Can hostu grow at home?

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Hosta is a charming and mysterious Asian woman. For more than a decade, she has been decorating the shady corners of our gardens, rightfully earning the title of "queen" of the shade. Its bell-shaped flowers are rather modest, but the main advantage of the hosta is not they, but the leaves: ...

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Several years ago I decided to plant a hosta in a pot. I really liked its leaves, I did not hope for flowering. The first year a gorgeous bush has grown and even bloomed!

In the following years, the leaves became smaller and smaller, and there were no more flowers. This spring I wanted to give the host to a friend in the front garden (I live in an apartment), but circumstances interfered, and the plant remained on the windowsill, only the soil was completely changed. The leaves came out in the spring, but smallish.

And what was my surprise when today I discovered FLOWERS! Just beautiful!

Residents of SM, and any of you raised the host at home? Share your experience of care, pliz!

P.S. On the left is Dracaena.

There are a number of hosts that are not recommended to be planted immediately in the ground, where at first they will feel oppressed and may be the victim of malicious snails or slugs, which adore their delicate and thin leaves.

Until hosts form a fairly dense bush, they are best grown in plastic containers (pots).

Florists recommend placing a layer of rotted manure on the bottom of the container (pot) on top of the drainage in order to provide the plant with additional nutrition. To avoid excess evaporation of moisture, the surface layer of the earth must be mulched.

The advantage of container growing hosts is that the plant can be rearranged not only horizontally, but also decorate the resting places with tiers, for example, inside the gazebo, where there is not enough light.The potted host is decorative throughout the season and does not require replacement with other plants.

Requirements for pots for hosts

Hosta pots should hold the right amount of soil and fit the size of the plants. Also important are holes for water drainage, as well as drainage. Young plants are first planted in small containers; as they grow, they must be transplanted into larger pots over time.

The host in the container needs frequent watering and feeding, since the nutrients are washed out with water.

It is very important to place the hosts so that the sun does not warm the pots. Otherwise, the roots that have reached the walls will get burned. Of course, it is best to bury them in the ground.

In winter, containers with hosta should not be left outdoors, the plant may rot or freeze out. The hosta pot must be brought into a dry, cool room.

It would be nice to check the condition of the soil once a month, because its drying out is very destructive. For hosts - you need timely, light watering.

Such plants wake up much faster in spring than plants overwintering in the open field. And if the hosta has grown, do not rush to take it outside until the frost has passed. During the day they can be outside, but at night they should be returned to the room.

Hosta (Hosta), the second name - Funkiya, belongs to herbaceous perennials. It represents the Asparagus family, although until recently it belonged to the Liliaceae family. The culture owes its first name to the physician and botanist of Austrian origin Nikolaus Hosta, and the second to the German botanist Heinrich Christian Funk.

Scientists have described up to 40 species of this plant. The hosta originates from East Asia. It is very hygrophilous, therefore, in the wild, it is found near streams and along river banks. For the Japanese, this flower is considered sacred, and the stalks are a local delicacy. When the host was brought to England, the inhabitants of Foggy Albion were not impressed by it. The Americans reacted to it in a completely different way, who made it one of the most popular in the New World.

Hosta from seeds at home

How to propagate hostu Photo of seeds

The host is grown in a garden and flower pot. Regardless of where you will plant the resulting seedlings, it is worth learning the tricks of sowing hosts with seeds. The disadvantage of this method lies in the poor germination of seeds, which is only 70-80%. Therefore, to take advantage of this propagation method, the seeds should be treated with a growth promoter before planting. By placing them for only half an hour in products such as Kornevin, Aloe juice, Zircon or Elin, you can achieve an increase in the percentage of germination.

Among gardeners, there is also the practice of stratification of seeds to increase the percentage of germination, when the seeds are placed in a cold place (for example, the vegetable section of the refrigerator), kept there for 1 month.

An important factor is the sterility of the prepared soil substrate. Various microorganisms, fungi contained in the soil, severely harm seedlings, causing diseases and death of young shoots. That is why it is recommended to purchase the substrate in specialized stores. It contains a balanced mixture of vermiculite, perlite and peat.

