Borers in Hosta?

16 years ago

I've had three hosta this year, in different portions of the garden, that came back significantly smaller than last year. The leaves started yellowing and dying, not unlike southern blight. But, I know southern blight, and this is not it.

I dug the plants, and the crown had dry spots, that looked like rot. But what bothered me is that there appears to be holes, going thru the rotted spots, that appear very similar to what iris borers do to iris. I found no borers, but I'm assuming that since the hosta came back stunted, this may have been something that started last year.

Anyone know if there are borers that attack hosta, and if so, what can you do?

For these plants, I cut out all of the affected areas on the crowns, they are drying out a bit on the driveway now, I may dip them in bleach or fungicide, before I pot them up.

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Comments (12)

esther_opal
16 years ago
I'm finding similar problems, which I'm ascribing to the spring high heat followed by very low temperatures. Seems to be damaged roots and or crowns during the cold showing up now.

It is more prevalent in areas where plants came up early or early emerging plants. Plants in the more heavily wooded areas never come up as early and haven't suffered as much.

I talk often about cultural practices because more lost comes from lack of water, heat or cold and poor soil which all lead to disease vulnerability. The point is which came first?

A damaged and weakened plant attacked by bacteria or fungus canÂt be easily treated for the condition because it canÂt resist the next attack after youÂve killed the first attacker.
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mary52zn8tx
16 years ago
I remember reading about this over on Hallson's. Hank the guy that does the hosta of the day pictures mentioned borers.

Here is a link that might be useful: borers
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The borers are in the rhizomes right now. The only way right now to get rid of the is to dig the iris and cut them out. The rot you are seeing is likly more from the hot,wet humid conditions. I have dug some iris recently. I have found no borers but lots of rot on the old mother rhizomes. Mike G
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lynnem
Original Author
16 years ago
Yep, that's exactly what I talking about. But I've read nothing that states iris borers attack hosta..But I will get some of the systemic stuff., can't hurt.
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lucybell
16 years ago
I would still love to see more pictures of the Indianapolis convention gardens, if anyone has any to share.
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papou
16 years ago
IMHO the worst enemy of hostas is not slugs...it's A LACK OF WATER! When I started this adventure I was told that hostas are tough...leave them be when they are young...dont worry if a leaf is burned or scold...a young plant has to settle in. Bad one year, that same plant my come out nice and vigorous the following year.

Papou
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
never heard of borers in hosta....

but it is probably a 'cause and effect' issue ...

i agree with pappy .. water... water...water .... a healthy plant will not have borer problems ....

if the plant is already heading toward summer dormancy due to lack of water.. MAYBE a borer can attack the rotting tissue ... but again.. i never heard of it....

ken
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lynnem
Original Author
16 years ago
Ken, did you check Hank's post over at the Hallson's forum? I've never heard of borers in hosta before either, but the rotted tissue seems to emanate outward from the holes that were left.

One of the hostas was right next to a clump of iris that had borers last year, but the other two weren't anywhere close.
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lindac
16 years ago
So one guy on some board thinks he had a borer in his hosta....
Many others who have been growing thousands of plants for dozens of years have seen not heard of anything like that.
Chances are pertty well beyond calculation that iris borers are NOT attacking your hosta.
Many kinds of bugs, slugs, or critters of one sort or another may have taken a bite out of a petiole and caused a bit of rot where it bit.
And the chances are enormous that what caused your hosta to have a bad spot in the crown was the uneven spring we had. And digging it up to look at, drying it on the drive way and dipping it in bleach won't help it.
Put it back in the ground, shelter it from the sun and wind for a couple of weeks and water it.
It will never grow if you keep messing with the roots. Chances are that you caused as much damage as any borer might have.
Linda C
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lynnem
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, Linda, the hosta wasn't doing very well on it's own. Matter of fact, it was dying. So what I did what get rid of the bad stuff, and it's going to get a fresh start in potting soil. And MY experience is that potting stressed hostas, and keeping them close by so they get special attention, does help. And you didn't see my hostas. So if it wasn't an iris borer, I'm betting it was some other type.

And that "some guy" on another board was Hank Zumach, and I'd trust his observations over most others.
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User
16 years ago
There is definitely some type of borer -- a very tiny worm like thing about a 1/4 inch long and the size of a thread. I found them in one hosta and I have a new little plant in a pot that was looking terrible - and I found the same "borers".

I wish I had more information. In the case of my brand new Lakeside Symphony, the plant is so little - that I believe I will loose all the leaves and I am not sure the plant will survive.
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lisasmall
16 years ago
Oh, Buff, sorry to hear about your new Lakeside Symphony.

What's its status now?
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User
16 years ago
Thank you for asking lisasmall. I decided to throw it out - no leaves - concerned about rot in the crown - no sense infecting other....but then...I was curious.

I removed all the dirt and put it in a trash bag. Cleaned off what looked like very healthy roots and crown. Couldn't find any rot and decided to replant in a good planting medium and wait ...and wait. It as been three weeks and no sign of growth. Can roots grow with no leaves for fuel?

My Northern Halo went in the trash along with the surrounding soil. There was some type of worm in the rotting crown and in the immediate area of the soil. I have no idea what. In support of Kens comments, I am sure the plant was damaged before the rot set in. It was growning under a maple tree and was definitely strangled by roots. I would love to know what the little worms are.
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