Risky Business

Talk about hostas, hostas, and more hostas! Companion plant topics should be posted in the Shade Garden forum.

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django
Posts: 10
Joined: May 26, 2007 9:41 pm
Location: Pennsylvania

Risky Business

Post by django »

I planted Risky Business last year with three healthy eyes. So far, only one eye has emerged this spring. It's not living up to its description of being vigorous, robust, prolific, etc. Should I move it or just wait and see if the missing eyes eventually show up???
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better! It's not. -- - -- Dr. Seuss
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jgh
Posts: 5135
Joined: Oct 14, 2001 8:00 pm
Location: Plymouth, Minnesota zone 4

Re: Risky Business

Post by jgh »

Risky Business has been an easy, vigorous plant for me. It isn't a particularly early- or late-riser, so if your other hostas are up and this one is languishing, it might make sense to dig it up and take a look at what happened.

I'm guessing the simple answer is the one we are sharing on so many threads this time of year - some type of physical damage. I'm betting you will find a good section of dead crown - or a dusty mess that was part of the crown... or maybe a good section of the roots missing. voles are likely villians. Maybe a crown rot of some sort. Maybe too deep or too shallow due to settling of the dirt or something.

Whatever the cause, you can either leave it and wait for it to recover, or dig it up and clean it up and replant under ideal conditions. The later will probably speed up recovery.
django
Posts: 10
Joined: May 26, 2007 9:41 pm
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: Risky Business

Post by django »

Thanks for the advice. I dug it up, checked it out, and replanted it with lots of compost. The roots looked great and the one eye looks fabulous - I'll just wait and see.
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better! It's not. -- - -- Dr. Seuss
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