How to grow hosta from seeds Photo of seedlings

When to sow the host for seedlings? In the spring, at the end of February-March, pots are prepared by treating them with medical ethyl alcohol or a weak concentration of potassium permanganate. Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot, supplemented with a substrate and moistened. Leave for a while so that the soil is well saturated with water, and only then sow the host, as rarely as possible spreading rather large seeds over the surface of the substrate.

The same ready-made substrate is used as a powder on top. Its thickness should not exceed 5-7 mm. To ensure the preservation of moisture, a plastic wrap is stretched over the pot or covered with glass. Make sure that the temperature of the soil at the time of germination is between +18 and 25 ° C.

Compliance with all recommendations allows you to expect the first shoots of a week in two or three. It is important to remember that direct sunlight, excessive watering and excess condensation on plastic wrap are detrimental to plants. It is best to keep the pots indoors with light shade. And only when the first shoots appear, it will be necessary to provide them with good lighting.

Growing a host from seeds Photo of seedlings

With the formation of the first two true leaves, a pick begins. Seedlings dive into separate pots, the soil in which is a quarter of sand. These pots are placed in a pan filled with water in order to provide bottom watering.

Until the water moistens the top layer of the soil, the pots cannot be removed from the pan. At the next stage, the cut seedlings are hardened. To do this, remove the film and expose the host to the air, the temperature of which should be above +18 ° C. Seedlings with this type of propagation grow slowly and almost always lose the characteristics of the variety.

Landing hosts in open ground

How to choose a landing place for hosts... Choosing a seat is the main thing to pay attention to when landing hosts. Having planted a flower in one place, you can enjoy its beauty for twenty years, even without transplanting. The choice of location is significantly influenced by the color of the hosta leaves. For varieties with bright leaves containing white and yellow blotches, areas that are more illuminated are chosen, since they belong to light-loving plants.

Hosta with variegated leaves is very important that shade falls on it at noon, while in the morning and evening it needs good lighting. As for the blue varieties, they grow only in shaded places and almost do not need the presence of the sun. The size of the flower leaves directly depends on the shade. The more intense the shading, the larger the leaf blade and the higher the bush. But at the same time the host grows very slowly.

The only thing that no flower variety likes is drafts. The soil for planting should be loose, well-drained, nutritious and have a high degree of moisture. Its pH is neutral or slightly acidic.

If the hosta is planted in the spring, then the land is prepared in the fall. For this, the site is covered with a ten centimeter layer of organic matter and dug up. Over the winter, everything will grind and after the spring frosts, somewhere in early or mid-May, it will be possible to plant the plant in the ground.

How to put the host on the video:

Hosta boarding rules

The distance between the holes depends on what type of plant is planted in the ground.

• For hosts from a small and medium-sized group, it is enough to make holes at a distance of 0.3-0.5 m.
• The giants require an increase in distance of up to 0.8-1.0 m.

In order for the transplant to be successful, the seedlings in pots are watered in advance. They move it into the ground along with a lump of earth from the pot. Sprinkle with soil on top and compact it around the plant so that the ground level in this place is a couple of centimeters lower. If the hostas are planted by dividing the bush, then dry leaves and spoiled roots are removed from each cut, adding mulch in the form of crushed bark to the root section.

Reproduction of hosts by dividing the bush

Reproduction of hosts by dividing the bush photo

They begin to divide the hosts after the flowering period or before the start of active growth. To do this, dig in the bush well so that there is enough space around the root. They pry the root from below with a shovel and take out a bush. They are divided into several parts with growth points, the leaves are cut off at a height of 10-15 cm so that only petioles remain, and planted as independent plants. You can leave 2-3 leaves for vegetation control.

Rooting of hosts takes approximately four weeks. The shrubs of the bush in 2-3 years will become full-fledged bushes. They are planted, adhering to the gap between the bushes of 20-30 cm. The pits are made wider during planting, since the growth of the roots is in the horizontal plane. Planting depth is not changed. At the end of the work, the host is thoroughly moistened.Planting is finished no later than mid-September so that the autumn cold does not interfere with the rooting of the transplanted plants.

How to share the host, look at the video:

How to properly care for a host

Garden maintenance work is kept to a minimum. If during planting all the rules for preparing the soil were observed, then for the first three to four years the host can not be fed at all. In subsequent years, humus or compost is applied every autumn under the bushes. Mineral granules can be sprinkled once a season over the area after rain. Until mid-summer, liquid fertilizers are applied under each bush.

