The hosta is a stunning ornamental plant. Planting one of these plants is all it takes to add a succulent touch to any garden plot.
Hosta diseases must be treated as soon as they manifest because failing to do so could cause the plant to perish.
I’ll also show some photographs of actual illnesses and pests that the plant is known to affect in real life.
You can quickly determine if your plant is showing the early stages of a disease by looking at the obvious symptoms.
When pruning or dividing shrubs, sap from the hands or garden tools can spread the disease.
When you touch healthy plants with a dirty hoe or your hands, the virus enters the plant’s tissue through the wounds and cuts and starts to feed and grow.
Yellow spots, tiny flecks, dashes, and rings were mistaken for an unusual hosta coloration prior to the virus’s discovery.
Later on, it was identified as a disease that results in stunted growth and curled leaves.
If an infestation is found, take immediate action by replanting the entire garden as far away from the infected area as possible.
To stop the hosta virus from infecting other plants, the harmed plants should be burned or disposed of with other garbage.
Hosta sieboldiana, also known as Siebold’s plantain lily, and its hybrids are resistant to viruses, but that doesn’t mean they are completely free from the risk of infection.
If a virus has been discovered, there is no point in attempting to save the plant because the illness is fatal.
Every part of the hosta plant becomes infected, and eventually it perishes. I advise destroying the unhealthy hosta and cleaning the used tools.
Before you take any drastic measures, read this article about how to determine for sure if you have the hosta virus.
The disease known as brown spot, also known as Phyllosticta Leaf Spot, can affect both indoor and outdoor plants.
Burning leaves and stems with fungal spore centers will decrease the hosta’s need for watering and the amount that it receives.
To stop the diseased hostas from spreading to nearby plants, you should remove them from their original locations.
Copper-based fungicides are effective in combating the disease. Brown spot disease is treated by spraying every 10 days until flowering starts.
Gray rot fungi are omnivores, as are their hosts. Flowers, fruit and berry plants, herbaceous plants, and flowers are all impacted.
Growing mycelium on the plant, the botrytis fungus releases spores that are dispersed by the wind to other nearby plants.
Hostas are remarkably hardy plants that have established themselves as staples of the shade garden. When their basic requirements are met, including protection from direct sunlight (for the majority of varieties), plenty of water, regular fertilization, and division of crowded stands, hostas are generally trouble-free. There are, however, a few issues that affect the health and appearance of this popular perennial. Here they are:
Avoid piling mulch around the base of any hosta, but particularly those that may have petiole or crown rot. Don’t transplant any plants that are obviously contaminated or that you think might be contaminated. Remove infected tissue; taking care not to spread the fungus. Keep a container on hand for the quick isolation and disposal of infected plant matter; seal it, then put it in the garbage, not the compost pile.
The leaves’ edges start to yellow and brown, and the base of the petiole (leaf stem) becomes limp and mushy. The leaves are easily pulled from the main plant. White fungal threads (mycelium) may be visible. At the base of the petiole, the disease fungus creates tiny, rounded fungal seeds known as sclerotia. In cold weather, sclerotia can remain dormant; in warm, humid climates, they become active.
[4] Root, Stem, and Collar Rot
It’s a fungal rot caused by Phytophthora. A fungus that attacks plants by infecting their roots and rhizomes lives in the soil.
These fungi can be dormant during the winter and come to life when the weather warms and becomes more humid.
Compared to bacterial soft rot, it produces rot at a much slower rate. The chances are in your favor this time to keep the pieces together.
Without first identifying and inspecting the root system, it is nearly impossible to anticipate root rot in its early stages. Some symptoms will surface above ground as a result of the roots rotting.
The leaves’ discoloration is a surefire sign of root rot.
Before falling off, the leaves first turn yellow from the edges to the center, then discolor and dry out.
There is absolutely no treatment available for this condition.
Do not transplant infected shrubs or those that you suspect may be infected, and never use soil from beneath the plant.
Remove all infected hostas from the garden and properly dispose of them to stop the fungus from spreading.
Copper Sulfate And Bordeaux Liquid Spraying Are Effective
However, it is not a good idea to jeopardize the plant’s health. Dig up the hosta when the first leaf turns yellow, and carefully look for any indications of root rot.
Cut the afflicted areas with a sharp knife, then apply fungicides or activated charcoal to the cuts.
Wait until the sick hosta has dried out for a couple of hours before replanting it; after that, plant it in a fresh container.
Different bacteria can cause bacterial soft rot, which typically happens when a leaf has been damaged.
Winter icing can also leave these types of wounds. It usually appears during the warming period after a frost.
Decaying Hosta Roots Due to Bacterial Soft Rot
You won’t be able to mistake the rotten smell emanating from the decomposing cuttings and lower leaves for anything else.
You will see some visible damage to the plant. This explains why there are new brown spots on the hosta’s leaves.
Plants that are infested should be removed and destroyed.
Make sure to thoroughly clean any equipment that has come into contact with the plant, and wash your hands and gloves.
Considering that the bacteria only affects the damaged areas, removing the entire garden is not necessary in this case.
It is common for healthy leaves and nearby shoots to be quickly and severely affected by the disease.
Plant species that require a lot of shade and moisture are the most at risk.
Round-Shaped Brown Spots are Sure Sign of Anthracnose
A hosta becomes infected when small, round brown spots on the leaves enlarge and develop darker borders, resembling rust on the plant.
The spots actually “tear” the leaf, preserving only its tenacious veins.
Eliminate any diseased leaves, reduce humidity levels, and make sure plants have enough ventilation (i.e., space for air to circulate).
After that, apply a fungicide to prevent further infection of the healthy leaves still present.
Crown rot, another name for petiole rot, is a harmful fungus.
Crown rot, another name for petiole rot, is a harmful fungus. It is brought on by a fungus called fusarium, which internally rots the roots.
Typically, it doesn’t cause much of a problem until it enters the crown, at which point you must cut it out until you reach clean tissue.
However, for it to become a significant problem, fusarium typically needs to somehow get on the plant or soil. This is because it can be a bigger problem in potting soil that dries out too much between waterings.
Due to crown rot, hostas turn floppy, spongey, and rotten at the base.
The main signs include yellowing and wilting of the leaves along the outline.
The leaf becomes floppy, spongy, and rotten at the base.
Large leaves that cannot support themselves may completely “fall off” the main shrub.
Additionally, white fungus filaments (mycelium) can be seen and recognized.
Small, rounded sclerotia seeds spread as the fungus advances, eventually covering the entire plant.
The fungus is dormant when it’s cold outside, but it awakens when it’s warmer and wetter.
Hosta Base Rotten Duew to Crown Rot
There is no treatment for this disease. Avoid using the old soil for replanting.
Eliminate or destroy any infected hosts in the garden to stop the fungus’s spread.
Now you should be able to recognize and handle typical hosta diseases. Please contact me with any queries or ideas you may have.
Michelle Wishhart is a writer based in Portland, Ore. Since 2005, she has worked as a staff arts writer for City on a Hill Press, a weekly alternative publication based in Santa Cruz, California. Wishhart spent two years working as a wholesale nursery grower at Encinal Nursery. Wishhart graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and fine arts.
The Hosta (Hosta spp. ) genus contains 50 to 70 species of shade-tolerant, mounding plants, many of which are grown for their lush, heart- or elliptical-shaped leaves. A hosta plant is battling a disease or an infestation of pests if white spots start to appear on its foliage. Foliage issues can be avoided by adhering to proper cultural care guidelines.