Hosta (Hosta) is a representative of perennial herbaceous plants and belongs to the Asparagus family. It got its name in honor of the famous Austrian botanist N. Host. The plant also has a second, less well-known name - funkia. The hosta genus is represented by numerous varieties and species.

The place of origin of the host is considered to be the territories of Japan and China, as well as the Kuriles, Sakhalin and the southern part Far East. It is impossible to determine exactly when this plant was discovered. It was brought to Europe only in the 19th century. Hosta did not gain its distribution among gardeners soon, but was originally grown only in greenhouse conditions botanical gardens.

How to plant a hosta flower

hosta is unpretentious plant so it can grow well in a shady spot. The only condition is that the plant must be protected from exposure strong wind and drafts. The color of the leaves affects the hosta's landing site. So a plant with green solid or blue leaves will feel good in the shade, while a hosta with variegated leaves should land in brightly lit places, but without direct, burning rays of the sun.

Hosta is also unpretentious to the composition of the soil. But if you need to grow a strong, lush and beautiful plant, then the land should be fertile and well moisture and breathable. Hosta will not be able to grow in swampy lands. Hosta seedlings can be planted in open ground both in autumn in early September and in spring in April-early May.

The bed under the host should be well dug up. The holes need to be made shallow, they should be located at a distance of about 40-50 cm from each other. If the variety has big leaves, then this distance should be increased. Each well should contain a good drainage layer. Broken pine bark or small stones are suitable for it. Next, the drainage layer is sprinkled with universal fertilizer for decorative leafy plants, and the host is planted on top, gently spreading its roots. Next, the planted plant must be carefully watered and covered with sawdust so that the water does not evaporate too quickly from the surface.

Watering

Caring for a host is not difficult at all. Watering should be plentiful and frequent. You need to water in the morning, until the heat has come, the earth should always be moist, but without stagnant water, otherwise the plant will be affected by fungal diseases.

Top dressings and fertilizers

You only need to feed the host if it grows on infertile soil. Then you need to fertilize at least three times during the season of its growth and flowering. The first time occurs in mid-April, the second - at the end of May, the third - at the end of July. For feeding, both a fertilizer for decorative leafy plants and natural organic fertilizers, diluted with a small amount of potassium sulfate, superphosphate and ammonium nitrate, are suitable.

Soil loosening

Loosening the soil must be carried out very carefully, as the roots of the plant are too close to the surface of the earth. Many gardeners refuse to loosen at all, so as not to damage the root system of the host, but replace its mulching. Mulched soil retains moisture well.

pruning

Before the onset of cold weather, flower stalks are cut off, and the leaves are not touched.

Hosta transplant in autumn

Every autumn mature plant subject to transplantation and division of the bush. Peduncles are removed, the plant is removed from the ground and divided into parts, each of which should contain 2 rosettes and an independent root system. You need to have time to seat the host before mid-September. Before the onset of cold weather, transplanted plants should have time to take root and prepare for the winter cold.

The soil for transplantation should be loose and fertile. Immediately after planting, the hole with the plant is well moistened and mulched with sawdust or sand. The plant is planted at a distance of about 30 cm from each other so that the hosta bushes next year were free to grow and develop. Hosta can not be transplanted every year. In the same place, the bush can successfully grow for about 20 years.

Preparing flowers for winter

It is important to properly prepare the host for wintering. To do this, flower stalks are cut, the soil around the plant is covered with leaves. The leaves of the plant are not cut off. The first snowfall can be used to provide additional cover for the plant.

Hostas can be propagated in one of the three ways listed below.

Reproduction by dividing the bush carry out in early spring in April or autumn in September after flowering. Water the plant thoroughly before harvesting. An adult bush is divided into parts. Each part must contain at least two outlets. The shoots are planted at a distance of about 40 cm from each other.

Propagation by cuttings. To do this, take any shoot that has its own root system, separate it from an adult plant and plant it in the shade, covering plastic bottle. After a few days, the cutting can be transplanted to permanent place.

Propagation of hosta by seeds is the hardest way. This plant has a very low germination rate. Before planting, the seeds must be soaked in a growth stimulator solution. The soil for planting them must be sterile.

It is necessary to sow the seeds in a pot in April, they are sprinkled with earth a little on top and left at a temperature of about 25 degrees for germination. The container with seeds should be covered with glass or film, periodically ventilated and moistened. Seeds germinate in about 2-3 weeks.

