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Grow Hosta

HOSTA
Hosta, also known as Plantain lily is a popular shade plant that is grown primarily for its attractive foliage. Hardy in UDSA zones 3-10, this frost-hardy perennial is ideal for border plantings, large containers, and ground covers in shady areas. They also make great companion plants for early blooming bulbs because they hide the dying foliage.
Numerous cultivars range in all sizes from 6 inch tiny dwarfs to large cluster 2½ ft tall. The leaves can be dark or bright green, gold, yellow, blue, smooth, puckered or variegated and can grow up to 2½ ft long and wide.

hosta platanginea

Care: Young hosta require some pampering but once established, need little care. Plant it at the same soil level as grown in the container, in rich, moist, well drained organic soil with a ph 5.5 to 6.5. It prefers partial shade to shade (2 1/2 hrs. of morning sun and afternoon shade) and needs protection from the hot summer sun. The bluer hostas need more shade to retain a true blue color conversely; the yellow and white leaved variety require more sun to maintain a brighter color. Thicker leaved hosta will tolerate more sun compared to thin leaved variety.
Water: Give them plenty of water; they require at least 1 inch of water per week and more if grown in sandy soil. The larger leaved variety may also need more water. It’s best to water early in the day.
Feed: Fertilize in spring to mid summer at 6 week intervals (April, mid-May and July) with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. Stop feeding after July to allow the plant to harden for the winter.
Hosta bloom in midsummer on tall spikes of lavender, blue, or white tubular flowers that rise above the leaves. Both leaves and flowers can be used in floral design. When finished blooming, remove the dead stalks. Hosta platanginea (Fragrant Plantain lily) is the only hybrid that produces white fragrant flowers that smell like tuberose.

Propagation: It takes 4-8 years for a hosta to reach full size. Propagate by dividing crowded clumps in the spring when new shoots appear, in the fall after the leaves die back or in August, 30 days before the first frost. Hosta needs to be divided when it develops a the bare circle on the inside of the plant and new growth comes from the outside of the circle.

Hosta can also be started from seed but take 2-3 years to mature and will not come true (except H. ventricosa).

Troubleshooting
Slugs and snails cause large holes in the leaves
Deer will eat the leaves down to the stem; rabbits will eat new emerging shoots.
Scorched leaves- plant needs more shade
Crown rot-outer leaves wilted and yellowed
Wilted and browning leaf tips-not enough water

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25 comments to Grow Hosta

  • JOan

    When diving my Hosta and transplanting portions of it….I have transplanted an “eye” with roots and 2 with just a small root, seems to be doing fine except the ones with the small root. “Small root” meaning only one root, has witled, the others had a large root system, and seem to be doing very well…. Now, will the ones with the one root come back next year if they don’t develop a root system like the others had when transplanted? What is a good way to determine where to divide a plant that has lots of roots? Sorry to bug about the hosta but this is my first attempt at dividing a plant.

    When dividing hostas you want to get a good clump, 3 eyes is a good size which will give you a substantial root system. You can either remove a section from the perimeter without digging up the plant or you can dig up the whole plant and separate multi-shoot clusters(3 or more), making sure you include enough healthy roots and remove any dead, diseased roots. Use a sharp knife or spade to separate the divisions and replant immediately. Pamper (water)your transplants until they are established. Make sure that your hosta is large enough to divide. Although they can be divided early, ideally, the plant should be at least 3-4 years old.
    Your wilted one root will most likely die and not come back next year. /blockquote>.

  • Kimberly

    Kimberly
    Is it too early to divide hostas?

    You can divide hostas in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked and even before the ‘eyes’ on your hosta have opened. Best time is in the spring or late fall.

  • David

    Hi I have a light problem. I have been searching for a very low lite plant or plants that can be planted inside a building in a court yard that is exposes to outside temperatures. The building surrounds the court yard and the only light comes from the top of the building (12 stories). There is a roof so no direct light. Can you suggest anything that can survive cold and heat and low light. Ga area. Thank you.

    Here are some shade plants that you might consider: Hosta (plantain lily), zone 3-9; there’s a large selection to pick from. Wild ginger (Asarum Europaeum), Pachysandra terminalis, Sweet woodruff (Asperula), lily of the valley(Convallaria), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), primrose, ferns, forget-me-not and ivy . These are low growing perennnials for shady gardens. You can add some annuals for color such as coleus, begonia and impatients, depending on how much light filters in. You might also consider a rock garden and a water feature to accentuate the space.

  • Deena

    Name: Dena Harbert

    Here in Elkview, WV (southwestern WV) the deer will not eat Marigolds so I plant them around my Hostas which they love.