A longer feeding time leads to the growth of hosta leaves, and not to preparing it for winter. In the summer, the soil around the hosts is constantly moistened. If the tips of the leaf blade begin to darken, then the plant does not have enough moisture. When watering, do not spray water over the hosta, this will damage the leaves. It is better to water for a long time in the early morning. Direct a quiet jet at the root.

To make the bush look attractive and not fall apart, remove the peduncles in time. The hosta needs to loosen the earth and weed from weeds only in the first period, until it gets stronger and grows. The flower is separated every 3-4 years. To do this, they dig it up and separate the young cuttings from the root so that the flower does not grow much.

Diseases of hosts

Americans associate the occurrence of diseases in hosts with a large number of varieties in one area. In frostbitten bushes, a fungal disease phyllosticosis often occurs, which looks like brown-yellow spots on the leaf blade.

Peduncles are threatened by fungal infection Phyllosticta aspidistrae Oud... To combat it, one method is used: complete removal of the bush, followed by its burning and disinfection of the soil.

Among the diseases are gray rot - Botrys cinerea, which affects the leaves, and sclerotinia - Sclerotinia, which envelops the root collar.like cottony white mold and destroys it. Fungicides are used against gray rot, and Dichloran is used against sclerotinia. The main pests of the flower.

Slug is one of the main pests of hosts... Traces of its vital activity, and these are holes in the leaves, become visible immediately and reduce the visual attractiveness of the plant. To combat this pest, small flat containers are used, into which beer is poured. Slugs love these places, where they are collected and then destroyed.

The host can be infected by stem nematodes... If spreading yellow necrotic spots, which are the product of the vital activity of these parasites, are visible through the veins of the leaf, then a simple test will help to detect them. The crushed leaves of the affected hosta are placed in a glass of water and they look, if after 1/2 hour floating worms appear in the water, then the disease is obvious. They remove not only the affected plant, but also all the bushes in the area of ​​two meters, because it is possible to fight against a nematode with chemicals, but it is very difficult to deal with laid eggs.

With the advent of a new vegetative period, larvae will hatch from the eggs and the radius of damage to plants will increase. The invasion of insects such as caterpillars and grasshoppers cannot be avoided, for which one night is enough to turn a healthy plant into an unsightly bush. Only pesticide treatment can help cope with this scourge.

Hosta after flowering Preparing for winter

If the peduncles were left, then after flowering, the hosts remove them. At the very beginning of autumn, they begin to prepare the plant for winter. To do this, the site with the hosta is abundantly moistened, the bushes that have grown over the summer are dug out and divided, leaving one or several rosettes of leaves on each part.

To insulate a plot of land with hosts for the winter, they mulch it with leafy soil. This primarily applies to those flowers that grow under large trees. This action solves several tasks at once, such as warming the host and feeding it. Mulching helps to raise the level of the flower garden, which has a positive effect on soil drainage.

Description of hosts Photo compositions in garden design

Host in landscape design photo

Hosta serves as a wonderful backdrop for other flowers and is able to decorate any garden arrangement. The plant has very remarkable leaves: they are large and, depending on the variety, have an original color.

What flowers are combined with the hosts of Heucher and the host of the photo mixborder

It grows very quickly, forms whole plantations and after four years of growth reaches the peak of its attractiveness. Absolutely all types of culture do not have a stem and have a herbaceous structure.

Hosts in garden design photo Combination of hosts hydrangea garden balsam in a flower bed

Its rhizome is compactly thickened and has many branches in the form of laces, which allow the plant to hold firmly in the ground.

Hosta flowers photo in the garden Combination with astilba

On a long, non-leafed peduncle, which rises high above the rosette of leaves, there are flowers collected in neat brushes. They can be white, bluish, pink, purple, plain or terry.

What colors do the hosts combine with? Hosta buzulnik hydrangea actinidia

Usually, the flowers of shade-loving plants do not have external attractiveness, but with hosta flowers, everything is exactly the opposite. They are truly beautiful, collected in one-sided racemose inflorescences and have a funnel-bell-shaped or funnel-shaped appearance.

