Hosta planting and care in the open field in siberia

Every owner of a garden plot dreams of making it attractive and unique. Hosts can help with this, planting and caring for which in the open field does not require serious skills and knowledge. This plant is considered unpretentious. It can grow with equal success in the shade and in sunny places. Its colorful, eye-catching leaves bring uniqueness to any flower garden. In order for the plants to fully develop and please the eye, it is necessary to follow a few simple recommendations.

How to fit the host correctly?

Correct planting plays a key role in the intensity of plant growth and development. In this case, several main factors must be taken into account:

1. Location of the host.
2. Soil composition.
3. Landing rules.

Only when all these aspects are taken into account will it be possible to plant the plant so that it will delight the owners for more than one year. To create a beautiful flower garden, it should also be taken into account that different host varieties can grow in different ways. Therefore, before planting, be sure to familiarize yourself with the features of the variety you have chosen.

Choosing the best place

Planting hosts in the spring in the ground is allowed both in dark and sunny places. This is largely determined by the plant variety. The main rule in this case is not to plant hosts in the shade of dense tree crowns. In such a place, they stop growing and lose the intensity of the color of the leaves. You can choose a site based on color:

1. Plants with dark foliage are best planted near apple trees, pears, or other trees with a small crown.
2. If golden or white streaks are present in the color of the leaf plate, then they should be placed on the east side under low plantings. With a lack of light, they can lose their decorative effect.

After you decide on the choice of a site for planting, it must be cleaned of dirt and dug up. Try to completely get rid of weeds that will take away nutrients.

Planting a host in open ground in Siberia should be carried out exclusively in the spring. In other regions, autumn planting is also allowed.

Soil preparation

Hosts are not demanding on the quality of the soil. For full development, they need a minimum of nutrients. If sand predominates in the soil, a small amount of peat will be required. It will help eliminate the leaching of salts and minerals.

When the soil is too poor, mineral fertilization is necessary. Today, a wide range of specialized preparations is on sale. When using them, you must follow the instructions and do not exceed the dosage.

Basic landing rules

The method of planting and caring for hosts in the open field will also depend on the type of planting material. It is best to choose instances with a closed root system. It is enough to carefully remove them from the container without damaging the rhizome and plant them in a previously prepared hole.

Plants with an open root system take root less well. When choosing such a planting material, it is necessary to carefully examine the root system. It should be alive, with no signs of decay. After planting such a host in the hole, it is watered. In this case, the plant must be placed so that the bud is above the ground.

Basic rules of care

Hosts that are planted and cared for outdoors require care. It will consist in following simple recommendations:

1. If you applied fertilizers to the soil before planting, then fertilizing can be omitted for three years.
2. In the summer months, watering is carried out regularly as the topsoil dries out. I reduce the frequency of watering in the fall. Water must be poured at the root, avoiding contact with the leaves.
3. Particular attention should be paid to preparation for winter after planting in the ground. To prevent the plant from freezing, it is mulched with dried sawdust, peat or humus. To prevent slugs from eating the young leaves in early spring, add tobacco dust to the mulch. It is better to cut the leaves for the winter and cover the bush with non-woven material.
4. The host grows greatly with good care, so it must be periodically divided. To do this, dug it out and carefully cut the rhizome into several parts, which are seated separately.
5. After the end of flowering, the plant is cleaned of peduncles. This will help him accumulate more strength for wintering.

Planting a host in open ground in the Urals and other regions with a changeable climate requires monitoring soil moisture. Watering can only be done when the top layer of the soil dries out. Otherwise, the root system can rot.

Diseases and pests

An important aspect in the matter of planting and caring for hosts in the open field is the fight against diseases and pests. The most common problems are:

1. Phylostictosis is a fungal infection. It manifests itself in the form of spots on the leaves of a brown color. Damaged foliage should be destroyed as soon as possible and the plant should be sprayed with special preparations.
2. Botrytis. With this disease, the leaves quickly dry out and fall off. It can be dealt with only with the help of chemicals.
3. Damage by garden slugs. These insects are considered the main host pests. To combat them, drugs are also used. In addition, slugs can be hand-picked and destroyed.

With proper care, the host will grow and develop rapidly. It will be a wonderful decoration for any garden.

