Sounds like everything is fine. You can't water enough, as long as your soil drains well enough. Hostas will often shed older leaves at this time of year. Some of them are still putting on a new flush of growth.

As for pods, it's both genetics and plant health. Obviously for a plant to set seed it means it is likely healthy and growing in its normal development. Usually it's vegetative growth, followed by reproductive growth, followed by a smaller vegetative growth period in summer and fall. Obviously, the timing is a bit different for each species or cultivar.

Some Hosta are perfectly healthy but do not set seed. Krossa Regal and its sports are sterile. That's just genetics. They have usable pollen but do not set seed. If you don't see seed pods that's not a big deal. Perhaps the bees haven't visited that flower. Perhaps it's too hot. Seed has difficulty setting at or above 85 degrees.

And then there are some breeder plants that set seed easily. Again just genetics. Here's Dorset Clown.

{{gwi:1071568}}

Steve

Many of my hosta are very young but have 2, 3, even 4 scapes, some have pods - is that indicative of a healthy, happy plant?

=-=>>> what steve said.. but on this comment.. it simply means they have reached sexual maturity ... perhaps like a teenager.. not quite mature in physical development .. but able to get in trouble ... lol ..

so yes.. on some level ... they must be happy enough to have progressed to sexual maturity ....

i know we are all going to be in denial.. but september is later this week .. no matter where any of us are.. its all down hill from here ... start wrapping your head around the fact .. that one by one .. they will start declining toward dormancy ... yellow leaves at this time of year .. doesnt necessarily mean anything other than its fall ... some go down early.. others fight to the end ... especially the fall flowering plants ...

ken

Thank you both and it's good to know you can't overwater hosta. Interesting about the pods.

Even here in zone 4 we have Hosta showing signs of going dormant, WAY early for that here.

Despite my incessant watering, heat is heat . . .

hh

Thank you both and it's good to know you can't overwater hosta.

That's not quite what Steve said, you forgot about the part where the soil drains well enough. If the soil doesn't drain well, particularly poor-draining potting mix, you will quickly get root rot and a plant that will succumb to it unless drastic measures are taken.

Pieter

Thank you Pieter for your important reminder. Thankfully, we have nice sandy loam and drainage isn't a problem.

Well,I am in zone 6,and several of my hostas have already gone dormant,due to the dryness.Lots have yellowing leaves,and some of the native trees are dropping leaves already. I'd say fall is on the way. Phil

Since you mentioned that youngsters can get early in trouble, this little H 'Warpaint' seedling only germinated 8 months ago and had this beautiful set of flowers, but no pods later.
Bernd