  • George

    > Kris, I live in zone 6 and want to plant ice crop which is approved for planting in zone 7-9. One year it survived over winter and was awesome for the summer but lost it the following year. I just love this plant. Is there a way of protecting it for winter? Or should I dig it up in fall and bring it inside? I plan to use large pots buried in ground for summer and then lifting pot in fall. Should I trim off the growth in fall or leave it alone. This is a nice spreading ground cover plant. Thanks in advance. George

    I can think of two ways to approach this situation. First, you can leave the ice plant in the ground and heavily mulch it , over the winter,hoping we will not have a harsh, cold winter. Second, you can dig up the pot and store it in an unheated garage or shed where temperatures stay between 32-40 degrees. Make sure the soil does not dry out completely. Also wrap the outside of the pot with “bubble wrap” to maintain an even temperature during storage. Trim the plant in the spring before new growth sets in.

  • Peter

    Something is eating my hosta plants. It has chewed up holes and slimy trails on the leaves. Please help!

    Sounds like you may have a slug problem. Slugs & snails love hosta.Click here for some suggestions to control slugs.

  • Joyce Dennis

    What should you do when your hostas have been damaged by a late frost?

    Unfortunately, there is not much you can do. The extent of the damage will depend on how far along your hostas were. If they are in the “eye” stage then you will have less signs of leaf browning than when fully opened. It is early in the season for your hosta to produce new leaves. Depending on how unsightly you damaged leaves are, you may want to trim them at a later date. Be sure to give it extra care this season, water and fertilize to help promote new growth.

  • Kate B.

    good information!

  • Leanne

    I woke up to find all of my Hosta plants leaves cut off. The leaves were laying beside each stem. They were cut in an upward slice. Was this deer, rabbits or vandalism? They were planted just last summer, will they grow back?

    Hi Leanne
    That must have been aggravating. I can rule out rabbits. They nibble on the new shoots. Could be deer but they usually eat the leaves. Is it possible lawn mover damage or vandalism? They should grow new leaves but the plant won’t be as full as before. When new leaves show, give them a dose of fertilizer to encourage more growth. If deer are the problem, then you need to be vigilant and spray a repellent. Hosta are a deer favorite food, once they try it they will return for more.

  • julijana

    I have a hosta in a large pot outdoors. Can I bring my plant indoors during the winter? Or should it stay outside? I live in Nebraska, and it gets pretty cold here.

    Hi Julijana
    You can move your hosta into the garage for the winter. They should be kept at 30-40% to keep the roots from freezing.

  • Kathy Beane

    My Hostas were just beautiful and we had a hail storm that rip them to shreds…..can I trim them off and will they re-grow? Thanks, Kath

    HI Kathy
    Hail storms can cause a lot of damage to hosta leaves. As heartbreaking as it may seem, I would leave them at this time. The shredded leaves can still produce food and have some value, especially if they are new plants. Your hostas should send out some new leaves and a dose of fertilizer will encourage a flush of new growth. Then you can trim your unsightly damaged leaves.

  • Tremaine

    I’m a newcomer to the Mega World of Gardening ; )

    I bought a package of Hosta bulbs about 7 months ago. Ignorant to the rules of planting Hostas… I separated each bulb into its own container – creating 3 plants. They began growing very well and within weeks I had 3, very big, clover-like Hostas. A couple months later I got a puppy who was very intrigued with Hostas and he munched all 3 plants. Since then my clover-like trio has turned into a pitiful sight = (
    I’ve also placed these plants outside in full ray of the sun hoping that this might encourage growth � BAD IDEA – I�ve learned! The leaves seem to be gradually shriveling inward towards the stem.
    Is there any hope left for my poor Hostas? Please help because I’d love to plant them in my flowerbed someday!

    Hi Tremaine
    Hosta a relatively easy to grow provided you give them the right environment. They really prefer to be in semi-shade to shade and slightly moist rich soil. If in too much sun they will suffer and never really take of. Fortunately, hosta’s can be transplanted almost all season long but its better in spring and fall. Transplant them to a shaded area now in a well-drained fertilie soil with added compost. Keep it well watered during the summer so it can send out some new growth before they go dormant.

  • Torry Berg

    I have a hosta called the “Love Pat”. I transplanted it. Now the deep green leaves have lime colored plotches in them. Is it too much sun or am I watering it too much? It is getting the same amount of light as before.

    Hi Torry
    Your hosta is adjusting to transplanting. Once it’s acclimated the new leaves will change. Make sure it has enough water during this time.

  • Mary McCarthy

    Our hostas are looking so healthy this season and have tall flowers blooming. Our question is: we want our hostas to grow in size as soon as possible. Can that be achieved by cutting the flowers off, or should we leave them to die naturally? Thank you

    Hi Mary
    Removing the flower stalks the first year of planting will encourage the plant to grow more roots and a healthier crown for next year instead of producing seeds.