Hosts in garden design landscape tricks Hosta combined with hydrangea photo

The fruit is a leathery triangular capsule containing numerous seeds. The main advantage of the plant is its leaves. They are basal, lanceolate or heart-shaped, smoothly turning into a sharp point at the tip of the leaf.

Garden design by hosts Hosts in the garden photo composition

Veins are clearly visible along its entire length. The color of the leaves deserves a separate topic of discussion. It fully depends on the variety, varies and can be with a shade of green, white, yellow and even blue.

Hosts in garden design with what colors to combine Hosts of mukdeniya karasuba fern tenacious ayuga

Several colors can be combined on one sheet in the form of spots, strokes, stripes. In texture, the leaves can be crinkled and waxy, glossy and matte, with a metallic sheen and simply wrinkled.

Hosta and astilba in landscape design photo

What is the size of the host?

The average height of the hosts is 55 - 80 cm, although dwarfs, up to 15 cm in height, and giants, which reach 1.2 meters, are also cultivated.

Varieties and types of hosts with photos and names

Let's briefly present the host varieties with photos and names. The culture is widely used in the design of the landscape area, due to the variety of species. The breeding work has borne fruit. Now there are more than 4 thousand hybrid hosta varieties. Several species were taken as a basis, which laid the foundation for varietal diversity.

Bloated host Hosta ventricosa

Bloated Hosta Ventricosa photo in the garden

Up to 0.5 m high, the leaves are pointed at the end, for example, the Thomas Hogg variety.

Wavy host Hosta undulata

Hosta undulata wavy in landscape design photo

Reaches 75 cm in height, its leaf blade has a wavy edge, a white center and a green border, as if applied by strokes. An example is the host Undulata Mediovariegata.

High Hosta Hosta elata Hylanger

High Hosta Nosta elata Hylanger photo

It grows up to 0.9-1 meter, its rather large glossy leaves cast a dark green color. A typical representative is Tom Schmid.

Hosta Siebold Hosta sieboldiana

Hosta Siebold Hosta sieboldiana variety Elegans photo

60 centimeters high, has deep veins. Elegans variety.

Curly Hosta Hosta crispula

Curly hosta Hosta crispula cultivar ‘Thomas-Hoog’ photo

Rarely exceeds 0.5-0.6 m in height, with wide dark green leaves bordered by a white stripe. An example is the Dream Weaver cultivar.

Plantain hosta Hosta plantaginea

Plantain hosta Hosta plantaginea photo

Half a meter in height, has bright glossy green leaves. Royal Standard grade.

Hosta fortunei

Hosta Fortunei Hosta ‘Fortunei Aureomarginata’ photo

Also, it does not grow more than 0.5 meters, it has green leaves with a cream edging. For example, the host variety albopict.

The classification of varieties is also based on:

• color of the sheet;
• sheet size.

Depending on the color of the leaf plate, the varieties are conventionally divided into 5 groups:

1. Blue hosta (blue hosta (B)) - its leaves with a bluish-gray tint.
2. Yellow host (Go) - yellow-leaved.
3. Green Host (Gr) - Combined all green-leaved host.
4. Hosta variegata (V) - varieties with variegated leaves and all those that have a white border.
5. Hosta media variety (MV) - light-leaved varieties with a green border around the edge.

By plant height (size), the division goes into the following 6 groups:

1. Dwarf group Draft (D), unites all species below 10 cm, such as Blue Mouse Ears with bluish leaves resembling mouse ears.
2. Hosta is miniature, Miniature (Mini), its height is within 10-15 cm, for example, La Donna variety with bluish-yellow-green leaves.
3. Small Hosta Small (S) with a maximum height of 16-25 cm, examples are Gold Tone with green leaves and stripes of white or yellow, and Headsmen Blue with bluish green leaves.
4. Medium hosta Medium (M, Med), growing up to 30-50 cm in height, its representatives are the following varieties: Night Before Christmas, with a white center and a dark green wide stripe along the edge, So Sweet, its green leaves are bordered white and cream stripe, White Feather is a unique host of white color, which changes its color to green after a certain amount of time.
5. A group of large hosts Large (L), reaching a height of 0.5-0.7 m, is represented by varieties: Alvatine Taylor, in which a yellow-green border runs along its bluish-green leaves, Golden Meadows with crushed rounded golden leaves in the middle, dotted with pale green strokes and bordered by a wide green stripe.
6. Giant hosts Giant (G), over 70 cm tall, for example, Blue Vision with greenish-bluish leaves and Sum of All, which has a green center of the leaf and a wide, golden border.