All about hosts - video

Spectacular hosta (funkiya) - decoration of shady corners of the garden - is loved by gardeners for the variety of varieties and varieties capable of creating a picturesque composition in a country house or city flower bed without the participation of other plants. Planting the hosta in open ground, reproducing and caring for it is very simple, which only adds to the popularity of the adorable plant.

Variety of host species

All the beauty of a plant is in its leaves. Tall stalks with flowers of various shades only complement the exquisite beauty of the funkia.

The color of the leaves is the most diverse, according to the color characteristic, the plants are divided into 5 groups:

• green;
• blue (foliage is covered with a gray waxy bloom);
• yellow;
• variegated, including variegated and with a light border;
• medio-variegated - with a green edging of leaves.

By size, the functions are divided into:

• dwarf - up to 10 cm high;
• miniature - from 10 to 15 cm in height;
• small - up to 25 cm;
• medium (the largest group) - up to 50 cm;
• large - from 55 to 75 cm;
• gigantic, whose height exceeds 75 cm.

In domestic gardening, several species are widespread, which have become the basis for breeding new varieties.

Hosta wavy

Originally from Japan, it is a spherical bush with dense wavy elliptical leaves. Their length is about 20 cm, the color is green or white-green, determined by the variety.

The following varieties of wavy hosts are popular.

• Erromena is a cultivar of rare unpretentiousness to growing conditions, requires minimal maintenance. The height of the bush, formed by light green leaves, is 30-50 cm, diameter is up to 80 cm. It blooms from July to the end of August with lavender flowers.
• Univitata is a variety that grows well in the shade. This hosta is interesting for the color of the leaves - they are white with light green stripes in the center, bordered by a bright green stripe. Height - up to 45 cm, width - up to 90 cm. It blooms in June-July with purple-lilac flowers.

The host is bloated

A newcomer from the northeastern regions of China forms large bushes and tall (up to 120 cm) peduncles. The leaves are corrugated, one- and two-colored. The species requires regular moisture and good drainage.

Of particular interest is the Aureum Maculata variety. The cultivar attracts with the color of the leaves: the yellowish-green center is dotted with cream, yellow-green and light green stripes, the edges are dark green. As autumn approaches, the color of the leaves evens out to green. The variety is grown in well-lit places; in the shade, the color of the leaves is smoothed out. Bushes about half a meter high and up to 80 cm in diameter produce flower stalks with lilac flowers from July to August.

Khosta curly (white-bordered)

Also native to Japan, with wide green leaves with white edging. Prefers partial shade and light soils. Frost resistant. Compact bush - up to 30 cm in width and height. Dark purple (less commonly white) flowers complement the natural beauty from July to August.

Khosta plantain

Natural region of habitation - China and Japan. Leaves are thin, bright green, with shine. From the middle of summer, it produces peduncles up to 45 cm long with large white flowers. On the basis of this species, hybrids have been created, interesting by the aroma of flowers, reminiscent of violets and lilacs at the same time.

Varieties of plantain funkia:

• Honey Bell is a large bush (up to 90 cm), lilac flowers open in September, prefers partial shade;
• Royal Standard - up to 70 cm in size, late September flowering.

Hosta hybrid

A large group that unites cultivars of different sizes, differing in a more spectacular color of the leaves. When choosing a hybrid host, pay attention to the flowering time and the degree of shade tolerance. A bright representative is the hosta White Feathers, or white. Its young leaves are painted in a milky white color, against the background of which bright green stripes gradually appear, when the leaves grow up to 15 cm. Closer to autumn, the leaf plate becomes completely green.

Hosta Patriot differs from the sisters in the amazing bright color of the leaves - dark green with a bright white edging - which persists until the last days of autumn. Pale lavender flowers open from mid-July. Equally decorative in the shade and in sunny places.

Landing

The function does not apply to capricious plants, but when planting, some of its features must be taken into account.

When purchasing bushes or hosta roots in specialized stores or on the market, the first step is to check the roots: rotting ones must be removed immediately.

Optimal dates for planting in open ground:

• mid or late spring, when the weather is finally warm;
• autumn, starting in the last days of August.

They complete the autumn planting in such a way that the seedlings have time to fully take root before the onset of cold weather.

