deeny, what you experienced last year most likely was "Petiole Rot" or Southern Blight. If that is the case, it will be back, as soon as it gets hot enough. Check the surface for "sclerotia", little speres the size of mustard seeds, easily confused with Osmocote. "The petiole rot disease cycle begins with the germination of sclerotia. Mycelium fans out in all directions from the sclerotia, slowly growing across the surface of the soil in warm, wet weather. When a host plant is nearby, the fungus exudes droplets containing oxalic acid and tissue-destroying enzymes. Oxalic acid causes plant cell walls to break down." Please let us know, there is a bunch of things you got to do the prevent it. Manfred

Well Ken I'm not even anywhere close to the MD line. No worries about humidity where I live. I wish there were so I could grow the 'jungle effect' I love. LOL! My 'homemade stuff' is a mix of bot plant soil & soilless mix so it's nice and fluffy with bone meal & charcoal mixed in in small amounts. It is not just 'any ol garden dirt out of whereever in the garden'. It's in all my planters including two others with Hostas - one with Tatoo & one with Striptease - and they are doing just fine. I also have a Bressingham Blue which is planted in 'just plain old dirt' and it is doing fine. While I'm not saying it's impossible, I don't think the soil is the problem. I really can't recall whether there is a drainage hole in either pot and they are way too big to pick up and examine now. That said, I'm pretty sure they all have drainage. As I said, the begonias are doing fine though perhaps I do need to be attentive to less water (though that is not usually a problem *I* have -- sometimes DH gets loose on the premises). I take the comments about the light situation quite seriously though. Maybe I'll replace the Twilight with Aspidastra! I believe the Guac gets enough sun as its at the front of the porch area and the porch is south facing. I also have a Fatsia in there in the opposite corner from the Twilight & it does fine (in that same old soil). I'll move the surviving Guac to the garden itself where my other hostas are all doing just fine (in their garden dirt with a little added bone meal). One question that doesn't seem to have been addressed, or at least in a direct sense, is why are the edges of the leaves on Guac rolling under? Is this a common indicator of something?? Many thanks for all your help folks. Holly

Another vote for cutworms here, so I would suggest an insecticide. The gray or brown worms live in the soil by day and feed by night. A liquid is best since it will get into the soil where they are hiding, or go out at night and you might catch them in the act.

Sorry I haven't been on the Internet for awhile - busy as a bee. HVX continues to be a problem. I only bought one new one this year, and so far it doesn't appear to be afflicted. The most vulnerable hosta appears to be Striptease, along with Sum and Substance. My S&S was purchased about 6 years ago, so I don't think I will have a problem with it. Some of my hostas are showing signs of leaf burn this year that they have never succombed to before. I can't figure out why, since they have been in place for quite a few years now. This crazy weather we've been having could be the culprit. Cold then hot, then cold, then hot. Hostas are just the most carefree perennials, that it stuns me to be having problems with them. If you suspect HVX, don't take a chance. I would yank them out, put them in a pot and take them to your nursery where you purchased them. I would then point the nursery manager to the hostas still in stock and tell them what the problem is and ask for substitute perennials. If they don't listen to you, call the County Extension office and inform them of the problem. We certainly don't want this to get out of control. Susan