  • Britney

    Can I take hostas from my yard, put them in pots, and make them houseplants indoors?

    Hi Britney
    Hosta needs a cold dormant period to grow year after year, therefore may not make a good houseplant but can be grown as an outdoor container plant.
    I have not tried it, but it would be worth a try.

  • Ray

    I have grown Hostas in pots on my north-east facing balcony (22nd floor) in southern Ontario. Now that the nights are cooler, I would like to know what steps to take for the winter. Can I leave them outside? If yes, how do I protect the roots from freezing? Any info on wintering my hostas would be a great help.
    Thanks!

    Hi Ray
    You can leave your hosta outside but you’ll have to protect the roots from freezing. Once the leaves die back and the soil is starting to freeze put 2-3″ of mulch on top of the soil to keep the plant from heaving. Wrap the container with some insulation like bubble wrap and place it in a cardboard box or a cooler when temps are consistently below 30 degrees.

  • Jennifer

    Hello, I have two hostas in my backyard which were never transplanted this year. Should I plant them now (I live in Montreal QC) or should I bring them inside, put them in big pots, and try in the spring? They are still very healthy.
    thanks in advance,
    Jennifer

    Hi Jennifer
    Plant your hosta in the ground as soon as you can. Fall is a good time to do this. After a hard freeze cover them with 3″ mulch to protect the roots.

  • joanne

    Help, I need to know if I’ve done irreparable damage by cutting back my 2 large well established hosta too early. They were at the point of almost being at decaying point w/ very limp leaves but the stalks were still somewhat upright.

    Hi Joanne
    Your hosta will be fine. In early fall hostas are ready to go dormant and most of the nutrients have already gone to the roots. They will return bigger and better next year

    .

  • Ray

    Hi,
    When is the best time to re-pot hostas? Since temperatures are now above 0C, can I remove the protective wrap they’ve been in during winter?
    Thanks!

    Yes, you can remove the protecitive wrap and re-pot at this time.

  • Latesha Harris

    I had 2 hostas 1 did not grow good and after a while it diminished into the ground. The other was a good size and last year it dimished into the ground too. I want to know was something eating them in the ground or did it just die? What do you think about small black ants in the soil? Could they be eating my hostas and other plants/flowers?>

    HI Latesha
    I doubt that something ate your hosta into the ground unless it was deer. You would notice that, and if they did, your hosta would get smaller each year. I would suspect poor growing conditions which could weaken the plant making them susceptible to disease. Black ants would not eat the hostas and other plants.

  • Leslie Harrell

    Hello, I am a beginner at planting hostas. I would like to plant my hostas on the side of my house, but there is a colony of red ants. Would it be ok or what should I do? I also planted some in the front of the home, some are growing, and look they are dying with a light brownish crisp texture. Some of them don’t look like they are growing at all. What’s wrong?

    Hi Leslie
    If you can get past the ants then you can plant your hostas. Your planted hostas may be getting too much sun causing the crisp texture sun scald. Some types of hostas tolerate less sun than others.

  • stor208my

    Can I polish the leaves on my hosta plants?

    Unless you are using them in an arrangement as a cut leaf, I would not polish the leaves. Polish can clog up the stomata.

  • Birdie

    Repeatedly in this thread, I have read that Hosta will send up new leaves when the old ones are damaged. I’m in zone 2b/3a, and that has not been my experience to date, with slug/deer/hail damage. Could you expand? Do you mean they will send up new leaves until the middle of their normal growing season for example? Or in zones warmer than 3? Or do you truly mean that Hosta send up new leaves until their fall dormancy is pending?

    Hi Birdie
    Usually, when a hosta plant is damaged from hail, it will send out new growth from the center of the plant as long as the root system is healthy and its early in the growing season (Spring-e. Summer). This also depends on how well established the plant is. Once you get to mid-summer, they may have used up all their reserves and may not send out new growth until next year. Keep whatever leaves you have stress free-making sure they get enough moisture and nutrients for the rest of the growing season.

  • B J Kiehl

    When removing the stems after Hosta bloom – is it necessary to wait until the stems turn brown or can they be cut off sooner? Thank you. BJK

    Hi BJ
    Some people for aesthetic reason prefer not to have the blooms. The hosta bloom can be cut off sooner. You don’t have to wait for them to turn brown.

  • Stephie B

    I planted my hostas in too much sun! They faded from the rich green to a sickly yellow and some of the leaves have been browning! Help! What do I do?

    Hi Stephie
    If your hosta is planted in the wrong place, my suggestion would be to move it to a shadier area. You can do this in the fall or next spring. If kept in too much sun, it will struggle every year.

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