skip to main content

'Divide Hosta OFTEN to keep healthy'

12 years ago

I am in SHOCK! I just heard this statement on a commercial for a local big name, big bucks, family owned, green house franchise.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Steve Massachusetts
12 years ago
Now you know that general nurseries that do not specialize in Hostas, know much much less than we do about our favorite plants. That is why you will so often see mislabeled and virused plants for sale in these places. These folks don't even know the basic cultivation information about Hostas. Only buy your plants from knowledgeable and reliable sources.

Steve
thisismelissa
12 years ago
I JUST saw that commercial too arcy.... Made me MAD!

This same nursery sold me a couple of HVX plants 4 years ago. Because they're a high profile, high buck local company, the public thinks they're among the best.
Related Discussions
Please help me--Keeping a small pond healthy without a filter?
Q
Comments (26)
We used to have a small waterfall in our pond, and there was a filter which hosed water back into the pond, via the 'waterfall' which was a stream-like affair, running down on 3 levels, before the water went back into the main pond. One bright spring day, having bought some watercress for salad, from a supermarket, I noticed that some stems had roots forming, but I knew that watercress prefers moving water (My SiL lives near a watercress farm in Hampshire) so I stuck these stems into the top section of the waterfall, and placed a flat stone on top to keep them there. Within 3 weeks, I had to pick and divide the clump, and keeping an amount in the top section for the duration of the summer, gave us plentiful supplies of fresh, peppery watercress, AND - it filtered the water amazingly well!
...See More
Dividing a hosta
Q
Comments (20)
I'm going to try the dollar store for a serrated knife. ===>> when you are standing in the utensil aisle.. open your brain .. and see if there are any other $1 tools you can transfer to the garden ... like big serving spoons for working in smaller pots [they can be $50 at the bonsai store!!!] ... etc ... i also like smaller hand knives ... a straight blade chef knife ... and then go to the tool aisle.. and buy a small whet stone .. for sharpening ... perhaps a mail glove depending on how good you are with knives.. thats in the armor aisle.. lol ... in the garden.. a SHARP tool really works better.. and when your sum total investment is one buck.. just go at it .. i get so afraid to sharpen a $100 knife.. blah blah.. not that i have many [an old wedding gift of steak knives] .... good luck ... oh ... its counter-intuitive.. in shade.. let the cuts dry for an hour or so ... so they wont rot in damp cold soil .. they probably wont ... but why not.. the crown.. the part between the roots.. and the pips/leaves.. is like any other veggie.. potato.. carrot ... rutabaga .. etc ... if the cut part dries a bit.. it will stay in the crisper for a long time.. but put it in there wet .... stuff MIGHT happen.. do not read this as stressful ... you know what THEY SAY ... cut it and throw them on the driveway.. most will live ... especially a green one.. that shall not be named.. lol.. [couldnt help myself .. and if you love it.. good for you] some might suggest [if he is lurking].. to throw the roots in 10% bleach ... i wouldnt bother for a plain green one ... if you are inclined for such.. go to the dollar store bleach aisle.. and if you want to start some seedlings or cuttings.. go to the aluminum pan aisle [i have a big dollar store.. lots of aisles.. lol] .... and get turkey pans.. or cake pans ... the hand towel aisle .. the pop/soda aisle.. in case you work up a thirst ... and the laundry aisle.. since you will be filthy by the time you are done ... unless you were already here for the bleach ... i think i covered all the aisles.. unless you want to get some food, since you might be starved by the time you are done ... lol oh.. and the garden aisle.. for a pressure point hose end.. for really blasting the root mass ... like at the link.. and a hose end turner-offer-onner ... so you dont have to run back to the spigot over and over .... ken Here is a link that might be useful:
...See More
Do I have to divide this beautiful hosta?
Q
Comments (16)
"the medium in there will become unable to support the plant " Just a little side issue, medium does not or should not support the plant. The term "soil-less" mix means just that is isn't soil and doesn't act like soil. Potting media only provides something to hold the plant upright while we deliver the food and water. My experience is as the hosta fills the container with roots and divisions it begins to produce smaller and smaller leaves. If you want that planter and that plant then divide, if you want to grow the plant as large as possible then move up in pot size every 3 years or so. Also move up larger than the old advice with indoor plants of one pot size. Double the volume or if it is a 5gal pot then go to 10 gal. Also the deeper vs. diameter the pot the easier it is to grow and water. A rule to use is when the leaves are smaller than the previous year then it needs to be moved up in pot size.
...See More
How to keep azaleas healthy for decades?
Q
Comments (16)
I'm also curious about your question. I have one very old Azalea growing in my garden- I've grown it for 8 years and it's way older than that, planted long ago by some other home owner. Someone used to trim it down into a ball shape and I'v let it grow as it pleases...and its gotten almost twice as tall and more natural, and I'm thinking it might be healthier to allow it to grow freely...especially because of the occasional dead limb. It's in full sun, and I don't know why but it has an occasional branch die off and so I prune out the dead limbs and twigs, but it seems to recover in other part of the bush and keeps growing. The top photo shows it since I've had it for a while in an untrimmed shape, and the bottom photo shows it when we first moved in- beginning to grow out of the trimmed ball shape" yet still a very large Azalea, but still not a good photo to show about a 4 1/2 inch thick base.
...See More
hosta_freak
12 years ago
If you ever read any of Diana Grenfells books,you know one of her favorite lines is"divide frequently",and she knows a thing about hostas! If you never want to see a mature hosta,then that is the advice you should heed! Phil
kimcoco
12 years ago
I wonder how this fallacy came to be.

