I purchased these hosta's from Bridgewood gardens last year and put them in the ground right away, they didn't seem to do so well the first year but I figured that Minnesota had a hotter than usual summer and was anxious to see them come up the next year, well, that time is here and there's something not right with these hostas. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what the problem might be. I am really hoping this is not virus x. I've attached pics of Antioch and Allergan fog. Thanks
thanx, levilyla, that is an awesome website, alot of good info, pics and links. They had some pics of virus x in the early stages, which is where I think my plants are right now????? There was also a fabulous forum just for virus x that I will be putting some pics on so I can get all the ammo I need when I contact the supplier. Again, Thanx.
I'm not really convinced that's the virus, but it could be... you could try posting those photos on Gardenweb's hosta forum for more opinions. www.hostalibrary.org has some info also, but only of the bleeding type of damage.
I'm not convinced either. It just seems really weird. They don't have the typical bleeding in the veins or the mottling, but they're definately not healthy. I've inspected them carefully and it doesn't seem to be any of the major things that plague hostas, ie: slugs, crown rot, etc. There's a virus x forum on the website that levilyla posted. I will put some pics on there and see what happens. thanx
I had one hosta a couple of years ago that reappeared in the spring all crinkled in a nasty way. I am sure it was Virus X although the colour was not too terribly disturbed. I immediately potted it up and put it in a remote, plantless corner of my yard. I gave it one year of TLC, but when it came back up all nasty again this year, I destroyed the plant. My thinking ran thusly: 1. If it was Virus X, I did not want all my other hostas getting it (I have about 25 and my neighbours all have tons as well). 2. If it was something else, I STILL did not want my other hostas to get it. So out it went!
Oh, I wish it were that easy. There are about twenty hostas (alternating Antioch and White xmas) planted in an area 70 feet long. This particular area is the last to thaw in the spring...also, in Minnesota, we had an early warm up and then got hit with a snow storm and after seeing some pix of cold damage to hostas on that wonderful website that levilyla sent me, I'm beginning to think (hoping) it's just cold damage.
Seriously, post your pictures to the hosta forum on GW where you will find other hosta growers who are in your area. I think that will offer you some peace of mind. The other thing is, nothing will happen if you just leave the plants in place and let them grow another year. Just keep your clippers off them, or cleanse them after use.
I will do that KarinL. That was my biggest concern is if I should leave them alone or pull them. I only have 17 different varieties but they cost alot of money and I don't want the healthy ones to get sick. I also don't want to pull them if they're not sick cause that may traumatize them even more.
