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Post by wendya on Apr 18, 2015 13:00:40 GMT
I have had a hosta for a few years now, which i brought on to my balcony, I keep looking at info on hostas but cant seem to find any that say anything about what I need to know.
So new thread again sorry.
Last year it was perfect and flowered and seemed very happy, now I wasn't sure if Hosta die back, but this one did not,, it lost a lost of stalks as was quite beaten by the wind, its rather leggy now and doesn't seem happy. There are new shoots coming up, all the hostas around here that are in tubs seem perfect and not leggy, is it because the pot is big for it, ? im sure i heard something about this>but maybe i imagined it. Waiting for my camera to charge up to post a pic.
Should i have cut it back? no others seem to have been cut back around the area and they look fine. Im thinking also maybe its tall as its on a balcony and needs too look for the light?
Im sure its not a bug or anything in it.
Can anyone help please?
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Post by wendya on Apr 18, 2015 13:08:51 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Apr 18, 2015 17:03:33 GMT
wendya, -I don't think that is a Hosta - I think you have Elephants Ear - a Colocasia...possibly Esculenta!! Let me ask Tig on this... If it is a Colocasia then that is great but is doesn't react like a Hosta..
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Post by Tig on Apr 18, 2015 19:45:04 GMT
When you say it flowered well last year wendya what did they flowers look like? Were they like this?  |
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Post by andy on Apr 19, 2015 5:07:33 GMT
That's definately not a Hosta, Wendy. As Rosefriend says, Colocasia or possibly Zantedeschia
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Post by Rosefriend on Apr 19, 2015 6:06:41 GMT
As Andy also says, it could be Zantedeschia - if so it will have flowers similar to these - can be others colours though..  |
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Post by andy on Apr 19, 2015 7:30:56 GMT
The only reason i doubted Colocasia Rosefriend, is that they don't often flower and I didn't think they were hardy, although on a balcony, they may be a bit more sheltered.
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Post by wendya on Apr 19, 2015 8:12:25 GMT
Yes thats it those white flowers above Rosefriend pic, so its not an hosta? |
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Post by Rosefriend on Apr 19, 2015 8:24:12 GMT
Yes thats it those white flowers above Rosefriend pic, so its not an hosta? No it's a Zantedeschia as Andy says...I am going to pass you onto Tig, andy, as I am only getting German google sites and they are mostly houseplants here as against the UK... It needs to be cut back etc but as it is now late I wonder if it can be left and just given some tlc etc... |
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Post by Rosefriend on Apr 19, 2015 8:30:35 GMT
The only reason i doubted Colocasia Rosefriend, is that they don't often flower and I didn't think they were hardy, although on a balcony, they may be a bit more sheltered. Certainly not hardy enough here Andy - I take mine out each winter but now have quite a few tubers (whatever they are called) - over 30 this year which get bigger and bigger - I absolutely adore them. I have never managed to get one to flower - Tig has though - Aug 2014!!  |
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Post by andy on Apr 19, 2015 8:43:32 GMT
Yes thats it those white flowers above Rosefriend pic, so its not an hosta? Here we go Wendy www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=177I grow mine as a marginal in about 6" of water. They do well in pots but must have pretty rich, moist soil. A good clump can get to 3 foot wide in a few years in favourable conditions. |
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Post by wendya on Apr 19, 2015 9:14:20 GMT
So i should have cut back  but must admit this plant has never been cut back as i actually got given this off a lady that died, it was always just sat in the forecourt and really not looked after at all. Has flowered every year, i really thought i had a pic but cant find it now. There are lots of them round here and i must admit non are cut back? Im not sure what you mean andy about marginal in 6" of water. But i must admit when i was given it, it was full of water as didnt have drainage holes and it did live after we sorted it out. So should i just leave it or maybe cut back now? |
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Post by andy on Apr 19, 2015 9:45:20 GMT
Usually, they will die back naturally with the frosts, Wendy like any herbaceous perennial will. However, if it stays green all year, let it be, it'll be fine.
A marginal is a plant that sits in a marginal area of a pond....usually a shelf around the outside that's around 6-12" deep. The roots of the plant (usually planted in a pond pot) sit in water all the time and the crown of the plant is usually 3-6" below water surface.
Many species of Iris, Hosta, Marsh Marigold, Lobelia cardinalis, water mint, American skunk cabbage and flowering rush, to name but a few, can be grown in such conditions.
However, many of these plants are just as happy growing in rich, moist soil in the garden border
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Post by wendya on Apr 19, 2015 10:22:43 GMT
Thanks, ha that's explains why it didn't die when waterlogged for 3 months.
Do you think i should cut off the old leaves that are nearly dead? last years leaves? just not sure.
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Post by wendya on May 14, 2015 8:34:59 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on May 14, 2015 17:52:56 GMT
wendya, Tig, andy, Well done Wendy - as you say it is looking really lovely again....it's feels at home !!
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Post by andy on May 14, 2015 18:51:14 GMT
Well done Wendy, give it a weekly/fortnightly liquid feed with something like Miracle grow until mid sept.
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Post by wendya on May 17, 2015 8:38:48 GMT
OK I will do thank you andy, its looking much happier now and 3 flowers on it, I cant believe i thought i was a hosta lol Rosefriend, it must get very cold where you are, we have loads of these plants all around the area and they never take them in, so must be a good climate for them here in the City  |
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Post by wendya on Sept 16, 2015 9:39:11 GMT
wendya, Rosefriend, Tig, andy, Should i think of cutting back the Zantedeschia now or a few months time, new shoots are sprouting but old leaves hanging out everywhere?
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Post by andy on Sept 16, 2015 9:59:06 GMT
No....let it die down naturally with the frosts. You can cut off the old, dying leaves but i'd leave the plant to die back naturally
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Post by wendya on Sept 17, 2015 10:12:49 GMT
Trouble is it doesn't do it naturally, its too warm, maybe i will cut off the old leaves and hope its ok, non of these plants die back here.
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but must admit this plant has never been cut back as i actually got given this off a lady that died, it was always just sat in the forecourt and really not looked after at all. Has flowered every year, i really thought i had a pic but cant find it now. There are lots of them round here and i must admit non are cut back?
