Low light to high light

esther_opal

15 years ago

I think I've stopped keeping detailed records for this year unless we get a big flush in September.

Interim conclusion, donÂt move plants from low to high light during the growing season unless you must.

If you are interested in the basis for my conclusions go here?

Here is a link that might be useful: Going from low light to high light

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Comments (4)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
restatement of conclusion ...

move them to full sun.. if you dont care what they will look like for the rest of the season ...

it akin to my little white red headed boy .... in spring.. he burns like a lobster ... by now.. he is tan ... i should keep him in more shade .... earlier in the year ...

back to hosta.. leaves developed in deep shade.. will burn to a crisp when moved out to full sun... but if there is a new flush that comes out in the new location.. it will be accustomed to that sunlight ... as it will next spring ...

ken
esther_opal
Original Author
15 years ago
"move them to full sun.. if you dont care what they will look like for the rest of the season ..."
Ken

All you say is true even the phrase in quotes!

I'm saying you may lose a years growth going from low to high light. If you put it where you want it and plan to leave it there then long term it doesn't matter or even if you lose a years growth, so what! UNLESS of course, it dies!

If you are talking about a new division or a small plant not long removed from the test tube in TC then it may be overcome during this first year.

I looked at the roots on only 2 of these 6 plants and both did not produce normal root growth, I posted photos of one but could not get a good shot of the part of the roots that just died. They had lost at least half of one years growth.

BIG BUTT, I wouldnÂt put an expensive plant or a young plant under this stress. Stressed plants are more prone to disease and pest damage.

I know you would throw this plant into the driveway, return in a couple of days and plant it in full sun? BIG BUTT, IÂm not!

BTW, IÂm just messing with ya, IÂm working on a present for you even as we speak.
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babka, sorry I meant to say appropriate question NOT INAPPROPRIATE. "And which year are you talking about--this year's growth or next years? " greenthumbz Surely we lose both, the leaves that were burned could not contribute to roots. Lack of roots leads to lack of plant next year, maybe we are talking about a total of one year spread over 2 years. "I should take some pics. some of my leaves have gotten sun scalded, but the plants are continuing to flourish despite not looking as good as they would without the scald." Greenthumbz Again, every lost leaf surely means lost roots. "Your statements about a healthy ecosystem needing 7 varieties of plants growing together for good health really intrigued me--I must go out and add more plants among my Hosta." Greenthumbz Now add this piece to the puzzle, apparently as the roots of different plants intermingled if one plant needed P it took it from a root of another specie that had P and vice versa with other minerals. Plus, they reasoned that 3 or more of the same specie planted together interacted to their benefit, dont know how close which may be specie specific. Notice every "natural" ecosystem has a wide variety of specie mixed unless we introduce an exotic plant that the ecosystem hasnt or cant adapt to such as kudzu in the south. Have you ever wondered if hosta will be the kudzu of the north shading out the wild flowers of a forest. All this is so damned interesting it just makes me crazy thinking about it, so much to know so little time. BIG BUTT people who tell me they are bored get on my last nerve.
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Your experiment has me wondering... Since inside low light is typically a limited spectrum light or indirect window light, and then outdoor direct light provides full rays of sun, giving red and blue light rays that provide more energy to the plant... wouldn't the plant regressing to be expected? What I am getting at is I have always had my own thoughts that the plant simply gets a "metabolism" overcharge, so to speak. If they aren't receiving the reds and blues, or more typically just blue or just red under indoor lighting, and then become exposed to the rays full blast... the plant just burns itself up in a super dose of energy. I must admit I haven't pondered on why plants go through what is loosely coined as transplant shock in years. I am no scientist or botanical expert but still find it worth thinking about, all the same. Good topic! I will stay tuned!
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to presume.. that the year of planting.. that they are struggling .. is an indication.. that your only thought is the plant .. ABOVE GROUND .... i would bet .. all things perfect .. in first year.. they quadrupled the root mass .... again.. the second year ... another quadrupling.. in a perfet world ... its like that old baseball movie ... build it and they will come.. build the root mass.. and the plant will follow.. in 3 to 10 years.. mini to giant .... the ONLY reson to dig it up .. is if it is an imperfect world.. and you suspect some problem under ground ... hosta are not annual ... they do NOT have explosive growth in a year .... and they are not perennials.. in the sense that they will leap the second year ... some may .. most wont ... sooooo.. the only failure the original poster has .... not ester.. but where he pulled the quote from ... is their own personal expectation .... they expected more.. so the plant is a failure based on her expectation ... patience is a virtue as they say .... just build it.. they will come... ken
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botanybabe
15 years ago
Hello folks,
I think EO's work has value from the standpoint of basic knowledge and practical application. As a professional researcher who has studied his experiments, I have learned a lot about the effects of water, air, shade and sun on plants. Things that many of us thought were a "given" such as hosta crowns will rot when subjected to moisture continuously, have turned out to be untrue.

I have seen firsthand that taking a plant from low light to high ligh causes at least the loss of one/half to an entire season's growth of leaves, and at least some loss of root growth while the plant concentrates on flushing with new leaves to gather light and make food.

Additionally, I've been using Butch's "constant water reservoir" system for all my incoming new hostas in order to build up the root mass before planting in the permanent spots. I've found that the plants put down lots of roots to reach the water reservoir and this in turn allows them to gather more nutrients to put out new leaves.

I just purchased my current favorite plant H.'Golden Meadows" and plan to take it through this process prior to planting in my garden, it was more than I usually pay for a hosta and I want to give it the best start possible.

I'm taking some of Butch's experiments to the next level, providing a control group and limiting the variables so the studies will be more controlled and the data more reliable. The outcomes will be posted after data has been gathered and analyzed.

This stuff can be fun if you like small adventures.

Lainey
esther_opal
Original Author
15 years ago
"I'm taking some of Butch's experiments to the next level, providing a control group and limiting the variables so the studies will be more controlled and the data more reliable."

I'll look forward to your results, I can see a few angles to look at all this and controlled test are the best way.

Some of whatÂs been done is at the tail end of empirical work indicating the next step, yet side by side blind trials would be more traditional and carry more weight.

Low light to high light

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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