Hosta beginner question

16 years ago

I am new to this site and to Hostas! I just couldn't find the answer to my (i think simple question) anywhere!

I just planted some hosta rhizomes, eyes only. They had no leaves, and I followed the instructions on the package, about 2 inches deep. I watered and mulched them.

My questions are: Are they going to grow? Is it too late? I see some people say that they can be planted anytime, others say that spring is best....The ground won't freeze here for a while, if at all!

My other question is: will I get leaves or flowers, or anything this coming spring? How long does take a hosta to grow from a rhizome?

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (9)

i_dig_it
16 years ago
Hi and Welcome to the Hosta Forum!

Given your zone, your hostas should be fine. I planted some roots and was very skeptical about if they would grow too, but the following spring they sprouted and I had a nice plant.

It sounds like you planted them corectly and the mulch will protect them throuh the winter, so you should definately have a plant there next spring!

Again welcome and feel free to join in anytime. This is such a fun and informative place to hang out with others that share the passion for hostas.

Janet
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zenobia0000
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks so much for the reply! I feel better already!

Larisa
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Hi and welcome. . . I think part of the fun of gardening is to *just do it*. Like Gardenweed said, soil and light are important to know in order to be successful. When I started gardening there was no internet. If I saw something I liked I bought it. . . did it all live HECK NO ! I had a lot of no no's and flub ups along the way. Now I'm helping my daughter get her hands dirty in her own garden. I tell her about some of my mistakes and I really wonder why I stuck with it. Back then I. . . used liguid weed and feed on my annuals (I didn't have perennials yet) I grew hostas in full hot sun, poppies were in full shade. Just to share a few of my mistakes. The one thing I have taught my daughter that has been very helpful is read the tag before buying and save it after planting. Most of the time the info is accurate. It gives light requirements, watering needs, height/width and spacing as a guide line. If you see a plant that you like for a certain spot in your garden and the tag says it needs 6 hours of full sun but the bed you are buying for is in the shade you know it wont work there. No matter what happens, have fun. . . enjoy the process.
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esther_opal
16 years ago
Two parts, crown from which the roots grow down and foliage grows up, no rhizomes here.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
first.. welcome...

second ... our base line is that THEY ARE HOSTA .. and will grow on the driveway ....with total abject torture ...

but .. third .... i smell bigboxstore, plastic bag stock ... this stuff can be problematic .. in that it is possible that they have been in the plastic bag.. in the wholesalers warehouse and in the bigboxstore too long.. and they MIGHT fail ... if they were totally dried out... and lacked any heft .. they might not make it... if they felt like there was some water inside the roots ... sorta like a semi dried carrot.. they will probably survive ...

4th.. up here in the great white north of MI ... i plant the eyes at ground level .... 2 inches deep MIGHT be too deep .... i might recommend replanting at the proper depth .. on giant hosta.. 2 inches means nothing.. on some of the dwarves and minis ... 2 inches too deep might stunt them.. and lead to their decline ... but being hosta... it will take them a few years to decline entirely ... if you find next year that they aren't quite performing to expectation.. it might be the depth issue....

you didn't mention the name .. or alleged name of the hosta ... so it is hard for us to figure it out ... maybe next year if you can post a picture we can help you ID it ...

5th .... though some hosta have rhizomes.. most don't .... hosta have 3 main parts ... the roots at the bottom... come out of a crown which has the eyes.. and of course.. yours were missing the leaves at this time of year ...

6th ... hosta take anywhere from 3 to 10 years to mature ... again.. ID'ing the plant will help you define that period .... you will get leaves.. and the plant will increase year by year... based on how well you grow the roots ... most will flower the first year.. but some of the plants that take 5 to 10 years to mature.. may not put up a lot of flowers the first few years ...

7th ... THANK YOU ... this forum has been so dead... it was very pleasurable to actually have a real hosta question ....

bottom line.. don't worry about it.. ITS A HOSTA ...

ken
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esther_opal
16 years ago
There is a post "the most important thing... with an excellent post about planting depth.

Don't concern yourself about low temperatures, it will never get cold enough for you to worry about that.
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esther_opal
16 years ago
Search my name and you will find why I think you should not amend the soil; in those post you will find others who vehemently disagree. Out of the disagreements, some vitriolic, you will have enough information to decide what you want to do re the soil.

KenÂs advice about donÂt worry is very true; besides their beauty they are about the easiest plant you might grow. It is also true that plants in boxes often do not grow well and are not properly labeled, many want their plants properly labeled which has nothing to do with how they grow.

Ken is also right to relax and be patient, all will be revealed in good time.
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hostahaveum
16 years ago
Welcome to the forum Zenobia ! You have come to the right place for Hosta answers. I joined last spring & have learned so much these last few months I wish I had found the forum sooner. There is so much knowledge to be had here from those who have grown & or collected for 20+ years. Read back through old posts when you have some time , very interesting stuff. Check-out the Gallery here & The Hosta Library , many beautiful pictures. Good luck w/ your hostas I hope they come up for you , my first ones did even though I found out later they were too deep. Live & learn~Dot
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papou
16 years ago
Hi and welcome to Garden Web hosta forum. Please remember that many hostalovers here are willing to help you...and there are NO silly or stupid questions. So go ahead and shoot!
You may find answers to lots of questions on my personal hosta website called PapouÂs Website
Good luck!

Papou

Here is a link that might be useful: Papou's Hosta Gardens
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esther_opal
16 years ago
When Papou speaks he has done most everything he talks about and can support his positions, super source.

Search his name instead of mine!
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Hosta beginner question

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Hosta beginner question

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zenobia0000Original Author

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