Here at plantingsmarts, we truly prize the shade-loving Hosta plant also sometimes referred to as Funkia or Plaintain lilies in the UK. Garden lovers and horticulture enthusiasts, if you’re looking for plants to fill up those shady spots of your garden border plants or simply need a nice addition to your house plants, the Hosta plant is your best bet.
Belonging to the Asparagaceae(the same family as Yuccas) and native to northeast Asia, the Hosta genus is a long living perennial with over 70 species growing into a variety of designs.
Their large wavy and waxy foliage come in a color range of light and dark green, blue green, purple, and even gold along with creamy white markings on the edges.
Blue hosta plants are a personal favorite of ours given it’s rarity and oceanic visual appeal. Although most popular for it’s abundant foliage, the Hosta plant’s flowers are also pleasant for their sweet extravagant scent.
If you’re considering growing your own Hostas, let us tell you that it would be a marvelous decision and you won’t regret it. These plants require little maintenance and are extremely hardy. However, there are some basic guidelines you should be aware of to ensure the best growth of your plant.
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How to Plant and Grow Hosta Plants
First things first, of course, preparation is an essential for healthy plant growth. Selecting your planting site is the most important part when it comes to Hosta plants. They are shade loving plants and hate to be put in direct sunlight which will quickly burn them. A good rule of thumb when choosing your planting site is the lighter the foliage, the more sunlight you will want your plant to have and the darker it is, more shade is best. Your soil should be slightly acidic and prepared with a good organic multi-purpose compost which your Hosta plants will love.
If your planting in a container be sure to have holes at the bottom and add in some pebbles at the bottom to allow for easier drainage without any soil falling out. Dig your planting hole at least twice the diameter of the rootball and plant it just deep enough for the plant’s crown to be at level with the ground. However, before planting, allow your plant to soak overnight in water to kick start it’s growth.
Hosta plants are not drought tolerant so be sure to give them about an inch or two of water on a weekly basis especially during their early growing period. A good sign your plants plants need watering is when the leaves start to droop down a bit. Adding and replacing layers mulch periodically will also help retain moisture and repel weeds. Your plants will reach their full maturity in about 4 to 8 years.
Some growers also find it more preferable to prune away their flowers and their tall stems because it creates a more uniform look amongst the foliage. However, this option is entirely up to you as pruning the flowers or not will not harm the plant in any way.
Another option you have is to propagate your plants by division every 3 or 4 years. This is most easily done in the springtime when new growth is emerging without too much foliage expansion. You can divide your plants when you like as long as there is at least 30 days before the first frost to allow the roots to establish themselves. Simply dig and remove your plants, divide the clumps with a sterilized knife and plant them into whatever layout you’d prefer.
When it comes to Hosta plants pests and diseases, you don’t have much to worry about other than slugs, snails, and deer. For small crawling critters such as slugs and snails, copper wire around your container and gravel around your plant should be sufficient to keep them away. As for deer, you could consider growing your Hosta plants within a fencing system or with other deer repelling plants such as onion scented alliums.
We hope you enjoyed learning about Hostas and perhaps found some useful growing tips! Feel welcome to contact us with your own experiences with this perennial or with any other gardening questions you have!