| Frequently
Asked Questions |
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| Problem |
Characteristics |
Symptoms |
Prevention |
Control |
| Black Vine Weevils |
Night
feeding, hard shelled insects |
Edges
of leaves notched out |
Do
not plant hostas near Yews |
Chemical
sprays, catch weevils and crush with pliers |
| Chemical Damage |
Occurs
as hostas are in rapid stage of growth in spring |
Leaves
curl, distorted |
Do
not spray herbicides on a windy day |
Remove
affect plant and replant in new site |
| Cutworms |
Night
feeding, brown insects |
Large
sections of leaf suddenly gone |
none |
Granular
insecticides |
| Drawstring Effect |
Fast
growing leaf center outgrows the margin |
Leaves
develop cupping and distortion |
Do
not over fertilize |
Cut
back the first flush of foliage |
| Fairy Ring |
Old
established clumps can be affected |
A
perimeter ring of buds in spring |
Divide
fast growing hostas every 5-6 years |
Dig
up clump and replant healthy portions |
| Foliar Nematodes |
Microscopic
worms that feed on leaves |
Interveinal
areas begin yellowing in mid summer |
Isolate
plants for 1 growing season |
Soak
divisions of infected plants in 120F hot water bath for 15
minutes, isolate plants in containers for 6 months |
| Heavy Frost Damage |
Foliage
wilts and turns watery below 28F |
Foliage
wilts and turns watery |
Keep
a continuous water spray on plants |
Cut
back foliage of frost damaged plants |
| Light Frost Damage |
Late
spring when nighttime temps reach 20-32F |
Light
yellow dotting |
Keep
a continuous water spray on plants |
Cut
back foliage if it becomes unsightly |
| Meltout |
Affects
some white centered cultivars in full sun |
Centre
of leaf lightens, dry and turns brown |
Grow
Susceptible cultivars in protected shaded sites |
Cut
back affect foliage and move to a shadier site |
| Sea Sprite Disease |
H.
Sieboldii types susceptible |
Circular
yellow dots |
Clean
pruning knives in a 50% bleach solution |
None,
destroy infected plants and remove surrounding soil |
| Slugs |
Night
feeding prosper with high humidity |
Small
holes in leaves |
Remove
mulches |
Apply
granular bait early in the growing season |
| Spring Burn |
Primarily
on Sieboldiannas with gold color |
Small
or large brown areas |
Plant
non burning cultivars |
Grow
susceptible cultivars in protected sites |
| Spritzer Virus |
Spritzer
and Green Fountain susceptible |
1/4
to 1/2" concentric yellow circles |
Carefully
examine any plant of Spritzer |
None,
destroy infected plants and remove surrounding soil |
| X Virus |
Blue/Green markings on light hostas. Dark Hostas look like they have had bleach spilled on them. |
Hosta Virus X affects different hosta cultivars in different ways, so it is impossible to give a definitive description of symptoms. The most common visual symptom is blue or green markings on a light colored leaf. These markings usually follow the leaf veins and bleed out into surrounding tissue giving the plant a mottled appearance. The tissue often appears lumpy, puckered, and of different thickness or texture that normally colored tissue. |
The
best way to prevent Hosta Virus X from infecting your
collection is to simply not grow infected plants.
Always avoid strangely spotted or mottled plants you find at
nurseries. |
None, destroy infected plants and remove surrounding soil |