In the Urals and Siberia, the hosta is planted, transplanted and divided only in the spring.

The place for the funkia is chosen protected from drafts, half-shaded, especially for varieties with variegated colored leaves: in sunny areas, their color evens out, acquiring an even green or yellow-green color.Species with monochromatic light-colored leaves are grown without shading.

The soil is needed fertile, with good moisture and drainage. Acidity does not play a special role - it is suitable from moderately acidic to moderately alkaline.

On sandy soils, the hosta develops very slowly; when planting in such areas, mineral complexes and humus are added to the planting pit.

Landing algorithm

1. The site is dug onto a shovel bayonet. At the same time, mineral fertilizers are applied - a mixture of potassium sulfate, ammonium nitrate (15 g each) and superphosphate (20 g) for each seat.
2. The holes are dug a little larger than an earthen coma. If planted with rhizomes, the size of the hole is determined by the size of the future bush: the larger it is, the larger the hole. The depth is made taking into account the drainage layer.
3. The distance between the holes also depends on the size of the bushes - from 30 cm for dwarf forms to 1 m for tall and spreading ones.
4. Drainage is laid out in the dug hole, a small mound is formed on it from the excavated soil.
5. The seedling or rhizome is placed on a mound so that the roots are distributed over the slopes. In this case, the kidneys should be strictly at ground level. If necessary, add earth to the bottom (or remove excess).
6. The hole is covered with earth, tamping a little, then watered abundantly. The land around the bush is mulched with peat or tree bark.

It should be remembered that the first year after planting the host, especially with highly decorative leaves, grows very slowly. The variegated color of the leaves is fully manifested in the 3-year-old plant.

Care

Wide leaf plates are an excellent polygon for moisture evaporation, excluding species and varieties with bluish and shiny leaves. Watering is required every 3-4 days, in dry weather - daily. This is especially true for plants planted in sunny areas. It is useful to combine watering with sprinkling in hot summer. The procedure is carried out only after sunset.

In the Urals, hosts are watered only when the topsoil is completely dry.

The soil under the flower is regularly weeded, loosened and mulched, since mulch is a source of organic matter that hosts need throughout the growing season. The exception is dwarf and miniature varieties.

Top dressing is applied three times per season:

• at the beginning of the growing season - mineral complexes for flowering plants and organic matter;
• at the beginning of flowering - potash and phosphorus fertilizers;
• at the end of flowering - humus or compost.

Pruning is a regular procedure that removes old, yellowed leaves and flower stalks that have completed flowering.

Most hosts can handle frost well without shelter. However, the winters of recent years are replete with weather surprises, experienced gardeners recommend not to cut off the leaves of the hosts in the fall, and also not to clean them from the foliage that has fallen from the trees.

Be sure to cover first-year plants, especially those planted in the fall. Spruce branches, dry foliage, agrofibre are used for this.

Pests and diseases

The main pest of the hosta is a slug that gnaws at leaves. The fight against it involves the use of highly toxic drugs. It is easier to set traps or mulch the approaches with chopping mulch - fine gravel, pine needles, cracked eggshells.

The function is resistant to diseases, but it can become infected from neighbors with brown spot and other fungal infections. Infected plants are sprayed with fungicides. With severe lesions, they are dug up and destroyed. As a prophylaxis, spraying with boipreparations is used.

Reproduction

Hosta can be propagated in three ways - by dividing the bush, by cuttings, by seeds. Each option is interesting in its own way, has its own characteristics.

How to split a bush?

The easiest way to guarantee one hundred percent repetition of the varietal characteristics of the new plant. Apply it in spring or autumn, combined with a transplant. Experienced gardeners playfully solve the problem throughout the growing season, sometimes in winter.

For division, choose healthy plants at least 3 years old.

In the spring, the procedure is carried out when young shoots appear. You don't have to dig the mother bush, just separate a small part using any tool - a shovel, a pitchfork, a knife with a wide blade. Delenki are immediately planted in prepared places without changing the planting depth. If some shoots have broken off, but a piece of rhizome is preserved on them, they are planted in a greenhouse or in a shaded place, covered with a jar.

During transplanting, the dug out bush is shaken off from large clods of earth, old and dried sections of roots are cut off, and the bush is divided into parts with a sharp tool.

