Comments on: Grow Hosta

By: Stephie B

Stephie B — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:10:57 +0000

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.

By: B J Kiehl

B J Kiehl — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:23:22 +0000

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.

By: Birdie

Birdie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:34:38 +0000

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.

By: stor208my

stor208my — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:34:35 +0000

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.

By: Leslie Harrell

Leslie Harrell — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:09:35 +0000

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.

By: Latesha Harris

Latesha Harris — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:02:30 +0000

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.

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:02:50 +0000

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.

By: joanne

joanne — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:58:41 +0000

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

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:02:35 +0000

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.

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:20:07 +0000

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.