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Give Hosta Its Own Niche


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Give Hosta Its Own Niche - green and white hosta growing next to tree trunkHosta is said to be a shade loving plant. However, it will grow in full sun, sometimes producing large plants. I've seen long rows of huge plants placed where they get full sun all day.

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There is an advantage though, of planting Hosta where it receives little full sun and mostly indirect or dappled sunlight. Strong sunlight has a bleaching effect on hosta leaves, causing them to look pale and less healthy.

Hostas planted in shadier locations tend to have more lush foliage with more intense colors. And planting them in shade means their root systems can be kept at a more moist level, something they benefit from having.

Young, tender hosta leaves are prized by slugs. Action should be taken to prevent their damage as soon as the leaves begin to emerge from the soil. I have tried many methods. Beer in a lid was totally ineffective.

To prevent my hosta from looking like Swiss cheese, I apply Bug Getta around the plants as soon as I see leaves. It's sort of expensive, but a little does go a long way. And of course it should be re-applied after a hard rain.

I have several hostas, both plain and variegated. I'm still looking for a pure blue. I saw a box of blue plants at Lowe's, but I would not buy them. The blue appeared intense on the package picture, but there were no variety names. I like to know what I'm growing and as a rule don't buy unnamed varieties of anything.

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April 18, 20170 found this helpful

i love my Hosta also but only grow it in the shade and the colors keep changing. I'm going to try your suggestion about controlling the slugs (they have the right name). Mine are planted around my fish pond and I do have large bird families that love these slug suckers so I have a little lively help once in a while.
Thanks for the name - I will check stores this coming week as time is of the essence.
Betty

 
Anonymous
April 18, 20170 found this helpful

I don't know how long the active ingredient in Bug Getta remains active or how long it or any residual byproducts may linger in the soil. Do read all precautions on the label, particularly if there is any chance of it contaminating the fish pond.

 
August 29, 20220 found this helpful

I planted hostas in a container and they thrived most of early summer, but now - every morning I see another one or two leaves with a big hole chewed in them!! I only have 6 leaves left and 2 of those have huge holes!!

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What stops this FAST?

 

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April 19, 20170 found this helpful

Thanks for the information - I will be careful as I love my fish. I did lose a few to a "naughty" hawk but planted more cover so that took care that.

 

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May 14, 20170 found this helpful

Bug Geta is nice in that it has no scent. It is granular and can be shaken directly from the bag. Its only downside is its cost.

I tried something different this year. I keep Malathion for spraying roses, butterfly bushes and such.

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While spraying these, I decided to try using it on Hosta. It works just as well as Bug Geta and at a tiny fraction of the cost. It did no harm to the hosta. It does stink for a while (hours).

 

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May 25, 20170 found this helpful

I did not purchase the Bug Geta as my son told me he would take care of the any slugs the birds did not find.
We also use Malathion so I'm going to ask him to mix me up some so I will have it on hand as my Hosta plants are beautiful and I do not want an invasion overnight. Smell I can deal with.
thanks for the feedback.

 
Anonymous
May 25, 20170 found this helpful

One of the tricks when you get your blue hosts is to plant it in the shade. As you have discovered, they can do well in sun but that will definitely take away the blue tone.

 

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June 10, 20170 found this helpful

Just because a Hosta has its own niche, doesn't mean it's antisocial. It does appreciate the presence of other Hostas nearby. If you had only one plant, you could divide it in two. That way, each half could be company to half of its former self. Would that arrangement be just as pleasing to the Hostas?

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We still know so little.

(If you are ever bored silly, look up an article on the social life of plants. Then read. Truth that is far stranger than fiction can pick you up and out of the doldrums in a skinny minute).

 
 

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