Another...should I seperate !

[got the hosta bug]

Hi Gang,

I aquired this hosta from a collector last year. She knew
Ed Elslager and purchased the hosta, labeled 86XE35, from his Estate when his plants were auctioned off. In her discussions with Ed himself, prior to his death, she was told he was still working with this specimen to get a large streaked bluish green sport. Anyways, I received half of the streaked part of the plant and she kept the other half. She also sent me part of the mound that she had removed that had only a small amount of streaking and was obviously a revert back to a blueish parent. My question is this: Should I remove the less streaked part of this plant now or could it possibly become more streaked during the season. I have no intention of being a hybrinizer so I have not done much
research on this subject.

[newtohosta-no more]

I don't have an answer for you, so I'll wait and see what some of the others say. I did want to comment on what a gorgeous hosta that one is though!!

[Lessadragon]

It looks like the one to the rear might be trying to stabilize out to a margined variety. They are both really nice plants. I would separate them to see what you get with both plants. The more solid eye may try to take over the whole plant if left together. I have just finished doing that with several of my seedlings. I like to keep my really nice streaked ones for pod parents.

Lynn

[largosmom]

I would separate them. However, I'm still a relative novice at this.

Laura

[caliloo]

They are both gorgeous and I would split them.

Alexa

[renaldo75]

To be on the safe side, I think I'd separate them. The streaked one is a gorgeous plant!!

[jgh]

I'm assuming that those big eyes indicate a good root system, so I'd split them. It is amazing how rapidly you can "lose" a streaker... I waited one season too long with my Galaxy and the result is an overall plant much less streaky than the plant I used to have.

This is one where I'd be approaching it more like a diamond-splitter than a butcher choping sirloins, though. I'd wash off the roots and use a small sharp knife, cutting carefully to not only divide the eyes, but to leave both with sufficient roots. Since it is such a valuable plant (due to its rare heritage) I'd also invest in some fresh fungicide powder to treat the cut areas.

You said you don't intend to use it for breeding. You might want to grow it up into several divisions and then consider making a donation to one of the hosta auctions. You could probably get a tax deduction and provide a breeder or collector with a rare plant. You could also collect seed and donate it - bet there are lots of folks who would like to grow seed from that plant, even open-pollinated.

[got the hosta bug]

Darn you jgh....LOL

you've now got me thinking about breeding the fellow. I will take your advice and carefully remove the bigger eye and, as I always do, use fungigide. It was a very expensive purchase ....I don't want to lose it. It's currently in my holding area with 600 other varieties so if I let it seed then god only knows what the seeds will turn out like. I was actually going to remove all flower stalks this year, on all my plants, to ensure more energy is put into root production than flower/seed production. There is a good chance the whole collection is going to have to be moved across the country in late summer so they will need good root growth.
Perhaps next year I can put this particuliar plant in a closed environment (away from bees etc) and look at pollinating it with another hosta of special characteristics.

[DBoweMD]

I'd love to get my hands on seeds from that one. I'm hoping you'll let the bees do it rather than cutting the scapes off.

[largosmom]

Maybe you could donate the seeds to the Hallson's seed exchange later this year (or at least some!).

Laura

[got the hosta bug]

I went today to take another look at the plant and I noticed that over the weekend a scape has shoot up from the nicely streaked eye. Ok this is geting way to weird...I know it's June and time for the flowers to start coming out but this is to freaky when I've been chatting with you all about breeding and seeds !!!! I think I'm going to remove the less streaked eye and isolate the streaked division (the one with the scape) and try my hand at doing some "assisted" pollination. Any suggestions (I've posted my hosta list and hostas #1-#600 will most likely send up scapes this year) on what plant in my collection I should try to pollinate it with ?
Damn....for some one that said I had no intention of breeding I sure changed my mind fast didn't I ?

Glenn

[largosmom]

I would wait to divide until the blooming is over. I ruined a scape this year when I divided one, and it was my first blossom, darn it! However, I have two plants now and less of a chance I will lose the whole plant which I purchased for breeding.

Laura

[DBoweMD]

Pick pollen parents that really change the appearance of the pod parent. Something special like fragrance, mini's, giants, skinny leaves, bright yellows, blues, red petioles, piecrust edge. Think of a plant you like as a solid that would be even better variegated.

[Pieter]

Glenn, sure hope you got room for all those seedlings next year....

[Ginger]

Glenn, I think your handle says it all

Ginger

[Hostahaveum]

I guess we better start a waiting list for those seeds That sure is a one nice streaker you have there , just lovely!

[baja220]

Since it is such a valuable plant (due to its rare heritage) I'd also invest in some fresh fungicide powder to treat the cut areas.

What kind of fungicide powder do you use?

got the hosta bug, that's a beautiful plant!!! Oh yea, put me on that wait list for seeds!!