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Hostas House Plants garden

Is my Hosta dying?

Lashawna Pollydore

3 years ago

hi I’m a new plant mom and just purchased my first Hosta about 2 weeks ago. I was told this can be an indoor plant if given enough care but I’ve noticed that her lillies are turning yellow. I’ve kept her in a shady area and water her 2x a week. Her leaves are a drying up and turning brown. Please help

Featured Answer

hc mcdole

3 years ago

Put it in a shady area outdoors. Hostas are hardy outdoor plants in a pot or the ground.

Here are some examples of mine in pots.

I moved this hosta into a sunnier location this month and the one leaf got a nasty sunburn.

They do better in the ground though.

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Comments (11)

Babka NorCal 9b
3 years ago
Nope. Who told you that? They are not houseplants. Show me some leaves!

-Babka
Lashawna Pollydore thanked Babka NorCal 9b
Lashawna Pollydore
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Babka, the cashier at Home Depot said it would be fine.
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Hi, Hosta division is always best done in spring or summer, not in the fall, especially with a potted plant. Hostas are warm season growers, so any damaged crown and roots only heal/regrow when it is warm. Divide in late spring/summer they start to heal and regrow immediately. Divide in the fall and they don't start to heal and regrow until the following year in late spring/summer after it has warmed up completely. Fairy ring can occur when the crown becomes exposed. New hosta eyes like to form below ground, but if soil has washed away or the plant is above ground (can happen over time, in the pot the soil may have compacted) then new eyes tend to mostly form around the outer part of the plant, where they can develop deeper. Eyes near the center will be small and undeveloped by the outer ones will be larger. I agree with Ken's advice this particular time, dig out the center and fill with fresh soil, and consider repotting the whole thing and divide if you wish. Chris
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party_music50
3 years ago
The flowers are spent -- which is completely natural -- so you can cut the stems back now. I agree that a hosta isn't a good candidate for growing indoors.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years ago
Gardening Rule #1 - Don't get gardening advice from Home Depot cashiers! Even the workers in the garden department rarely know anything about the plants they are selling.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
hosta have a requisite full dormancy ... ergo.. they can not be a houseplant ...

now is root growing time.. to store energy in new roots.. so they can come out of dormancy next spring ...

so it would be best to get it outdoors soon ...

since its been indoors.. it will need to be hardened off as it goes outside ... a bright shade would be best ...

if you do not have a garden to put it in.. there are a few peeps who grow them on balconys ...

the hardware store is a good place to find a bargain.. once you know enough to make the right choices ...

welcome to the forums.. and welcome to gardening ... we are here to teach ... if you are willing to learn ... if you have certain interests.. we can probably recommend a forum ... though only traitors leave the hosta forum ....

ken
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
3 years ago
I agree with everyone that you should grow hostas outside..you might check the houseplant forum for info about houseplants..one of my favorites..Krossa Regal..
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
she has the houseplant forum included.. but its still not a houseplant ... ken
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
3 years ago
ken..I didn't notice that she posted in the houseplants forum..my thought was if she looked at the forum she might see great recommendations for houseplants..
liquidfeet Z6 Boston
3 years ago
Calathea make great houseplants. I am building a collection of them.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
3 years ago
I will second the advice of never soliciting gardening advice from the staff at Home Depot. Or Lowe’s. Or menard’s. Or - horrors - Walmart! These aren’t the best place to be buying plants anyway, especially hostas. Hosta disease can be rampant at these big-box stores.

If a plant has a tag - read it. And pull your cellphone out of your pocket and google the plant name (for planting instructions, plant care, etc) before you buy.

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