Re: now hosta

That's exactly what my hosta is doing! Should I cut down on the water
since it's going dormant? Any hosta needs shade here. And this is one of
the blue ones, Elegans I think. Since this is under two trees, one on
each side, it has protection from hail. And that's what North Texans
call hostas - slug food. We also joke that if any gardening book (except
those that are Texas specific) say a plant needs full sun, that means
full sun in New York - not here. Thanks to all for the reassurance. I
was worried about my hosta!


---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt@hort.net>
Reply-To: gardenchat@hort.net
Date:  Tue, 2 Dec 2003 01:21:08 -0500

>As others have noted, Pam, that's perfectly normal.  Hosta go dormant
>in fall and reappear in spring.  Most of them actually require a
>certain amount of cold vernalization to grow well, which is why they
>are often not as robust in the deep south as in the north.  In my
>climate, the leave of all of them turn a sort of transparent yellow
>with the first light frosts and then simply go flat and shrivel up
>with our killing frost.  I am sure they will behave differently in
>your climate.  Also agree that shade is a must where you are. 
>Northern gardeners on other lists have sworn black and blue that
>hosta need full sun...not where I am!  There are a few that take more
>sun than others, but even those end up with brown leaf edges by
>August around here.  They will need shade, but also good light - like
>they do not grow well smack under some large shrub or tree where it's
>so dark even weeds won't grow.
>
>Protecting from slugs is a good plan, as those pests love hosta and
>can really make a hash out of the unfolding leaves in spring, which
>leaves you with one ragged plant all season.  Most of mine looked
>like hell all season as they got hit by a hail storm early on and do
>not put out new foliage once they've opened all their leaves:-(  But,
>hopefully, next year we won't have hail in early June and they'll be
>fine.
>
>The hosta with thick leaves are more resistant to slug attack than
>those with thinner leaves, BTW.
>
>Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
>mtalt@hort.net
>Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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>> From: Of Pamela J. Evans
>> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 6:40 AM
>> 
>> Speaking of perennials, is it normal for hostas to die back over
>the
>> winter and re-sprout in Spring? This is my first one and it's
>starting
>> to look awful shrivled and sick.
>
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--
Pam Evans
Kemp TX/zone 8A



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