Other host entries

A question from Yulia, a subscriber of our official group in VK: Tell me, what is the host's sickness?

After 3 years in one place, she transplanted the hosts near the pool-pond. And still they do not grow lush and tall?

Good afternoon! Can you please tell me what the hosts are sick with? I am an amateur gardener for less than three months, when I bought the house, they were already planted there - in this place, from 9 am to 14 pm, the sun, then the shadow. But due to the fact that the region is southern, the sun is very ...

How to make a proper and beautiful hostary?

Good day to all. I am a big lover of flowers, like all women. Near the house (and we live in a private house) there are many small flower beds, but the plants in them are ordinary. This year I "won" from my husband (he took half of the garden with remontant strawberries and ...

Today ... by chance .., having gone to a flower shop ... I saw these tortured stilts ... I did not plan to plant hosts ... At least until spring ... But ... Alas ... I could not pass by ... Help determine the variety and their future permanent residence ... Thank you :) ))

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Hosta from seeds how to grow a beautiful garden

Hosta is a unique flower, one of the most popular among landscape designers. The unrelenting interest in the plant over the years is understandable. It is difficult to find a flower that can replace the hostu in terms of decorating shady areas of backyards. The culture comes from the East. Naturally occurs in Japan, China and Korea. It has been familiar to European gardeners since the 19th century.

To date, more than 4000 host species are listed in the International Register.

This is by no means the limit.Through the efforts of breeders, new names are added to the list every year. Hosta belongs to the Liliaceae family. All plant species are herbaceous, stemless perennials. The height of the flowers ranges from 5 cm to 1m 20 cm. Numerous cord-like roots grow in depth up to 20-30 cm. The densely intertwined branches are a reliable support for the hosts.

The main decoration of culture is a chic hat made of leaves. Heart-shaped, on a long petiole, they differ in shape and color. Veins stand out on the blue, yellow, green fringed foliage.

Quite late (at the very end of summer), the hosta adds purple, pink, lilac and white colors to the garden. The graceful brush consists of funnel-shaped or funnel-bell-shaped flowers. The triangular leathery capsule contains many flat seeds. Their shade is black or black-brown. The planting material retains its properties throughout the year.

Connoisseurs fell in love with the culture for its undoubted advantages: cold resistance, high decorative effect, the ability to grow in the shade. The adults of the tall species are similar to the inhabitants of the tropics.

For the hosta to show itself in all its glory, you will have to wait 4-5 years.

After another 4-5 years, the plant will not lose its merits, developing in one place for up to 25 years. With age, the culture will become more colorful: it will throw out large leaves, show the shape and shade characteristic of the species. The popularity of the eastern modest woman is due to her decorativeness, which has remained unchanged for decades.

Seed reproduction hosts: preparation

Almost all types of hosts can be grown from seeds. The plant matures 6-8 weeks after pollination. This happens in late summer or early autumn. You must not miss the moment when the seed boxes turn brown and open. This is a signal that it is time to stock up on planting material.

Hosts will come up amicably with proper storage of raw materials. The collected seeds are scrupulously dried at a high temperature (30-350 C) for the most complete evaporation of moisture. Before sowing, they are kept at 2-40 C.

Breeding secrets:

• Reproduction of hosts in this way begins with sterilizing the soil and planting containers. Destruction of fungi and microorganisms is the key to the health of future seedlings.
• The soil for the culture is watered with a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate and incubated for 30 minutes in a water bath. Medical alcohol is used to disinfect containers.
• You can purchase the substrate at a specialty store. The necessary components in its composition are perlite, peat, vermiculite.
• Seed germination depends on its processing. Raw materials are soaked in growth stimulants (Epin, Zircon, Kornevin).
• Some professionals recommend doing stratification. Germination energy will increase significantly if the seeds are kept in the cold for 2-2.5 months.
• For the successful cultivation of a crop, it is important to prepare seeds on time, store them correctly, prepare the soil and containers for sowing.

