Jack’s Hostas FAQs
Quality Hostas from Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Here at Jack’s Hostas I get lots of questions, and my goal is to provide answers to those questions to the best of my knowledge. Hostas are some of the most popular landscape plants,especially in shady areas of the garden.
Can hostas grow in the sun? Should I fertilize hosta plants? You can find these and other questions on this page.
Should I fertilize my hosta plants?
Hostas are low-maintenance plants and do not necessarily need fertilization. However, periodic and proper fertilization can yield excellent results. At the time of planting, you may opt for starter fertilizers, which are high in phosphorus that help root growth. Usage instructions depend on the brand you select and are usually mentioned in the accompanying manual. For established plants, go for 10-10-10, slow-release fertilizer; restrict fertilizer usage to 1 pound per 100 sq. ft
Where do hostas come from?
Hostas come mostly from Japan and a few from China. These are what are called the species plants. Today with hybridizing we have many variants.
Do hostas come in different sizes?
Hostas come in many different sizes, from mini to as small as an inch, to extra large. The largest of them could be 4 feet tall and 6 feet around. They are a multipurpose plant that should work in almost any landscape.
Can I landscape with hosta plants?
Why yes, hostas make lovely landscape plants. They can be planted as a few, or many. However an interesting landscape has many other items: trees, shrubs, and accent pieces such as rocks or statues. Being that the hosta is perennial, and they come back every year, you might just add a few other perennials or annuals for interest.
Do hostas have colors?
Hosta plants come in green, yellow, blue and variegated. A blue hosta has wax on it, and if rubbed, or if it gets too much sun, it will become green. Do not rub a blue hosta. As for a variegated hosta, it will have an edge color that is different from the center color.
What about hosta flowers?
If you want seeds, keep the flowers. Remember that the seeds will generally give you generic green plants that do not resemble the mother. Hybridizing is an art!
Flowers are for seed production. Unless you plan to hybridize the hosta, cut off the scapes if you wish. The odds of getting a new and marketable plant are in the thousands.
Can I divide my hosta?
This is usually best done in early spring when the hosta is just a few inches tall. Do this if the hosta is becoming too large for your landscape design. Using a sharp knife, use the tip and break the crown from the top down. (Cutting damages roots.) A tip is to take the crown out of the ground and hose it off.
Do hostas have any enemies?
Deer like to eat hosta like its a salad, and rabbits love to just cut them down. Voles will burrow under them and eat their roots. Slugs will chew holes in the leaves. Use Milorganite for the deer and rabbits or Liquid Fence. They both hate blood products.
Do hostas have any diseases?
Hostas unfortunately have slugs and virus X as their enemies. With the virus, you must destroy the plant. For slugs, spray some vinegar on the plant at the rate of 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water to kill the slugs. Spray this every t to 10 days throughout the life cycle of the hosta should you see slugs. Do this on a cooler evening and put the spray right down the center of the plant. There are also several pellet products that work. However, the good ones are chemical and contain at least 3% metaldehyde.
“Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years.” ~ Unknown