Delenki are not planted in their old place - so they will take root for a very long time, often they simply die.

Cuttings

A more complicated process, since in many varieties, young shoots grow in a dense mass. Hosta stalk is a young shoot with a piece of root, "heel". Perfect cuttings are not always obtained by experienced flower growers, but even substandard planting material can be tried to root by planting it in the shade and covering it with a cap.

How to plant a hosta from seeds?

Growing hosts from seeds is a laborious process that does not guarantee the preservation of varietal traits if the seeds are harvested on their own. The germination rate of hosta seeds is within 70%, young plants acquire the decorative effect inherent in the variety in the 5-6th year.

The seed sowing technology is quite laborious.

1. Stratification within a month. At optimal sowing dates (March, less often April), seeds are placed in the refrigerator in February.
2. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in a stimulator for 30 minutes. Aloe juice, chalk water, "Zircon" or "Epin" solution will do.
3. The soil for sowing is selected neutral, loose, light. Purchased soil must contain peat, perlite, vermiculite.
4. Sowing containers and substrate are disinfected.
5. A drainage layer is poured onto the bottom of the seedling box, the soil is laid out, and moistened.
6. Seeds are spread over the surface, covered with a layer of substrate (5-6 mm), slightly compacted. The container is tightened with foil or covered with glass.
7. Keep a container with crops on a warm windowsill at a temperature of 18-25 ° C, in partial shade. Water sparingly, preventing the soil from drying out.
8. Sprouts appear in 2-3 weeks. The seedling container is immediately transferred to a place with good lighting. When 1-3 leaves are formed, young plants are seated in separate cups with drainage holes and a thick layer of sand (up to a quarter of the height of the container).
9. The seedlings are kept in a mini-greenhouse for another 7-10 days, airing daily. Watering - bottom, cups are placed in a pan with water.
10. Hardening of seedlings begins two weeks after transplanting, the outside temperature should not be lower than + 18 ° C.

Unpretentious hosta is easy to grow. Novice gardeners who are not confident in their abilities are advised to start by planting monochrome varieties. After making sure that caring for the plant is not burdensome, and the return is great, you can safely diversify the decorative compositions in the garden with colorful cultivars. With proper care, the host will confirm her title of queen of the shadow.

How to fit the host correctly?

1. Host location.
2. Soil composition.
3. Landing rules.

Choosing the best place

1. Plants with dark foliage are best planted near apple trees, pears, or other trees with a small crown.
2. If golden or white streaks are present in the color of the leaf plate, then they should be placed on the east side under low plantings. With a lack of light, they can lose their decorative effect.

After you decide on the choice of a site for planting, it must be cleaned of dirt and dug up. Try to completely get rid of weeds that will take away nutrients.

Planting a host in open ground in Siberia should be carried out exclusively in the spring. In other regions, autumn planting is also allowed.

Soil preparation

Hosts are not demanding on the quality of the soil.For full development, they need a minimum of nutrients. If sand predominates in the soil, a small amount of peat will be required. It will help eliminate the leaching of salts and minerals.

When the soil is too poor, mineral fertilization is necessary. Today, a wide range of specialized preparations is on sale. When using them, you must follow the instructions and do not exceed the dosage.

Basic landing rules

Plants with an open root system take root less well. When choosing such a planting material, it is necessary to carefully examine the root system. It should be alive, with no signs of decay. After planting such a host in the hole, it is watered. In this case, the plant must be placed so that the bud is above the ground.

Basic rules of care

Hosts that are planted and cared for outdoors require care. It will consist in following simple recommendations:

1. If you applied fertilizers to the soil before planting, then fertilizing can be omitted for three years.
2. In the summer months, watering is carried out regularly as the topsoil dries out. I reduce the frequency of watering in the fall. Water must be poured at the root, avoiding contact with the leaves.
3. Particular attention should be paid to preparation for winter after planting in the ground. To prevent the plant from freezing, it is mulched with dried sawdust, peat or humus. To prevent slugs from eating the young leaves in early spring, add tobacco dust to the mulch. It is better to cut the leaves for the winter and cover the bush with non-woven material.
4. The host grows strongly with good care, so it must be divided periodically. To do this, dug it out and carefully cut the rhizome into several parts, which are seated separately.
5. After the end of flowering, the plant is cleaned of peduncles. This will help him accumulate more strength for wintering.

