How to Grow Hostas
Most plants adorning your yard and flower gardens are sun worshippers. And,
the selection of sun loving flowers and plants is vast. When it comes to
the choosing plants to spruce up those shady areas of your yard, the selection
becomes much more limited. Enter the world of Hostas!
Hosta plants are among the most popular of shade loving plants. There are
legions of Hosta lovers and groups. And rightfully so. Along with their shade
loving nature, there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. While they
do produce flowers on a long stem, they are primarily grown for their attractive
leaves. A low maintenance plant, Hostas grow well under trees, and on the
northern side of your house.
Tip: Houseplant lovers...try growing Hostas indoors.
Hostas originated in Japan, China, Korea and other areas of Southeast Asia.
These perennials are members of the Lily family. While the common name for
them is Hostas, you may also know them as "Plantain Lily".
How to Grow Hosta Plants:
Select a spot with light to medium shade. Hostas, prefer loose, well drained
soil. Add some compost and mix well. Plant Hostas up to the tops of the crowns,
spaced two to four feet apart. After planting, water well. Keep them well
watered for a few weeks to as they to grow new roots.
Once established, Hostas need little care. A little general purpose fertilizer
from time to time will promote bigger, healthier leaves. But, your plants
should do well even without adding fertilizers. Mulching around plants will
create a more attractive appearance and help to retain soil moisture. Water
them occasionally during periods of drought.
In midsummer, Hostas will produce a long stem, also called a "scape" with
a flower at the end. After blooming, the stem and spent bloom can be removed.
Or, you can leave it on to fully dry and harvest the seed pods.
Note: Hostas do not like heat. They don't grow well in southern parts
of the country.
Propagation:
Hostas can be propagated by seed or division. Plant division is by far the
most popular method of propagation.
Dig up plants, shoveling deeply with a spade or fork to pull up as many roots
as possible. Each plant will have a separate crown and many entangled roots.
Loosen the soil, or wash soil off the crown and roots.Carefully divide crowns.
You can also divide an individual crown by cutting it with a sharp knife
from the top to the bottom of the crown. Try not to cut the roots. Once the
crown is cut, separate the roots as best you can. The more roots that remain,
the less the transplant shock.
If you are growing Hostas from seed, start them indoors several weeks before
the last frost.
Winter Care:
After frost has killed off the leaves, you can remove the dead leaves to
the ground. In colder areas, add a layer of mulch to keep the roots from
being damaged from the ground freezing.
More Information:
Buy
Hostas Now!
American Hosta Society
Hosta Photo Library
Dividing Hostas
- contains excellent, step by step instructions on dividing plants, with
pictures.
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