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| I have a Sum & Substance and a Frances that are very small in overall size and leaf size. The leaf cluster is about 8" wide, with much smaller leaves close to the ground. They are about 4 years old and this is the first year I've noticed this. I have another other Sum & Substance and various other hostas that are growing normally, much larger in size. Any ideas? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by river_crossroads 8b Central Louisiana (My Page) on Fri, May 31, 13 at 11:58
| Leaves are turning in, protecting themselves. Looks like too much sun, don’t you think? I turned your pic with Microsoft Picture Manager that came free with the version of Microsoft Office that I have. You may already have it, or you can rotate with free software that you can download. You can google “free photo editing software.” |
Here is a link that might be useful: 10 free photo editing software programs, rec by Tech Radar Computing
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| Thank you for turning my photo! I completely overlooked that! I'm not sure it's a sun issue, since other hostas in the same bed are doing just fine. There isn't much sun in this bed... just some in the morning. I didn't post a photo of the stunted Sum & Substance, but in the posted photo, you see the stunted Frances with a normal growing Sum& Substance in the background. The stunted S&S is just a few feet away, small collection of small opened leaves on the ground, looks similar to the Frances in the above photo. |
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| Are you saying that these specific plants were fine for the last four years, and now they are small like this? Just trying to clarify what you mean... They don't look like anything is "wrong", but almost just like they are behind schedule, although the one in front does look like a small hosta, not a big one like FW or S&S. Do you have voles? Could they have gotten to the roots, and maybe delayed the growth of whatever root is left? I'm a bit perplexed! |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Fri, May 31, 13 at 13:06
| there is an EXTREMELY active hosta forum ... try it ... any chance you are growing under a hated maple tree??? and it is sucking the life out of your hosta ... i am not sure.. there is such a thing as too much sun.. in a lot of z5.. this cold spring.. hosta are very slow to come out.. for me in MI ... where are you ... and.. how deep are they.. the crown.. should be right at soil level.. could you see the pips all winter.. if not.. they are planted too deep more info please .. ken |
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- Posted by lisanti07028 z6NJ (My Page) on Fri, May 31, 13 at 13:09
| I'd say that something is going on with the roots, either competition, as Ken says, or they are planted too deeply (also Ken). Dig them up and see what's going on. |
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| Thank you all for the feedback....here's more info to clarify... These plants were fine for the last four years, well, they were young and growing into there mature size, but normal otherwise. This is the first spring these 2 have exhibited such unusual growth. They were transplanted 2 years ago, so perhaps I buried them deeper than I should have. I don't see the pips during winter, so maybe that is the case. I'm not sure it's weather related. We've had some cold overnights this spring here in my area of Maine, but the other hostas in the bed, including another S&S are looking normal. BTW, these hostas are all planted in a raised bed around a birch and some sort of conifer. I don't think we have voles.... what evidence would there be? I guess the best thing to do is dig them up and see what's going on. |
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- Posted by trovesoftrilliums 5 (My Page) on Fri, May 31, 13 at 20:18
| Sounds like vole damage. I had this happen to a couple of my hostas and I am pretty sure it was voles. The roots were just gone. We do have vole tunnels visible on the edge of our lawn though. |
Here is a link that might be useful: MO Botanical garden article on voles.
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