Hosta Question

I have grown hostas for years without a problem but I seem to have one now. Last late spring/early summer one of my hostas gradually turned brown and died out. The same one came back strong this spring. However I have noticed just recently that it and the one next to it have done the same thing. Do I have a dreaded virus? If so is there any hope....I have a ton of hostas. Thanx for any help!!!!

I don't think that the first hosta would have come back strong if this was HVX..or hosta virus x. Perhaps the problem is an environmental one? I had some that behaved that way during drought stress. Have you tried digging to see if there are any roots left? If so, you could try digging them out, amending the soil and replant. Some folks also pot hostas under stress to baby them along. Make sure to use the appropriate sterilization methods on your tool just in case.

Thanks so much for your time and advice. I am heartsick with this new problem but it's nice to know there are people willing to help! Happy gardening to you!

Best of luck with saving your hostas:) It's tough to lose one of your beauties. I have a couple that I must replace after those hot, dry summers. I've had to dig quite a few this year to keep the same thing from happening.

I hope you don't mind if I jump in with a different hosta question! I have around 10 different hosta plants and I'm going to be moving in about a month. My RollerCoaster (first year plants!) are getting ready to bloom..I'm excited but worried. I plan on moving the whole hosta bed with me..will it hurt to move the ones that are blooming?? These are going from Okla to Iowa..
What's the best way to move them? Should I replant them into pots? Or can I just wrap the roots in wet paper towels, etc to get them moved and put them in the ground when I get there?

any help is appreciated (and thanks for letting me butt in with my question!) :)

I don't think that it's going to hurt your hostas long term to move them. I would think that the flowers might break off, but I personally grow my hostas for the foliage primarily anyway. You might also want to check with the folks on the hosta forum, too since you are a subscriber, but I would probably wrap the roots and pack them as if I were going to mail them. I wrap in wet paper towels-not sopping wet, though, wrap that with plastic bags and then seal the top with tape. Note: you are wrapping the rootball, not the leaves. Then I carefully wrap the entire thing in a newspaper sleeve taped closed to protect the leaves (and the flowers). Pack carefully into a box. I'm sure that you'd want to unpack and replant when you got to your destination fairly soon.
Just my 2 cents, others may have more experience with moving garden plants. I have had great success mailing plants the way I described. You might also want to check the 'sticky' about mailing plants on the top of the plant trading forum for mailing techniques.
Best of luck with your move:)

I tend to agree. I have never mailed any but have dug and shared with friends and family at any given time during their growing season that I take a notion to redo a garden. My hostas grow and are hardier than most weeds here so I think with a little love they will move with no problems! Good luck and happiness in Iowa.