Hosta reproduction planting and care in the open field

Liven up your garden with colorful greenery, and take a host as your assistant. It is unpretentious in planting, care and cultivation. This plant is popular in landscape design, because its leaves have different shapes and colors, depending on the variety.

Description, varieties and varieties

The beauty of this plant is in the leaves, not the flowers. From green to gold and white, from long to rounded and heart-shaped - this is what the hosta is. Planting and caring for it in the open field is very simple - another reason to pay attention to this perennial.

Hosta will be a wonderful garden decoration from early spring to late autumn.

Having decided to start growing hosta, see how it looks in the photo. Choose from about 3000 varieties of your choice. According to the colors of the foliage, they are combined into 5 groups:

• green;
• blue (with a bluish tint);
• yellow;
• variegated (this includes hosts motley and bordered with light color);
• mediovariegata (leaves are light, with green edges).

There is a huge variety of hostas.

For those who grow hostu in the open field, the classification of varieties by size is also familiar:

• dwarf (up to 10 cm);
• miniature (10-15 cm);
• small (16-25 cm);
• medium (30-50 cm), the most numerous group;
• large (55-70 cm);
• giant (from 70 cm).

The main species, which are also used for breeding:

1. Wavy. It looks like a ball of dense wavy green-white leaves.

   Hosta wavy

2. Bloated. Looks especially good in garden landscaping. Light green round leaves are lined with stripes.

   The host is bloated

3. High. It grows up to 90 cm. It has large green leaves.

   Hosta high

4. Curly. Its leaves are wide, with a white edge.

   Khosta curly

5. Plantain. Up to half a meter high, the leaves are bright green, glossy.

   Khosta plantain

Among the host, there are chameleon varieties that change color during the summer season. Some species of this plant are difficult to classify because their leaves are blurred in color. And foreign breeders have bred tricolor hybrids. There are plenty to choose from!

Landing hosts

The optimal time for planting hosts in the open field is early spring or late August or early September. It is not worth postponing to a later time. Choose the material for planting carefully. The roots should be elastic, 10-12 cm long. It is best if the sprout has 2-3 buds.

Advice. If you bought a hosta, but it is too early to plant it, store the sprouts in a cool and dark place at t + 5-10 ° C. A basement, a lower shelf of a refrigerator, or an insulated balcony will do.

Hosta is traditionally considered a shade-loving perennial. But there is a pattern: the lighter the foliage, the more sun the plant needs. Dark green and blue varieties must be planted in the shade. For growing light hosts, partial shade or even a sunny place is suitable. Make sure that the plant is not in direct light, otherwise burns on the leaves cannot be avoided.

The host can be planted in the shade or partial shade

Light, well-drained, moist soil is good for planting and propagating outdoors. The holes should be made wide, about 30 cm deep. The distance between them should be from 30 to 100 cm (depending on the size of the plant).

Fill each hole about 2/3 with compost, peat, form a mound. Place the roots of the seedlings on it, but so that there are no empty spaces. Spread them out, cover them with fertile soil, compact. Finish planting with abundant watering. Mulch the roots with chopped bark or peat. This will help retain moisture. Repeat the watering procedure several more times every 3-4 days.

Advice. The buds of the plant during planting should be at ground level. If necessary, add additional soil under the root.

Plant care

Although not a demanding host, planting and caring for her requires adherence to the rules.

1. Weed and periodically loosen the soil.
2. Remove old leaves and young flower arrows. This will make the bush look neater. The exception is well-flowering varieties.

   If you remove the flower arrows, the hosta bush will be more luxuriant.

3. The host loves moisture, so it needs regular watering, about 2 times a week.
4. This perennial is frost-resistant. But if the winter is too cold, take extra care by covering the plant with, for example, agrofibre.
5. In one place the host can grow up to 20 years. However, after 3-4 years, young daughter roots should be separated from the bush so that it does not grow too much.

Fertilizing and feeding hosts

How the plants look in your garden depends on the care, including the intensity of fertilization. The hosta looks more decorative, which is fed 3 times per season:

• during the growth period;
• during flowering;
• after him.

The host needs feeding several times a season.

For these purposes, fertilizers with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus are most often used. Compost and humus are also useful for hosts. It is better to bring them in in the fall. Organic fertilizers are preferable to mineral fertilizers. The "golden rule" of leaving is not to overdo it. Too frequent or abundant feeding can provoke a burn.

Plant propagation

There are 3 ways to propagate hosts:

• division;
• cuttings;
• growing from seeds.

The bushes are usually divided in May or late summer. The smaller the split off part is, the longer it will take for it to grow. Another method of propagation, cuttings, involves the separation of a sprout with a part of the rhizome from an adult bush. Cuttings are planted in open ground immediately, watered and shaded.