Sprouts should be kept in bright diffused light, moistened periodically. After two full-fledged leaves appear, the sprouts can be dived. But it is important to remember that with this method of propagation, the host will grow very slowly.

Hosta can be successfully used in the design of a garden plot. Her beautiful leaves unusual shapes and colors will complement the landscape design and dilute the blooming riot of other plants. A hosta with a small height can be used to decorate the first plan of flower beds and alpine slides. The hosta looks good along with a decorative rocky base.

The host can be decorated with a fountain, a pond or an artificially created pond. The host can arrange curbs garden paths. With its help, the flower beds are divided into sectors, so that in the future it can be planted in free areas annual plants. Hosta does not have to be combined with other plants. It will look very nice in the form of a solid carpet. Many gardeners make hosta places under fruit trees.

Hosta will go well with almost any garden crop, whether it be lilies, balsams, ferns, geraniums or muscari. It will also favorably shade coniferous plantations.

Hosta is quite resistant to diseases and pests, but still it can be affected by slugs or nematodes.

Slugs are hard to deal with. To do this, it is best to use bait preparations purchased in a specialized store. Slugs can also be caught using homemade traps. To do this, containers with beer are buried next to the plant. At night, these bait traps will collect almost all pests. To prevent slugs from getting close to the hosts, the soil around them needs to be filled up. eggshell or broken shell rock.

When the plant is affected by nematodes, brown stripes form on the leaves. In this case, all the affected parts of the plant are removed and transplanted to a new place, having previously processed the roots. weak solution potassium permanganate.

If water constantly stagnates in the roots of the hosta, then the plant can become ill with gray (brown) rot or phyllosticosis. A hosta infected with rot will start shedding diseased leaves. The root system will also suffer. You can fight the disease by treating the plant in a solution of potassium permanganate and transplanting to a new place.

Phyllosticosis manifests itself on the leaves of the plant in the form of red-brown spots. You can save the host by treating it with Vectra.

All varieties and types of hosts are divided according to two parameters: depending on the size of the plant and on the color of the leaves.

By color: hosta green, hosta yellow, hosta blue, hosta variegata and mediavariegata.

To size: dwarf (up to 10 cm), miniature (10-15 cm), small (16-25 cm), medium (26-50 cm), large (51-70 cm), giant (from 70 cm).

Among gardeners, the most favorite varieties are considered to be:

Hosta curly- a miniature view with heart-shaped leaves, the edges are sharp, slightly wavy, and the tips are rounded. There is a white border along the edge of the sheet. The length of each leaflet is no more than 16 cm. The flowering time of curly hosta is from July to August. Blooms with inconspicuous flowers purple hue collected in a panicle on a high peduncle.

Hosta Siebold- this variety is characterized by large leaves, dense to the touch, reaching about 35 cm in length and about 25 cm in width. The leaves are dark green in color, and their surface is covered with a whitish waxy layer. It blooms in the form of an inflorescence on a tall peduncle with pale bells. purple. The flowering period is July.

Hosta Fortune- on appearance similar in many respects to Siebold's hosta, but has a much smaller leaf size. The color of the leaves is dark green, there is also a wax coating on them. The length of each leaf is about 13 cm. The peduncle reaches a considerable size. Flowering is observed in August with funnel-shaped flowers of a purple hue.

Hosta wavy- got its name due to the unusually beautiful wavy leaves, reaching a length of about 20 cm. The peduncle is quite high - about 80 cm. The flowers are shaped like bells of a light lilac shade.

Hosta plantain- has a height of up to 70 cm, bright green leaves, glossy and shiny, rounded and thin to the touch. Blooms in August, releasing a tall inflorescence. Flowers inconspicuous, white.

hosta high- the leaves are dense to the touch, dark green in color, attached to the plant with long petioles. It blooms in the form of a low peduncle with a dense inflorescence. Flowers tubular, purple. Blooms in the second half of August.

Hosta swollen- has round dark green leaves, each leaf is about 25 cm long and about 20 cm wide. The host can reach a height of about 80 cm. Flowering occurs in late July in the form of an inflorescence located on a long peduncle. The flowers are small, purple.

Hosta plant care (video)

Hosta is called the "queen" of shady areas and garden seating areas. 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 to gardeners or summer residents. The flower can be propagated by division, cuttings and seeds.

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

Needs the most winter shelter root zone 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. Before planting, the hosta can be stored briefly in the basement or in the vegetable section of the refrigerator. Plant out outdoors when danger of late frost 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 labor-intensive procedure requires certain knowledge and skills. Unfortunately, seed-grown hostas do not always inherit the characteristics of the mother plant. This is especially true for variegated varieties.

