Do your hostas change a lot as they grow, too?

11 years ago

I've only had hostas for 3 years now. So I am new at it. I have noticed, with my first the albomarginata especially that it changes a lot over the past three years. Granted, it's getting much bigger and fuller. But it seems last year, the leaves were coming in taller than they are this year? It could just be that the "bottom" comes in first and the top come in later and the bottom is becoming fuller? Does this make sense?

My 4 seedlings are changing a lot from last year, too. The so called fire island is actually yellow this year (last year, it was more of a light green color) The fire and ice seems to be coming in a much deeper green and more pronounced white this year. And the blue mouse ears colors are looking much deeper, too. I look forward to seeing all my babies reach their full glory and enjoying the changes as they reach adulthood.

But the albo baffles me this year... It just seems so different from last year. Hopefully I will be able to post the year previous and now in the same post... So the first is the last years at this time

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brandys_garden
Original Author
11 years ago
My albomarginata today
brandys_garden
Original Author
11 years ago
The top view... It is twice as full as it was last year.
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hostafreak
11 years ago
Yeah Brandy,you'll find they do change a lot over the years. The leaves get wider,and if they are variegated,the margins get wider,too. Not to mention spreading out. Albomarginatas are a common variety,but you'll notice a bigger change in other types,as they grow. Every time I plant a new type,I'm always surprised how much they change the next year. Phil
leafwatcher
11 years ago
Some plants seem to completely change to another in my opinion. And thats what makes it so great to have established plants.. in the adult form.

It makes it fun, challenging, and sometimes disappointing. Yet it gives you a goal and something to strive for.

I am fairly knew to the Hosta collecting, and I am an enthusiast.. not an expert. But I have noticed last year a few friends of mine that call plants WEEDs, have noticed a couple of my nicer plants...
thisismelissa
11 years ago
Not only do they change with age, but they also change as the season progresses.

Most hosta that are yellow in the spring are green by the end of the summer...Sometimes, they fade to a parchment color.

Blues fade to green with sun.

Chartruese (light green) often goes to a gold by the end of the summer.

Since you have albomarginata, you may know that this is from the undulata family. This family of plants is known to have the whites fade to green.

So yes, part of the excitement is watching them change from month to month and year to year!
brandys_garden
Original Author
11 years ago
The seedlings look completely different this season... I expected change but not this much, a series of pics taken today of all the hostas... This is the one from what I was told was a Fire and Ice. Last season, it's first, it did resemble it. This season, it looks almost blueish to me and no white? Still pretty but I don't think it can be called a Fire and Ice any longer?
brandys_garden
Original Author
11 years ago
This is my blue mouse ears today. It hasn't changed much, just deeper coloring and the leaves are much bigger. Pleased with it, too!
brandys_garden
Original Author
11 years ago
All the "babies" and the new Wheee! today. Looking good!!
brandys_garden
Original Author
11 years ago
The albomarginata and the hybrid mama mia today...
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
hi.. welcome.. since you are a newbie.. lets get some terms straight ... i mean really.. you are obviously hooked.. lol

named cultivars are NEVER CALLED seedlings.. so.. you are totally baffling me when you repeatedly say that..

ALL named cultivars.. are either DIVISIONS... or TC created divisions ... no seed is ever involved..

so presuming you are NOT talking about seedlings.. lets move on..

fire and ice.. is one of the biggest pieces of carp in the hosta world.. but lucky you.. yours is NOT such.. you might want to compare yours.. to the hosta library .... and i believe you will agree ...

now finally.. yes .... the road to maturity.. is not unlike your precious 10 year old going thru to be 15.. there are some really ugly stages.. lol ...

we talk.. of the sleep/creep/leap theme.. and that is EXACTLY what you are 'seeing' .... enjoy it.. its the transformative stage ... wherein .. it grows as it can the first year.. based on whatever you bought.. the second year.. after transplant.. it is doing most of its real work underground.. growing the root mass .... so that in the third year.. it can start dancing like some insane ballerina .. leaping all over the place ...

but do understand.. some of the families.. can take 10 years to do this ... e.g. the giants ...

you are lucky to be starting with an undulata .. that can do it so fast .... you can actually 'see it' ...

i read nothing abnormal in your words.. enjoy the show. and we will continue to work on your educational curve..

have a great hosta day ..

ken

ps: one more thing.. on some level host alike to be potbound.. and your BMEars is in way to big a pot.. we pot consistent with the size rec'd. and up -pot.. when they need it.. we do NOT start in a giant pot ... and babka and the pot peeps [picture night of the living dead zombies.. lol] ..... can lead you better thru pot culture.. if they havent already ... but if you like that pot.. there is a pot in pot' system ... start a new post about that.. if you want to learn about it ...
brandys_garden
Original Author
11 years ago
It doesn't matter to me really, labels I mean. I just enjoy them so. Does bare root seem to fit better? That is what is on my receipt for all of them?

I didn't start the albo in a giant pot. It was moved there last year at the end of the year. It had outgrown it's original 8 inch pot then to a 10incher, now it's in the larger pot. It seems to like it OK though I wonder if it is a bit small for it?

I do know that much, they like to be in the appropriate sized pot and a little snug even, but not too snug.

It's good to know that changes are to be expected. So far I am pleased with all of mine. Thank you!!

Do your hostas change a lot as they grow, too?

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Do your hostas change a lot as they grow, too?

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