Planting a host in open ground in the Urals and other regions with a changeable climate requires monitoring soil moisture. Watering can only be done when the top layer of the soil dries out. Otherwise, the root system can rot.

Diseases and pests

1. Phylostictosis is a fungal infection. It manifests itself in the form of spots on the leaves of brown color. Damaged foliage should be destroyed as soon as possible and the plant should be sprayed with special preparations.
2. Botrytis. With this disease, the leaves quickly dry out and fall off. It can be dealt with only with the help of chemicals.
3. Damage by garden slugs. These insects are considered the main host pests. To combat them, drugs are also used. In addition, slugs can be hand-picked and destroyed.

With proper care, the host will grow and develop rapidly. It will be a wonderful decoration for any garden.

All about hosts - video

The host is called the "queen" of shady areas and seating areas in the garden. This is a real emerald in the front garden, in any flower bed. Planting hosts and leaving in the open field will not cause much trouble for gardeners or summer residents. The flower can be propagated by division, cuttings and seeds.

When to plant hosta outdoors?

Planting begins in August and ends in September. These dates may shift depending on the weather and location of the region. It is necessary to calculate the planting time so that the hosts take root before frost. With the early onset of cold weather, young plants must be covered.

Most of all, the root zone needs winter shelter, on which brushwood or other suitable material is laid.

The host is divided and planted in the spring, before the leaves bloom. A plant with a root ball, purchased in a store or donated by friends, takes root better. Hosta can be stored briefly in the basement or vegetable section of the refrigerator until planting. They are planted in open ground when the threat of late frosts has passed.

Planting in open ground with seeds

Sowing hosta seeds is an opportunity to get a lot of seedlings and seedlings for landscaping a large area. The laborious procedure requires certain knowledge and skills. Unfortunately, seed-grown hosts do not always inherit the characteristics of the parent plant. This is especially true for variegated varieties.

Sowing procedure description:

1. Seed propagation is carried out in early spring.
2. Use a container, pot, or plastic box for germination.
3. Drainage is poured at the bottom, the container is filled with a light fertile substrate.
4. Water, spread the seeds, sprinkle on top with a layer of soil 0.5 cm thick.
5. Cover with glass or foil, germinate in the shade, at a temperature of 20-23 ° C.
6. The soil is often sprayed with water from a spray bottle.

Germination time varies from 7 days to 3 weeks. Usually shoots appear in 2 weeks. Seedlings are dived into other containers, quenched in the fresh air, but protected from direct sunlight. Seedlings develop slowly at first, acquire the characteristics of the variety only after 3-4 years.

Propagation by cuttings and dividing the bush

The most common methods for obtaining new plants are used when there is at least one bush at the age of 3-5 years. Propagation by cuttings and division is not recommended 1-2 years after planting. During this period, they give the opportunity to strengthen the underground and aboveground organs.

Dividing the bush and grafting allows you to get hosts of the same variety as the mother plant.

The best time for vegetative propagation is in the spring, when shoots appear. The mother plant is carefully dug up, large lumps of soil are shaken off the rhizome, old and decayed parts are cut off. Cut the hosta with a shovel or sharp knife. Parts of a split bush must have buds and pieces of root.

Tips and Warnings:

• Only healthy plants are divided for planting.
• In the first few weeks, water is often watered, but without stagnant water.
• Hosts grow slowly after transplantation, especially variegated varieties.
• Young leaves in most cases have a solid green color.
• The characteristics of the variety are fully manifested after 2 years.

Cutting - the separation of a part with buds and a piece of rhizome - can be carried out from spring to autumn. Sometimes the procedure is unsuccessful, almost no roots remain, but there are buds, or there is no rosette, but there is a rhizome. Even such defective planting material is not thrown away. The cuttings are planted in the shade, covered with a cut plastic bottle. The missing organs gradually grow back, and full-fledged leaves are formed.

Proper care of a shade-loving plant

The hosta flower, in its homeland in Asia, is found in meadows, along the banks of rivers and lakes, on the shady edges of humid forests. It is recommended to create conditions for plants in the garden and in the flower bed that resemble their natural habitat.