Germinating seedlings of hosts from seeds

They start working in April or May. Sowing actions:

• Place a drain on the bottom of the container.
• Pour in the substrate.
• Scatter seeds over the surface (1 piece per 1 cm2).
• Above - a layer of soil (thickness from 5 to 7 mm).
• Slightly compact the substrate.
• Moisten the soil well.
• Put on newspaper to absorb excess moisture.
• Cover with plastic or glass.

The containers are kept in a room where the soil temperature does not drop below 180 C and does not warm up above 250 C. In such conditions, the seedlings will appear in 2-3 weeks. Germination of hosts will be slowed down by excessive heat or cold. Seedlings will feel bad in a container that is too deep or too low. Weakly branched roots of young host will fit in dishes 8-10 cm high. The ideal container is plastic with holes in the bottom.

Seedlings should be protected from direct sunlight. It is important to water it on time, but in moderation, and periodically remove condensation.It is recommended to lift the airing film every day.

The appearance of the first pair of leaves is a signal that it is time to dive the plants into separate flowerpots. Flowers are placed in soil, on a block covered with sand.

For sufficient moistening of the dived seedlings, the bottom irrigation method is used. The pot with the host is placed in a deep container of water. It is kept this way until the topsoil is saturated with moisture. Young hosts need tempering. They start by removing glass or polyethylene for several hours. After 7 days, the coating is finally removed. If the air outside warms up to 18-190C, the flowers are briefly taken out of the room.

The seed host grows very slowly. The first summer season will be marked by the appearance of three small leaves. The bush will become full only after 3-5 years. Often such a plant loses its varietal characteristics. Cultivating hosts from seeds is a simple but long process that will take more than one year.

Planting a flower in the garden: when, how and where?

It is important to choose the right permanent location for the function. Ideal conditions are partial shade, no downward wind. Plant varieties relate to sunlight in different ways: it all depends on the pattern on the leaves, their color. Bright colors, a large number of white and yellow fragments indicate that this species loves light.

Variegated plants will do well in an area illuminated only in the morning and evening.

At noon, the flower prefers to rest in the shade. It can be hidden from direct rays by planting a taller plant next to it. Blue hosts cannot stand the abundance of the sun. During the day, they like to hide in the shadows, only showing up for 2 hours. The minimum amount of light inhibits the development of the bush, which pays off with the formation of large foliage. Such a host stretches upward.

The culture needs moist, humus-rich, neutral or slightly acidic, drained soil. On sand, heavy loam, the flower will not be comfortable.

It is recommended to prepare a site in advance for planting young bushes. In autumn, organic fertilizers are distributed over the ground (layer thickness - 10 cm). Next, the soil must be dug to the depth of the shovel bayonet. In the spring, the soil is ready to "accept" the host.

Planting seedlings:

• Prepare the wells. For small plants, a distance of 30-60 cm is adhered to, for giants - 80-100 cm.
• Water the seedlings abundantly a few hours before starting work.
• Place the bushes in the pits a couple of centimeters below ground level, without shaking off the substrate from the rhizome.
• Spread the roots carefully.
• Cover with soil, crush.
• Water abundantly.
• The area around the plant should be mulched with chopped bark.

Planting a host in the second half of summer will allow them to gain strength and successfully endure the winter. The types of funky relate differently to the intensity of sunlight, but they are planted in the ground in almost the same way.

Care of young plants

Growing hosts will appeal to those who do not like digging in the ground or who simply have no time to do it. An adult plant is striking in its unpretentiousness, but young individuals require some attention.

Host move:

• Newly planted funkias should be watered regularly. Do it in the morning or evening. The darkened tips of the flower "tell" that it lacks moisture.
• It is better to refuse loosening, replacing it with peat mulching. Thus, moisture will be preserved, and the underground part of the hosta is not injured. When the plant matures, the need for weeding will disappear by itself: overgrown roots and dense foliage will not allow them to multiply.
• The flower has nothing against feeding, although it will live without them. Fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium sulfate) are applied with the onset of spring, before and after flowering. If hosts are planted in well-prepared soil, nutrients begin to be used after a few years.

The culture is resistant to most diseases and pests.To protect the plant, preventative measures are taken against slugs.

Hosta is a perennial for lazy gardeners, undemanding and colorful. There are no special tricks in the propagation of funkia from seeds. Cultivating a plant with this method is an opportunity to create a unique garden decor with your own hands.

More information can be found in the video.