So we divide our hostas often, no longer have huge mature hostas, keep dividing and they never reach their full potential, which means we have more ground for 'filler' plants = more sales for the nurseries?

I've heard people say to divide when the crown in the center starts to die, or something to that affect, but I've never seen a hosta impacted this way. I'm not a hosta expert, but my MIL has been growing them for years, has a yard full of mature hostas, and I've never heard this being a concern.
ademink
12 years ago
I have had them die out in the center...but that is not often. It has happened w/ bazillion year old plantagineas...but none of my newer varieties
squirejohn zone4 VT
12 years ago
Grenfell doesn't recommend that all hostas should be "divided frequently". In fact for some large hostas she recommends the planting hole should be 6 ft. across. I think "divide frequently" refers to those that tend to revert, mutate or whatever. For example Paul's Glory she states "... needs dividing every three or four years to retain the attractive variegation."
arcy_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
I had a few that looked like the crown had dead spots. I decided to wait and see what they looked like. They all look fine, beautiful well shaped now that they are leafed out. It is very unfortunate that a MN florist/nursery with such a huge name would make such a claim. I am just not sure why they would make it. If I divide and spread what I have then I don't need to buy more, from them. It seems they really feel they were giving free gardening advice.
lindac
12 years ago
Well....if their customers heed their advice, they will never need to buy more....nor will their friends ever need hosta.
I have seen hosta get dead stuff in the center. You can cut out the dead crowns and fill the center area with good compost and it will fill in again. Or, of course you can dig the whole thing, cut it into pieces, remove the dead center, amend the soil with good compost and replant.....which ever is easier...wink!
Linda C

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES How to Keep Your Citrus Trees Well Fed and Healthy

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Ripe for some citrus fertilizer know-how? This mini guide will help your lemon, orange and grapefruit trees flourish

HOUSEPLANTS 8 Essentials for Healthy Indoor Plants

Houseplants add so much to our homes — and can thrive when grown in the right conditions. Keep these tips in mind

CONTAINER GARDENS Freshen Up the Bath With Lush and Healthy Plants

By Laura Gaskill

Learn how to choose and care for plants that will do well in your space

HEALTHY HOME 12 Ways to Set Up Your Kitchen for Healthy Eating

By Becky Harris

Making smart food choices is easier when your kitchen is part of your support team

GREEN BUILDING Healthy Home: Sunrooms and Conservatories

By Jess McBride

Discover how bringing in natural light can give your life a healthy glow

GARDENING GUIDES Healthy Home: How to Go Green With a Living Wall or Roof

By Jess McBride

See 10 ways to add this earth-friendly element to your home

PETS Garden Alert: 22 Plants to Keep Away From Pets

By Marianne Lipanovich

Avoid potential danger by keeping dogs and cats away from these landscaping and houseplant favorites

MOST POPULAR 10 Strategies for Keeping Surfaces Clutter-Free

By Laura Gaskill

The universe wants your coffee table to become a clutter magnet — but you can fight back

GARDENING GUIDES Common Myths That May Be Hurting Your Garden

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Discover the truth about fertilizer, soil, staking and more to keep your plants healthy and happy

KITCHEN STORAGE Smart Storage for Fresh, Tempting Produce

By Tiffany Carboni

Keep fruits and veggies in easy reach with baskets, refrigerated drawers and cabinet pullouts, to stay healthy all winter long

Sponsored

More Discussions

New Hostas 2024

16

What do you do for mulch?

12

Is there a "small/medium" hosta with huge leaves?

5

A new HXV Video

1

Is this normal for Dream Weaver?

0