Dividing the hosta bush

Growing hosts from seeds is a laborious and time-consuming process. The germination rate of the material is 70-80%, therefore, before sowing, it must be treated with growth stimulants. Another way is to keep the seeds in the cold for 30 days. It is also important to ensure that the soil and planting containers are sterile. Before sowing the hosts, the pots must be disinfected with potassium permanganate or alcohol.

Seed propagation should start in April or May. Pour drainage into containers, then soil mixture, water it. Spread the seeds, sprinkle them with soil on top (layer thickness - 5-7 mm). Slightly press it, cover the container with glass or film and place in a shady place. Hosta germination temperature is + 18-25º C. In such conditions, seedlings appear in 2-3 weeks.

Hosta seeds

At this time, caring for young seedlings consists in moderate watering and removing condensation.Keep the sprouts in a lighted place, away from direct sunlight. When the first pair of leaves appears, dive the seedlings. The soil in new containers should be ¼ covered with sand. For watering, place the pots in a deep bowl and wait until the top layer is damp. Temper the sprouts: temporarily remove the glass or film, and after about a week, remove them altogether.

If the air temperature is already above + 18º C, leave the seedling containers in the fresh air for a short time. Experienced gardeners warn: despite proper care, the hosta develops very slowly. In addition, she often loses the characteristics of the variety.

Diseases and pests hosts

Khosta rarely gets sick, but one of the most typical ailments for her is phyllostictosis. Yellow-brown spots appear on the leaves. Affected plants need to be burned and the soil disinfected. If you notice gray rot or sclerotinia on the leaves, apply fungicides.

Phylostictosis hosts

Pests that make large holes in the beautiful foliage of hosts are slugs. To scare them away, cover the soil with something caustic: rubble or broken shells. Beer baits also help. Place containers with this drink around the bushes, and every other day, select slugs from them. Use insecticides to control insects (caterpillars, grasshoppers).

Hosta: Combination with other plants

Hosta leaves create harmonious combinations with brunner, heuchera and ferns. These plants look advantageous against the background of conifers. Also try compositions with primrose, geraniums, hornbeam. Make a beautiful landscape with lungwort, anemone, foxglove, astilba.

Hosta on a flower bed

There is an opinion that it is not necessary to combine the cultivation of roses and hosts. This is explained by the fact that they have different lighting requirements. However, in landscape design, this combination is quite common. In these cases, gardeners recommend planting the host on the north side of the bush.

Hosta in landscape design

There are many options for using this perennial in landscape design. First of all, the hosta is a ground cover plant for shady places. She creates coziness in gardens, stylized as nature. If you still decide to combine the cultivation of roses and hosts, decorate with them, for example, the shore of a reservoir.

Hosta in landscape design

Use this plant to decorate garden paths, lawns framing. When growing hosta in pots, decorate your patio or gazebo with it. It is also good for vertical flower beds. Phlox or daylilies will be a good addition in this case.

Whichever way you choose to decorate your garden is unlikely to be disappointed by the host. Rather, on the contrary: seriously and for a long time will conquer with its charm and unpretentiousness.

Growing hosts: video

Varieties of hosts: photo

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 care 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 a host in open ground?

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 reproduction 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. In conclusion, 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, dry parts are cut off, 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 from horticultural crops with phyllostictosis (brown spot). 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, then 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 cover the soil around the hosta with fine gravel 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 those 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.

It is possible to revitalize the garden with greenery with the help of hosts.This is an unpretentious plant that is often used in landscape design, since the leaves of the hosta have a variety of shapes and colors.

Hosta has been decorating the gardens of Russians for a long time. She comes from Asia, in Japan it is considered sacred. Flowers hosts they look like bells, they look quite modest. The main advantage of the hosta is the magnificent leaves, which are colored from green to golden and white, there are spotty, striped.

Host photo types

Look at Photohow beautiful it looks Blue and white hosta... There are about 3 thousand varieties of hosts, among which you can choose the most suitable one.

The most recognizable is the host plantain. She often grows 70 cm in height, blooms with white bell-shaped flowers, prefers shaded areas. If the roots overgrow, they begin to protrude from the soil, which leads to freezing in winter. It is not difficult to avoid freezing, the main thing is to plant hosts that are too thickened in time.

Green Fontaine variety has a smaller size. The height can reach half a meter. Looks great, blooms profusely with lavender flowers.

White Bordered Margarita looks attractive, has a small size, reaching a height of 30 cm. The foliage is painted in green tones, there is a white border. It looks decorative. Especially during flowering in July-August. The flowers are white, lilac, purple. A little morning and evening sunshine will not hurt such a host, although the lighting mode should be gentle.

How to grow

There are no particular difficulties in farming the hosts. However, it is worth considering some points.

Planting time

It is recommended to plant hosts in early spring before the leaves bloom. You can also plant the host in early autumn, then the seedling will take root, take root before the onset of cold weather and successfully overwinter.

