Hostas

[Rosefriend]

Well I thought it would be a silly question - just hoped there might be a trick .....

When I had them in very large pots they looked a dream and I didn't have to have a bank overdraft for slug pellets.

The Elegans was under a rambling rose that I have had to get rid of, so I will no doubt have to move it anyway as it will just burn up without the protection of the rose.

I think that I will have no other choice than to divide it which is such a shame...

RF

[Deleted]

rosefriend said:

The Elegans was under a rambling rose that I have had to get rid of, so I will no doubt have to move it anyway as it will just burn up without the protection of the rose.RF

Be surprised at the capacity of hostas to tolerate full sun! I've got an Elegans in full sun and it performs beautifully. You've got the added advantage of it being a mature plant.

It amazes me how so many places that sell hostas state they won't grow in sun when so many of them don't mind it. When I first start growing them, about 15 years ago, I knew nothing about gardening and even less about the requirements of hostas. I just saw them and fell in love. I was given 5 small plants by someone and just potted them up into large pots, left them in full sun (not knowing any different) and watched them grow. All of them grew into beautiful specimens. As time went on I realised that some of the variegated ones looked better if given some shade during the day but other than that to this day my hostas live where there's space for them.

[Rosefriend]

Well thank heavens for that. I have always believed that plants can do well no matter what one does to them - within reasons of course.....

The Aureomarginata that I have gets just a little fed up if it is too hot and as my others are variagated I tend to cover them up in the Spring if the sun is too much.

Well that settles it - I will leave the Elegans where it is and see what happens. Thanks a lot.

I think that it is the same with a lot of summer plants as well - my fuchsia's, bizzy lizzies, begonias etc live where I put them - even if I have to water them more.

RF

[andy]

One good tip for keeping them in pots is to use large drip trays under the pots and keep them filled with water. This is usually a good barrier against slugs, the hostas love the water and you can even fill the tray with a dilute liquid feed every time.

You just have to make sure that no part of the plant or pot is touching a wall or the ground or any other object as the little blighters will seek the hostas down.

[Rosefriend]

Well one thing is for sure, after this mild winter there will be thousands of the them about.

Someone did tell me that the small varieties of hosta are not so appetising for slugs - I can't somehow imagine that but if it is so, then it is worth thinking about. Could of course just be that they are more ideal for planting in pots of course?

I have even bought slug - resistant plants - waste of time as far as I can see - if they are hungry they eat just about anything they can find.

RF

[andy]

You could always use the little slug munching nematodes RF

[Rosefriend]

Funny that you should say that - I read about them only recently.

One article said that if you are inundated with them you still need Pellets & Co and the other said that only young slugs are affected.

Have you had any experience with them Andy - or anyone for that matter?

RF

[Deleted]

rosefriend said:

Have you had any experience with them Andy - or anyone for that matter?

RF

Yes, I am a child!

[Jonah]

Just noticed Hosta 'White Feather' in the J. Parkers latest catalogue which looks rather yummy. Anyone grown it or another white variety, what's it like in real life? ;D

[Deleted]

I saw White Feather too Jonah and thought it looked very very nice. I have a few Hosta's in pots on my decking and thought that would really brighten up the display. Would be interested in comments too

[Chuckles]

Well that makes 3 of us who have spotted the White Feather ;D like you gardengirl I thought it would brighten up my area. I have Hosta's in pots and I'm going to stand them on a rockery area this year that is partly shaded. Nothing seems to grow there in the ground so pots of Hosta's and some pots of Ferns will hopefully make better use of the area along with a few other bits ;D

[Jonah]

Should us three buy one then, that way we can help advise folk who are interested in buying it in the future...... ;D

[Chuckles]

Very tempted Jonah, will wait till I'm next at a GC and see what they like in the flesh ;D

[Rosefriend]

I was at the Nursery and asked about Hosta White Feather and he hasn't got it but would get it for me if I wanted it.

Well shall I risk it or not? I could keep it in a tub for a couple of years - at least the slugs would leave it alone - well better than in the ground anyway.

RF

Update

I was just in Google and found this pic of White Feather during the summer - I am not too impressed.



What do you all think?

Update 2

Another google session has brought forth Hosta White Christmas which I think is very nice and definitely worth having.



RF

[Jonah]

That's the problem with these glossy images, they are probably more airbrushed than a supermodel! ;D
I've ordered one anyway, I haven't bought a hosta for years, so it's worth a go to have a change I guess. Does look a bit wishy washy in that picture, I'll let you know what mine looks like in the summer.
Not sure if the white christmas is a bit bold looking for me, but it does look very striking rosefriend.

[Deleted]

Hi

This is a better picture www.guardiangardencentre.co.uk/Index.cfm?fuseaction=product.standard&producttype_id=49004

Rather nice I think

Sara

[Rosefriend]

I am still googling away just to see different photos - I am really interested to see what it is like in real life as you say.