Requirements for soil and location

You need a well-drained soil rich in moisture and nutrients. There are no special requirements for pH, moderately acidic and alkaline substrates are suitable. Variegated forms require shading at midday. Colored stripes and spots disappear in direct sunlight. Varieties with blue foliage also change color. Only monochromatic green forms retain their characteristics in the sun, but subject to good soil moisture.

Watering and fertilizing

The plant does not need frequent watering with sufficient rainfall and placement in a shady place. In the dry season it is necessary to water 2 times a week. The soil under the hosts should not dry out even in winter. In summer, you can pamper the leaves with an evening shower. Top dressing is also best done in the evening.

A young plant needs more care and nutrients, so fertilize it 2-3 times. In the spring, top dressing is carried out at the very beginning of the growing season. The next time they fertilize the soil during flowering. The third feeding is needed for plants after flowering.It is advisable to alternate the introduction of compost and complex fertilizers. Be sure to mulch the soil immediately after watering and feeding, but only without damaging the lower leaves of the plant.

Loosening, pruning, replanting

Hosta rhizome is located in the upper loose soil layer. Loosening is performed carefully so as not to damage the roots. Sometimes it is replaced by mulching after watering, then the soil retains moisture for a long time.

Peduncles are usually removed, but in beautifully flowering varieties, they are left and cut before the seeds ripen (if there are no hostas in the seed reproduction plans). Dry and damaged leaves are pruned throughout the season. Experienced growers recommend leaving the foliage in the fall to protect the roots from frost.

The best material for transplanting is plants with 2-3 buds and well-developed roots 10 cm long. The planting pit is made wide, because underground organs grow in a horizontal direction. The depth should be at least 30 cm. A mixture of compost, garden soil, peat and sand is poured onto the bottom. Can be sprinkled with a handful of wood ash to normalize pH and disinfect.

The planting hole is filled with a substrate at 70% of the height, and abundantly moistened. The host is positioned so that the roots are on the surface of the moist soil, the growth buds are at ground level. Sprinkle with soil, compact and watered again. Finally, a layer of mulch up to 2 cm high is poured. Peat or sawdust is used as a mulching material.

Care at different times of the year

During the summer, the hosta is regularly watered, cut off dry parts, weeds are weeded. In the fall, after the first frost, the leaves begin to wither. You do not need to cut or pluck them. The foliage protects the soil above the roots from freezing. Additionally, you can cover the plant with agrofibre. In the spring, the remaining leaves must be removed (plucked).

Growing hosts in the garden - diseases and pests

The plant is little susceptible to disease, but it becomes infected with phyllostictosis (brown spot) from horticultural crops. A heavily affected hosta must be destroyed, the soil must be disinfected with a fungicide. Against pathogens of fungal and bacterial diseases, they are sprayed with biopesticides.

Slugs gnaw holes in the leaves, they become less decorative. Regular inspection of plants and removal of pests is recommended. If you can't fight, you can find planting material of resistant varieties in nurseries or flower shops. Slugs prefer soft tissues and are less likely to attack hosts with leathery foliage. Another option for fighting is to mulch the soil around the hosta with fine rubble or crushed shell rock. With good care, the plant remains healthy and attractive for 10 years.

Hosta in landscape design

A shade-tolerant plant with beautiful leaves helps out in cases when it is necessary to decorate the resting corners in the garden, the entrance to the gazebo. Blooming annuals and perennials look great against the background of lush greenery: bells, primroses, phlox. Varieties with bicolor and tricolor leaves are especially appreciated in landscape design. It is advisable to place such plants singly on the lawns, in small groups along the paths.

It is better to start growing hosts with varieties that have green foliage. They are less demanding in terms of conditions and care, they are easier to tolerate bright lighting and transplantation.

The host is great for mobile landscaping of the entrance to the house, terraces, gazebos. Plants in pots and containers are watered more often because the soil heats up and dries out faster. In the fall, remove old leaves and cover the container. At the beginning of spring, the protective layer is removed, the container is installed against the wall of the house.

Any use of hosts in landscape design should be considered in terms of the conditions that will be created for the plant. With proper care, the "queen" of the shade will not disappoint her fans, she will attract attention with a magnificent view of leaves and bell-shaped flowers.