Growing methods and proper care of hosts

Hosta, or another name for funkii, is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Asparagus family. There are over 35 varieties of this plant. The homeland of growth is the southern and western regions of the Far East, Sakhalin, the Kuriles, Korea, Japan and China. Numerous hosts are represented in our gardens, growing and caring for them is simple, and there is a lot of beauty. Moreover, there are few plants that can decorate a shady place in this way.

Content

• Biological features of the host
• How to grow a host yourself?
• Growing from seeds
• Dividing the bush

Planting in a permanent place Caring for hosts at home Possible problems in growing

Biological features of the host

This is a moisture-loving plant that grows near the shores of reservoirs, on forest edges and mountain slopes. In Japan, this flower is considered sacred. Hosta petioles are a delicacy for the inhabitants of this country. Today hosta is a very popular plant grown in many countries. Due to its versatility, this flower can be an excellent addition to any garden arrangement, covering large areas in a front garden or flower garden.

An unpretentious plant to care for easily tolerates drought, cold and can grow in partial shade, creating a decorative background for other flowers. For this he is appreciated by many flower growers.

All host species are stemless, herbaceous plants with a compact root system. The filamentous roots of the plant are shortly branched. Thanks to this structure, they allow the plant to gain a foothold in the soil.

Hostas are especially decorative during the flowering period. Double flowers of white, purple or pink color, collected in racemose one-sided inflorescences on tall, low-leafed peduncles. Blooming hosts are an amazing sight. The flowers are funnel-shaped or bell-shaped. After the end of the flowering period, the hosta bears fruit. Its fruit is a triangular box completely filled with seeds. Seed germination is maintained throughout the year.

Still, the main advantage of the hosta is its decorative foliage. The leaves of the plant are lanceolate and cordate, basal with a pointed end. Each variety has a different color. Depending on the species, the leaves can be of all shades, green, blue, white or yellow. There are two- or three-color species or monochromatic varieties with strokes, stripes or spots on the leaf surface. In addition to the color scheme, the hosts differ from each other in the texture of the leaves. The sheet plate can be compressed, wrinkled, waxy, glossy, or matte. The average height of plants is about 50 cm.In the cultivated form, there are both miniature varieties, reaching 15 cm in height, and giant forms - about 120 cm.

How to grow a host yourself?

Cultivation of hosts can be carried out by several methods - seed, using cuttings and dividing the rhizome.

Growing from seeds

• In order for the cultivation of hosts with the help of seeds to be successful, it is necessary to correctly prepare the material for pre-sowing. For these purposes, growth stimulants are used - Epin, Zircon or aloe juice, which increases the germination of plant seeds.
• Some growers resort to methods of stratification of seeds by placing them in the refrigerator for 30 days. It is very important that the planting soil is sterile. This will reduce the risk of disease in young plants after planting. Therefore, it is best to buy the substrate in a specialized store.Ideally, a soil mixture of peat, sand and vermiculite is suitable for planting hosts.
• Seeds are planted in late April - early May in pre-disinfected pots in a solution of potassium permanganate or medical alcohol. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the container, and on top of it the substrate is watered abundantly.
• Sowing seeds is carried out superficially, then they are sprinkled with a 5 mm layer of soil and slightly compacted. In order to increase the humidity of the air for the seedlings and ensure a stable temperature regime, the plantings are covered with a transparent jar or polyethylene. Further care of the seedlings is to ensure the required temperature of the content - within 20-25 degrees.
• In such conditions, the first shoots will appear in 3 weeks. During this period, the plants must be protected from direct sunlight, periodically moistened and ventilated.
• It is necessary to keep the seedlings in a shaded place until germination. After the shoots appear, they are transferred to a bright room.
• Seedlings with 2-3 leaves are transplanted into soil, one third filled with sand. Humidification of young plants occurs through bottom watering. Together with the flowerpot, the host is placed in a deep tray and left until the soil is completely moistened.
• After that, the seedlings must undergo adaptation to new conditions. They are gradually accustomed to fresh air by removing the film for several hours. After 10 days, the shelter can be completely removed, and the plantings can be taken out into fresh air for a couple of hours at a temperature of 20 degrees.

Growing hosts from seeds has one drawback. Such plants develop very slowly, and also lose varietal characteristics and qualities.