I have found White Christmas' sport which I think is very nice as well.

This is called The Night before Christmas. (Who thinks up these names)





Infact just looking at some of the new varieties in Internet there are some beautiful looking plants.

However as you say Jonah how real are they?

Sara I saw that photo as well - it does look better doesn't it.

RF

[Deleted]

I can recommend Hosta "Fire & Ice" I bought 2 small plants last year from B & Q last year which done quite well, just waiting for them to start shooting this year.

sara:)

[Rosefriend]

sara said:

I can recommend Hosta "Fire & Ice" I bought 2 small plants last year from B & Q last year which done quite well, just waiting for them to start shooting this year.

sara:)

I have just googled Fire and Ice - very nice. I used to have so many Hostas and then what with the Slugs and loosing a lot of shade through trees being taken down, I slowly got rid of them.

Must admit I am getting interested again.

RF

[lottielady]

Now just a little twist on the subject - has anyone tried growing them from seed? Chilterns have a few varieties and I am tempted - but only if they are easy to raise.

LLx

[Rosefriend]

lottielady said:

Now just a little twist on the subject - has anyone tried growing them from seed? Chilterns have a few varieties and I am tempted - but only if they are easy to raise.

LLx

I certainly haven't tried it - I have never seen any seeds at all. Pity that Happy Hosta isn't around perhaps he would know.

If you do try LL then let me know how you managed.

RF

[Jonah]

sara said:

Hi

This is a better picture www.guardiangardencentre.co.uk/Index.cfm?fuseaction=product.standard&producttype_id=49004

Rather nice I think

Sara

That's the picture that sold it to me sara, it will be interesting to see how reality compares... I expect my plant will be quite small when delivered, so I'm not expecting anything that stunning for a while.
There do seem to be some interesting varieties around. I've only got about 3 in my garden, haven't a clue what varieties, but they are all quite plain leaved. Maybe I need a few of the more striking ones to brighten it up! ;D
I like the look of the Night before Christmas. Maybe that was the time of year someone was sat in their heated greenhouse and managed to produce the first plant, instead of finishing off their wrapping up... ;D

[Chuckles]

Went to the BIG Downtown GC today thinking I would get White Feather, they didn't have it. Infact they only had 3 different sorts and didn't think they would be getting it in from thier supplier as it was a newish one

[Susie Snowdrop]

I've got 3 hosta's around my pond which are just poking their noses through now ;D

Can I remember which varieties they are

S x

[Chuckles]

I'm the same Susie, lose the labels some how and then don't have a clue what they are. Have 4 in pots and 4 new ones in pots bought this year. I'm going to try and be good and keep a record and stick a label in the pots too.

Now what are those 4 new ones called

[Rosefriend]

I have just ordered White Christmas and A Night Before Christmas from the Nursery/GC that I always go to.

As they are apparently both extremely hard to acquire, I do wonder whether I will ever get them. Do hope so though.

RF

[Chuckles]

Hope you get them too RF they are lovely. I spent part of yesterday splitting my original 4 pots into 7 pots and with the 4 new ones I bought the other week I now have 11 pots with Hostas in ;D Don't they get conjested, they were as tuff as boots to split up. Some nice new shoots showing on the old ones though, the 4 new ones bought from Woolies and Wilko's have leaves open all ready Must remember to put gravel on the top of the pots today and take those new ones in at night if there is chance of a frost anytime.

[Dutchy]

Hosta's are great plants.
I have a small leaved one next to the brooklet that is hardly nibbled by slugs who seem to prefer my Petastites.
The same hosta is in another dryer bed and gets munched to bits.
Conclusion. When a hosta has good growing conditions and is healthy as a whatsit it does not get slug damage.
I have a variegated one by the pond. Moist soil, it does very well.
Unlike the ones you have googled it has white edges instead of the white in the middle of the leave.
I find the flowers on the green ones better.
Even though the variegated one has more sun and should have better flowers.
Oh and I lost my big grey leaved one this winter.

[Chuckles]

Apr 9, 2008 10:54:14 GMT Tig said:

Had a wander and spotted one of the hostas shooting ..

They are well up Tig, I noticed mine that I have in pots are shooting too but not as far on a yours. Slug pellets or what ever you use to the ready

Got me thinking about a Hosta that was newish last year, had very cream leaves and looked lovely. I tried to get one from GC's locally but no one had it in stock. Can't recall the name of it but I'll have to keep an eye out this year, it was lovely.

[Weeterrier]

While all the Hosta pics were loading, I was thinking "Oh, they look just like mine"
They are mine.

Anyway, I think Parkers had that cream one, though I'm not so keen on their herbaceous stuff. Like their bulbs though.