This is a few years old, but it came up near the top when I did a Google search for "hostas in a stream". There are other links too. Looks like it is very successful with the hostas in pots with rocks underwater.

-Babka

Here is a link that might be useful: Hostas IN water in a pond

I found a reference one time about hostas that are actually water plants in the wild, but I have forgotten which variety they were. I'd like to find the reference again, and see if I could order some, somewhere, it would be fun to grow them in my pond.

Sandy

The hostas in that pond had just been put in there. I am sure it would work for awhile but I would bet money that they would start going downhill since the roots of hostas need to be able to breathe. That is why most growers use a very light mix when growing things in pots. Some even plant in bark for better drainage. A hosta will rot if the roots and crown are kept submerged.

I have never seen any nursery sell hostas as water or bog plants.

They do really well next to a pond. This is O'Brien Nursery in CT.

Steve

There WAS somebody here who really did grow them in a bog/pond. The moving water provided the air that was needed, and I think it even sprouted more eyes. It was left there when the water froze and came back the next Spring. Was that Butch Ragland? aka esther-opal? Not sure.

-Babka

There WAS somebody here who really did grow them in a bog/pond. The moving water provided the air that was needed, and I think it even sprouted more eyes. It was left there when the water froze and came back the next Spring. Was that Butch Ragland? aka esther-opal? Not sure.

-Babka

YES! I found it! It was Butch.

-Babka

Here is a link that might be useful: Butch's Bog with Hostas

franknjim - "A hosta will rot if the roots and crown are kept submerged."

You never know what you don't know..... link below to hostas in a stream/water feature over multiple years. Stream may have more oxygen that standing water or maybe ....... Remember scientists were absolutely sure the world was flat.

Paul

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta in a Stream

Ok, did some research. One reference said hostas will die in standing water. Diana Grenfell's New Encyclopedia of Hostas lists the species water lovers. The key seems to be boggy or marshy conditions, or roots trailing in moving water.

Here is a link that might be useful: water loving hostas

Hey Paul, "Great minds think alike" !!!

;-) Sorry for the double post.

-Babka

I have grown hosta in our bog for three years now, still doing great.
Over wintered just fine.
cAROL

There will be a big difference of oxygen levels between a running stream and a small garden pond. It would be the same in comparison with the surface area of a large aquarium with a high water turnover rate compared to a goldfish bowl. It is all about the air to water surface area and how much and how often the water can reach the surface to be oxygenated.

cAROL, Can you post a pic of your bog. Sounds interesting.

I don't know about hostas in a pond,but I am trying hostas on an island in my little creek. It's too early to tell now,but I am using some common hosta,a Gold Standard,and an Albopicta,and one of my little green seedlings. So far,they are alive but haven't been there long enough to evaluate yet. Phil

sassy,I can't post pictures here,but I can send you one to your e mail tomorrow afternoon,7-5-11,,if that is ok.
cAROL

cAROL, I sent you an email.
my email address is: nursecarollpn@yahoo.com

I have tried hostas in standing water. It works, even in the heat here, but I got tired of mosquitoes. The roots did just fine, but I didn't submerge the crown.

Mary in Texas - a small submersible pump with any of various types of discharges that give good aeration will solve the vampire problem along with a couple feeder goldfish from W*M. I believe water movement solves the root-rot problem with hosta and venture to say that if you can keep a small toad pond vampire free by circulating water you can probably have a hosta of some kind in it - I have seen them growing in streams. I also 2nd the non-soil in the pot approach for plants IN water while right next to water very humusy soils seem best. The key is aerobic or anaerobic bacteria (can't keep them straight if I can't see them) which survive in unoxygenated or oxygenated water. One will generate ammonia that will kill roots and the other will generate nitrogen salts that will feed plants.

I hope you realize I use vampire because I never remember how to spell "Muskie-toes", or believe Muskies deserve more respect.

Les

Thanks for all the info!

I looked at and read all the links. If I can find a cheap dwarf or mini hosta I will give it a try, otherwise I'll just wait until I have time next year to plant some around the pond.

Part of my dilemma is my pond is the shape of a squashed circle, barely 3 feet in diameter, 1 foot deep on one side, and barely 1.5 feet deep on the other. Most of the water plants I read about spread wider than my pond is big OR they need more water over the top of the submerged plant OR need light OR discourage algae which I DON'T want to discourage so it can feed any tadpoles. Hey! I'm already experimenting with a compost pile and a worm bin, might as well add this to experiment with.

Thanks again!

Robin

Robin - I have been somewhat intrigued by the challenge of using plants to simulate a water fountain, and what better place than a small pool. You might check the currently running thread regarding favorite upright hostas and check the small ones.

But without some form of circulation you will soon be unhappy with your toad pool. Regarding algae, don't encourage it too much. I don't think tadpoles feed on it but the micro-organisms that live in it, which will also live among plant roots, etc. Too much sun and no circulation and your pool will become algae choked and a slimy. stinky mess that will send your toads arunnin. An upright hosta might just be what is needed, even a medium/small one. It sounds like a nice experiment and I will be looking forward to how it works out.

As the Cable Guy says, "Get it On!"

Les

Wonder if a pond filter would be a good place to try out a hosta? I've used water hyacinth, with their long dangly filtering roots, and other water plants, and hostas sound like an interesting experiment.

I'd built a pond with a small, higher molded plastic upper bog pond that had my filter in it. It spilt over with a small waterfall into the lower pond where the punp was. I'd planted pickeral weed,a short canna and pennywort in it. Probably some iris would work there also. I would try a hosta. I just never thought about it. It was very fertile and certainly had good water flow.

Les