Dividing the bush

Another fairly effective method is growing hosts by dividing the bush. Using this method, it is necessary to take into account the varietal characteristics of the plant, since not every species successfully tolerates this procedure at an early age. The best time for such reproduction is spring or early autumn. The dug out plant is divided with a shovel and pitchfork so as not to damage the root system. In the process of digging, rosette rootless shoots with a piece of rhizome are often separated.

This material is an excellent basis for a new plant. A stalk with a "heel" can be planted in any shaded place, covered with a transparent container. To speed up the rooting process, the leaf plate is cut in half. Such cultivation is carried out using young plants or rosettes cut from adult specimens. This is perhaps the most popular and effective method used by many growers in the breeding process.

Landing in a permanent place

Landing of hosts is carried out in pre-prepared landing holes. The distance between plants should be at least 50-60 cm. If we are talking about giant varieties, then the bushes are planted at a distance of 1 m from each other.

Before planting, the seedlings are watered to facilitate the process of removing them from the pots. Plants are planted with an earthen clod. The roots of the hosts are straightened, then well sprinkled with soil and watered abundantly. After that, the root trunk of the plant is mulched with crushed tree bark.

Taking care of hosts at home

• A plant that is planted in fertile land does not need feeding for several years. Humus and compost are vital ingredients for hosts to apply as mulch. However, if you decide to feed the plants, it is recommended to use mineral granular fertilizers. They are sprinkled on an area with bushes after watering or rains. Top dressing with liquid fertilizers for the root and ground parts of plants is carried out once every 14 days until the beginning of July. Feeding is then stopped to allow the plants to prepare for wintering.
• Caring for ornamental hosts includes regular soil moisture. They are moisture-loving plants, so they need to be watered frequently.Especially when it comes to young specimens. Watering is carried out at the root so that the leaves do not get wet, which deteriorate from moisture. It is recommended to water the flowers in the morning. In a plant suffering from a lack of moisture, the tips on the leaves begin to darken.
• In order for the hosta bush to look beautiful, young flower stalks are cut off on it. Otherwise, the plant may simply "fall apart".
• Caring for this flower includes regular weeding and loosening of the soil. These procedures are carried out on young plants while they are growing. Weeds are not terrible for adult plants.
• After 3-4 years, the host needs to be planted. The bush is dug up, and cuttings with roots or heels are separated from the main root. The mother plant and cuttings are planted separately in the soil.

Possible growing problems

Hosta is a poorly susceptible plant to diseases and pests. However, the more varieties grow in one area, the greater the risk of getting infected specimens. Plants that are not cared for on time become weak and sensitive. Such specimens are more vulnerable to a fungal disease - phyllosticosis. Leaves on plants are covered with large yellow spots. The affected bushes are removed and the soil is disinfected.

Slugs are the most dangerous host pests. Perforated leaves are a sign of the appearance of this parasite. In the fight against slugs, beer is used. It is poured into shallow containers and placed near the plants to attract insects, which are very fond of this drink.

Another pest that often affects the host is the stem nematode. Damaged plants do not respond to treatment, they are simply destroyed.

Optimize care and create the necessary conditions for keeping this flower, and it will delight you with its decorative and healthy appearance.

Can the host grow at home?

• Hosta (Function) is a herb from the Asparagus family.

  The host flower can be safely grown at home, both on the windowsill and on the garden plot.

  The main decoration of the hosta is e leaves, which, depending on the species and variety, have a variety of colors.

  The most beautiful host plant is in the fifth year of growth.

  Funkia is an unpretentious, cold-resistant and drought-resistant plant that grows well in the shade and serves as a good background for other plants.

• Hosta requires climatic conditions typical for open ground, i.e. in an apartment, it can grow, but not for long, due to the lack of proper conditions, it will quickly wither away. You can put it in large pots and take it out into the street, or at least a balcony.

  But of course, the optimal conditions for her are the soil in the country, the host is very unpretentious plantthat can grow for 15-20 years. It has a very developed root system, which does not allow over-watering, and it should also be planted in places where the shade alternates with the sun. In summer and spring, the plant needs to be fed with fertilizers, and even during the first planting, the hole needs to be fertilized with compost.

  You also need to take into account that in the first 3-4 years, the host is not recommended to transplant and divide.