Selection of healthy seedlings for planting

The choice of planting material requires careful attention. The roots must have at least one growth bud. Better if there are two or three. The kidneys should not be overgrown. It makes sense to select specimens with a developed root system. The roots should be about 12 cm long, elastic and sufficiently moist.

Advice! The presence of mold on the roots is unacceptable. Do not take a seedling with signs of rot and other diseases.

You can store planting material in a dark place at a temperature of +10 degrees. A basement, refrigerator, insulated loggia are suitable for this.

Drop off location

With complete unpretentiousness, the hosts should choose a place for planting, given that the plant needs a sufficient amount of moisture and protection from direct sunlight.

Cultivars with green leaves prefer shade. Variegated hosta varieties tolerate the sun well, however, require shading when the sun is at its zenith.

Important! The thicker the shadow, the slower the hosta grows, but at the same time its leaves will be larger, and the bush itself will grow taller.

Soil features

The soil should be light, moist, nutritious, and provide air penetration. Sour or alkaline is fine.

Watch the video! When to plant the host

Hosting stages

1. Since the roots of the hosta grow horizontally, a wide hole is required for planting. Since the plant is supposed to live in one place for several years, the depth of the pit should be at least 30 cm.
2. When planting in a hole, you need to add compost, rotted manure, sand, peat. If the soil is too acidic, wood ash will be required. To make the plant begin to grow faster in the pit, you can add 10 g of ammonium nitrate and 10 g of superphosphate;
3. All components are thoroughly mixed, laid on 2/3 of the depth of the pit, pour over with water;
4. The roots of the seedling are laid out on the surface of the soil. The growth buds should be at the level of the soil. Then it remains to sprinkle the roots with the earth and water thoroughly;
5. The space near the trunk is mulched with a layer of 2 cm thick.

Care features

It is not difficult to create conditions for development. In order for the host on the site to be beautiful, she needs to be looked after according to all the rules. Although this plant is not demanding to care for, you should be aware that in the first year after planting the plant grows very slowly, the color of the leaves does not correspond to the characteristics of the variety. Don't be afraid. In subsequent years, the host will show itself in all its glory.

Important! To make the hosta look nice and neat, flower arrows must be removed from some plant varieties. An exception is the hosta with fragrant white flowers.

Usually the plant lives on the banks of water bodies. This means that the soil and air must be moist.

How to water

The plant should be watered regularly, but the ground should not be waterlogged. It is good to arrange an evening shower for the host.

Top dressing

You will have to feed the host three times a season:

• In early spring, when growth is just beginning;
• When blooming;
• Immediately after flowering is complete.

The host needs fertilization, it helps her to grow and develop faster. If you do not carry away the feeding, the plant will be stunted, and the leaves will be small.

You can feed the bushes with organics, for example, infusion of mullein in a ratio of 1:10. You can also use mineral fertilizers, which consist of potassium sulfate, nitrate and superphosphate.

Advice! A host growing in the sun needs to be fed more often, since abundant watering accelerates the leaching of nutrients.

Pests and protection from them

Disease rarely affects the host. One of the most common hosta diseases is phyllostictosis. Yellow-brown spots appear on the leaves. Affected plants must be stung and burned, and the ground must be disinfected. If gray rot or sclerotinia appears on the leaves, it is necessary to treat the bushes with fungicides.

But the plant can suffer from pests. More likely from one - a slug. These sluggish creatures, which seem completely defenseless, are too gluttonous and eat the castings tirelessly. Ugly holes remain after them. You can scare away slugs with successful mulching. It is more rational to use something stabbing for mulch - wood chips, gravel, shell rock, pine needles.

Beer baits also help. Containers with beer should be placed around the bushes, and after a day, slugs should be caught from them. But insecticides help fight insects (caterpillars, grasshoppers).

Reproduction hosts

Three ways can be used breeding hosts:

1. Cuttings;
2. Seeds;
3. By dividing the bush (in May or late summer).

Division is usually chosen.

Hosta in landscape design

Hosta is very often used in landscape design, as it is a ground cover plant for shady places. Hosta looks great in gardens close to natural nature. If you combine the cultivation of roses and hosts, it is better to plant the plant on the shore of a reservoir.

The host can be used to decorate garden paths, lawns, alpine slides. The plant can be grown in pots, which are installed in the yard or on the veranda. It also looks good on vertical beds with phlox or daylilies.

Conclusion

There are no particular difficulties in growing hosts. This beautiful plant can be grown in any area to create coziness and comfort.

Watch the video! Host: landing, care, reproduction

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, depending on 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 habitat region - 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 hosts 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.

The dug out bush during transplantation is shaken off from large clods of earth, the old and dried sections of the 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 hostas 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 large, you can safely diversify the decorative compositions in the garden with variegatedly colored cultivars. With proper care, the host will confirm her title of queen of the shadow.