Hostas: new pest problem?

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by LizRB, May 13, 2019.

  1. LizRB

    LizRB New Member

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    Victoria BC
    Several hostas, divided & replanted last September 2018. Leaves coming on strong this spring 2019, but now something is causing the leaves to curl together, leaves from 3-4 stalks are curling tightly together. Have never seen this before. Unwinding the leaves is near impossible. Can't see any worms or insects, no slime or sweat evident.
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    Last edited by a moderator: May 17, 2019
  2. Michigander

    Michigander Active Member

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    Somebody done been stompin' around in the garden. The leaves are arranged in the buds like lettuce (and everything else). If you damage the tip you will see that damage at the tip of several of the first leaves to emerge from that cluster, or all of them if enough of the bud tip is damaged. Many heavier-textured Hostas have leaves that are contorted when they emerge and some stay that way because the leaves have three distinct layers of cells and they grow at different rates of growth. If all three layers grow to the same ultimate size they will have ~flat leaves, like plantagenia. If the top layer is smaller than the lower two layers they will be slightly "cupped". If the top two layers are smaller than the bottom, they will have substantially cupped leaves, like 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd'. If the bottom layer is smaller than the two upper layers, they will be top rounded, ~umbrella~ like. If the middle layer is smaller than the top and bottom, they will be contorted.

    Your leaves will be mostly like the rest of the clump except surfaces closer to the damaged edge will not straighten out the same way skin around a scab bunches up because the skin is growing but the scab is fixed and not growing. (Maybe the leaf will itch?) The damaged edges of the leaves stops growth right there at the edge rather than adding cells to the leading edge. The cells that began expanding earlier, closer to the base of the leaf will grow to normal maturity.
     
  3. Georgia Strait

    Georgia Strait Generous Contributor 10 Years

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    Interesting - “because the skin is growing but the scab is fixed and not growing”

    so if the OP uses some clean sharp scissors and cuts out the scab area ... then the leaf would possibly grow normally? (Albeit with a notch where scab cut out)

    Or would the cut edge make a new scab and the same “fixed and not growing” happen again
     
  4. Michigander

    Michigander Active Member

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