Knowledgebase

Do my hostas have HVX? #760926

Asked July 09, 2021, 8:50 PM EDT

I have several hostas I'm concerned about having HVX. Can you help me with determining this? I'm in Eastern Oregon (Umatilla County, Umatilla) and they've had to suffer through this heat like the rest of us. Can you help me?

Umatilla County Oregon

Expert Response

It looks like your Hostas are suffering from heat stress. Be careful not to water them in excess.

Although hosta plants are touted as shade lovers, their sunlight requirements vary widely. Successfully growing hostas in the shade depends on color. Hosta leaves come in a variety of greens, ranging from a color so deep it’s called blue to a light chartreuse to a soft creamy white.

A good rule of thumb for the placement and care of hostas is the lighter the foliage, the brighter the sun. The deeper darker foliage retains it color best in moderate shade. The variegated varieties need more sunlight to keep their white and gold stripes. All hostas need some shade and few, if any, will do well in strong direct sunlight. They will fully mature in four to eight years.

For the best care of hostas, plant them in rich organic soil with a slightly acidic pH. You’ll only have to do it once. Dig the planting hole about a foot (.3 m.) deep, and wide enough to accommodate the spread of a full sized plant. This will make it easier for the roots to establish a foothold and begin their horizontal spread.

In spite of their almost tropical look, hostas are rugged and once established, they tolerate almost any soil and will grow for years.

When discussing how to grow hostas, drainage is most important. Dormant season crown rot is one of the few diseases that attack these plants. Good hosta care requires good drainage. When newly planted, keep the roots moist, not wet. Once established, hosta plants aren’t fussy and are very tolerant of summer drought.

Chris Rusch Replied July 12, 2021, 11:14 PM EDT

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