How to take care of this? I was told it was a 'Gold Standard'?

15 years ago

I was walking the other day past this one lady's garden,and she happened to be out on her front porch. So I stopped and said,"Wow,i just cant help but say that you have a beautiful garden.that's why i walk the long way around to school just to look at your garden"

She was obviously flattered and said,"It amazes me that a boy as young as you(i'm turning 15 next month.) takes such an interest in horticulture." so i listed the plants I currently have,"about 30 of them" and she told me to wait a second, she turned around and went in her house,and came back with a chunk of one of the hostas she has in her back yard,roots and all.And told me to show her how it's doing every couple of months.

She told me it was a gold standard. I'd like to know how exactly to take care of this.

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Comments (9)

lindac
15 years ago
Plant it at the level, as deep into the ground, it was before.....it would really love a spot that gets morning sun until about noon or 1....but more sun is OK.....and water lots and top dress with compost.....and take pictures!
Linda C
tamasine
Original Author
15 years ago
Will do...but i have one more question,really stupid.

My grandmother has a different variety of hosta that i saw today...And it was growing inside in a large container.I've seen this one around for about three years.How is this possible?I thought they needed to go dormant or they would end up dying?

Would you just be able to put them outside in the fall?
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It is sad to hear that HVX continues to be such a big problem at these places. The boxes don't surprise me, but there is no excuse for wholesalers selling HVX infected hostas that they could SEE had the virus when they shipped them to the store! To duluthinbloomz4: Be sure to pitch both of your Gold Standard plants. Since one was virused the chance of the other being infected from the same batch is very, very high. Each plant expresses symptoms a little differently, often depending on how well it can fight off the virus on its own, so the virus can show up at different times on each plant. Save yourself the trouble and throw them both away. I wouuld also throw away the Francee. Unlike Gold Standard, Francee will not show symptoms very quickly. It can take 2 to 3 years before you will see symptoms on Francee (and Patriot, Minuteman, Revolution) but many of them are infected. Again, I wouldn't take the chance. It will look good for quite a while and still carry the virus. Save yourself the worry, it isn't worth it. Also, if you handled the roots at the same time you potted up the Gold Standard there is a slight chance you could have spread the virus when you planted them. Elegans is considered either immune or simply very, very difficult to infect. I have yet to hear of any cases of HVX in Elegans. This is the only one I would keep. Hope that helps. Chris
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sally_grower
15 years ago
Ask you're Grandmother if her plant is a Peace Lily. They look a little like an all green hosta. Let us know how it all turns out. Sally
lisasmall
15 years ago
Tamasine, your hosta should do well if you water it every time you think of it. Part shade is good for a 'Gold Standard' -- their colors vary depending on how much sun they get.

Be careful about planting it at the same level it was. If the crown (the top part of the roots, where they joint the plant) is too deep, it will get root rot.

And stop your mulch about 2" away from the roots.

The only real pests to watch out for are slugs -- you can use slug bait around the plant -- and, alas, chipmunks who are too hungry in spring might go for your new hosta shoots as they emerge, as I learned to my sorrow this spring.

Since she gave it to you out of her own yard, you probably don't have to worry about HVX, Hosta Virus X, which often infacts plants bought at Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, etc. The Hosta Library has a link on its home page.

Here, you'll need this:

Hosta Library: G

And you don't need this, I'm just showing off:

Lisa's Hostas

Not many pix yet - I haven't uploaded much the past couple of years, busy with a dog, but I'll do better this summer.
dirty_wench
15 years ago
Oh how sweat of that lady to share a piece of her garden with you. I agree with the others about how to care for the plant. It is really hard to water a hosta TOO MUCH (they love water). Welcome to the world of hostas; I bet you get hooked; not many lovers of gardening can resist hostas. It would be nice to give her a little thank you card, she will be impressed that someone your age is so courteous (not that kids are any less courteous than the average adult nowadays---but they still get a bad rap). OR, if you have any extras in your own garden, you could share a little something with her. It is fun to share. I have plants in my garden from people I haven't seen in years but think of them every time I see the plant.
hosta_freak
15 years ago
Gold Standard is very easy to grow. I would say if one of them rested on soil and the roots were down,and the plant leaves up,it would grow! They grow so well,they could almost be classified a weed! Lol! Sorry about that Bruce,if you are reading this! Seriously,though,you can't hardly kill a Gold Standard;they are that easy to grow! Just plant it as Linda said,and it will be fine. Phil
brucebanyaihsta
14 years ago
A compliment to say 'Gold Standard" grows like a weed!

The advice is sound: don't plant it too deep, keep it moist for a few weeks and give it some room to grow.

A view from my lower terrace, which is finally filling in after 5 years.
lisasmall
14 years ago
Oh no, no email in your profile! So I have to ask here, and hope you see it: what is that beauty on the same level as the white chairs? The nice mound with the yellow edges? And what is above it... a vine? a Japanese maple?

How beautiful this all is, and only going to get better ss the terraces mature. Oooh, la!
brucebanyaihsta
14 years ago
The hosta in the path under the Japanese Umbrella Pine is none other than Antioch!

About 20 years ago I traded hosta for Japanese umbrella pine cuttings 4 inches tall. They were supposed to be a darker green selection out of the standard Umbrella pine production - the grower warned me they were slow growers, but boy are they ever.

The tallest is now 6 ft, but in fairness to them I received them too early in the production cycle - they needed more TLC than I gave them in the early years.

One of my dear Delaware gardening friends, Margaret Hudson has a big 30+ year old Umbrella Pine by her house - just exquisite. But slow growing...

Bruce Banyai banyaihsta@aol.com

How to take care of this? I was told it was a 'Gold Standard'?

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lindac

tamasine
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How to take care of this? I was told it was a 'Gold Standard'?

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tamasineOriginal Author

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