed – my favorite amendment for hosta is composted manure.
• Feeding — Test your soil and see what the soil is lacking – add as recommended. Hosta plants like to be fed and adding blood meal fertilizer to the soil on top of your traditional organic fertilizer amendments surrounding the plant will give it extra nitrogen. This nitrogen will help the leaves get and stay larger.
• Schedule — Fertilize at the first of the season, then again a second time 4 to 6 weeks after the leaves emerge to give the leaves an extra nudge
• Watering — Water regularly at the base of the plant. Hosta survive well in drought and I rarely water the plants, depending on Mother Nature to water them with rain. However, once in a while I want to give a hosta a growing boost. Drown the plant thoroughly once a week with a heavy watering. I water until the ground is saturated, then come back with a hose two hours later and water again until the ground is saturated again. Wait a week, then repeat the process.
• Light — While hostas are known as shade plants, they do indeed like sun. Full sun will burn the plants leaves in the heat of summer. Part sun or part shade will do very well for a hosta and you will notice that the leaves get larger in a semi-sunny location if it is regularly watered and fertilized. Prevent leaf scorch by giving it more water than if it were planted in shadier spots.

If you notice that your hosta leaves are mysteriously getting smaller year after year, even on the plant varieties that are supposed to be larger, there’s a good chance that something else is sucking the water and nutrition away from the plant. In my garden, the number one culprit has buried tree roots from our maple trees. If a hosta is planted directly on top of an active tree root, the tree takes all the energy it can and there is nothing left for the hosta. My suggestion would be to dig up the hosta and relocate it. Hosta plants are generally low-maintenance and grow well in garden zones 3 to 8, preferring a winter break seasonally.

We all want to take a good thing and make it bigger. After all, that is the governing philosophy behind the vaunted “super-size” option at our favorite fast-food outlet.

This impulse, taken into the garden, has us looking at our hearty hostas and wondering what it might take to make these beautiful perennials grow even bigger.

Full, lush hostas foliage has the potential to fill your yard with color and coverage, but making those hostas reach their full potential is easier said than done.

That being said, however, there are a number of steps that can be taken to help guarantee that your hostas will grow bigger and fuller.

How to Make Your Hostas Grow Bigger?

Making your hostas grow bigger starts with placing them in an area with indirect sunlight. These plants are very thirsty, so a long, slow soak that delivers an inch of water a week is highly appreciated. Finally, owing to the availability of large and giant-sized hostas, you can tailor your selection to grow plants that are guaranteed to be big.

Correct Planting and Proper Spacing

Having broad, lush hostas dotting your landscape means giving those hostas enough room to grow into broad, lush plants.

In terms of planting, begin by carefully considering where these leafy beauties will best thrive. Create a hole that’s as deep as the hostas in the pot before placing it.

Carefully backfill with dirt before lightly tamping down the soil. Once tamped, apply a layer of mulch across the top before giving the plant a healthy dose of water.

Also, when it comes to placing your hostas, you will want to do so with an eye towards giving each plant the lateral space it needs to grow robustly.

While we will look at plant size below, as a rule of thumb when it comes to spacing, give your large hostas 30 to 36-inches of space (76-91,4 cm).

Medium hostas should be afforded between 12 and 18 inches (30,5-45,7cm) of available room, while small hostas should do well with 6 to 8 inches (15,2-20,3cm) of space.

Ideal Lighting Conditions to Grow Your Hostas

As mentioned above, advanced consideration when planting your hostas is important.

The amount of available light they will receive each day should be your utmost consideration. Generally speaking, this species of plant prefers a dappled sunlight experience.

As such, to encourage a robust growth cycle you will need to find a balance of sunlight and shade.

Hostas do not respond well to direct sunlight, so find a place that offers late afternoon shade.

Note that hostas come in a myriad of species and those that show green and blue hues will respond better in deeper shade, while yellow and gold varieties will prefer more sunlight as a rule.

Hostas Like Their Water

We plant hostas in our gardens because we love those big leafy leaves, and getting those big leafy leaves require a great deal of water.

To achieve big bustling plants that grow big in your garden, make sure that you give them a generous supply of water.

Throughout the growing season, you will want to provide a slow soaking of water at approximately an inch per week.

For best results, a deep soaking leaves your hostas happy rather than a series of lesser soakings.

As mentioned, hostas like their water, so after planting your plants always apply a layer of mulch to leverage those long soaks into a water haven for your hostas.

To keep your soil moist while adding nutrients to the soil, mulching is an excellent way to achieve this feat.

If it is the type of mulch that breaks down and rots, you will want to make sure that that mulch is not directly touching your plant at the risk of root rot signaling that moment when your plant is tired of drinking water.

Go Big or Go Home with a Giant Hostas

If you are looking for a way to grow your hostas into a big old brute in your yard, you might as well start with a hostas variety that is halfway to the goal.

Luckily, when casting around about big hostas varieties you will find your answer in the name.

Giant hostas are ideal for covering sprawling sections of your garden, or corners of your yard requiring a large amount of coverage.

Varieties of the species that are a fan favorite for gardeners of all stripes include the Gentle Giant Hostas, Blue Angel Hosta, and Hosta Victory just to name a few.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding How To Make Hostas Grow Bigger

Why are there holes in my hosta leaves?

The dirty secret about hostas plants is that we are not the only ones who enjoy them. Large irregular-sized holes in your leaves are an indication that an unwanted pest is feasting on your plant. Slugs, snails, and grasshoppers are all likely to think that they hit the insect lottery once they catch sight of your yard.

What causes hostas scorch?

Hostas foliage that yellows and scorches on the margins of the plant indicate that the plant is a victim of too much sunlight. Termed hostas scorch, this condition can also arise when the hosta is planted in poor soil conditions. The plants flourish in soil enriched with organic matter.

In the Right Conditions, Your Hostas can Become Huge!

When it comes to growing big full hostas in your yard, the sky is the limit when you take the time to plan their planting.

Ensure that they will receive the proper amount of dappled sunlight, combined with the life-saving water they need to thrive, and you will be surprised how big these plants can become in your backyard.

Daniel Iseli

Taking care of houseplants and gardening are my greatest passions. I am transforming my apartment into an urban jungle and am growing veggies in my indoor and outdoor garden year-round.

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