Description of the sowing procedure:

1. Propagation by seeds is carried out in early spring.
2. Use a container, pot or plastic box for sprouting.
3. Drainage is poured at the bottom, the container is filled with a light fertile substrate.
4. Water, lay out the seeds, sprinkle with a layer of soil 0.5 cm thick on top.
5. Cover with glass or film, 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 after 2 weeks. Seedlings are dived into other containers, hardened in the fresh air, but protected from direct sun rays. Seedlings develop slowly at first, acquiring the characteristics of a variety only after 3-4 years.

Propagation by cuttings and dividing the bush

The most common methods for obtaining new plants are used in the presence of 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 cuttings allows you to get hostas of the same variety as the mother plant.

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

• Divide for seating only healthy plants.
• In the first few weeks, water often, but without stagnant water.
• Hostas grow slowly after transplantation, especially variegated varieties.
• Young leaves in most cases have a uniform green color.
• The signs of the variety are fully manifested after 2 years.

Cuttings - separation of the part with the kidneys and a piece of rhizome - can be carried out from spring to autumn. Sometimes the procedure fails, there are almost no roots left, but there are buds, or there is no outlet, but there is a rhizome. Do not throw away even such a defective planting material. The cuttings are planted in the shade, covered with a cut plastic bottle. The missing organs gradually grow, 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.

Soil and location requirements

Need well-drained soil rich in moisture and nutrients. There are no special pH requirements, moderately acidic and alkaline substrates are suitable. Variegated forms shading is required during the midday hours. Under the direct rays of the sun, colored stripes and spots disappear. Varieties with blue foliage also change color. Only single-color 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. Feeding is also best done in the evening.

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

Loosening, pruning, transplanting

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

Peduncles are usually removed, but they are beautiful flowering varieties leave and cut before the seeds ripen (if not in the plans seed propagation hosts). Cut off dry and damaged leaves throughout the season. Experienced flower growers It is recommended to leave the foliage in autumn to protect the roots from frost.

The best transplant material is plants with 2-3 buds and well-developed roots 10 cm long. landing pit make it wide, because the underground organs grow in a horizontal direction. The depth should be at least 30 cm. Pour a mixture of compost onto the bottom, garden soil, peat and sand. Can be sprinkled with a handful wood ash for pH normalization and disinfection.

The planting hole is filled with a substrate to 70% of the height, moistened abundantly. The host is positioned so that the roots are on the surface of moist soil, the growth buds are at ground level. Sprinkle with soil, compact and water 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 autumn, after the first frost, the leaves begin to wither. You don't need to cut or rip them off. Foliage protects the soil above the roots from freezing. Additionally, you can cover the plant with agrofiber. In the spring, the remaining leaves must be removed (plucked out).

Growing hosta in the garden - diseases and pests

The plant is little susceptible to disease, but is infected from horticultural crops with phyllosticosis (brown spot). A severely affected host must be destroyed, the soil should 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. It is recommended to regularly inspect plants and remove pests. If you can’t fight, then you can find it in nurseries or flower shops planting material resistant varieties. Slugs prefer soft tissues, and less likely to attack hosts with leathery foliage. Another option is to mulch the soil around the hosta with small gravel or crushed shell rock. At 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 where it is necessary to decorate the corners of the garden, the entrance to the gazebo. Against the backdrop of lush greenery, hostas look great flowering annuals and perennials: bluebells, primroses, phloxes. Varieties with bicolor and tricolor leaves are especially valued in landscape design. It is desirable to place such plants singly on the lawns, in small groups along the paths.

Growing hostas is best to start with varieties that have green foliage. They are less demanding on conditions and care, they are easier to tolerate bright lighting and transplant.

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

Any use of hosta 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 shadow will not disappoint its fans, it will attract attention with a magnificent view of leaves and bell-shaped flowers.

When spring comes to earth, the slopes and meadows are dressed in a green outfit. Wherever you look, everywhere we are surrounded by plants, among which the host is hiding. This unpretentious beauty able to grow rapidly, covering the ground with a magnificent carpet.

It was first discovered in the countries of the Far East. It got its name in honor of the Australian scientist N. Host. Also, sometimes it is called in the old way - funkia, after the German biologist G.Kh. Funk.

When the hosta appeared in the British Isles in the 18th century, only a few appreciated its beauty. But, having migrated to America, she gained real popularity. Over time, the plant spread throughout the planet. In some Eastern countries the flower of functionia is considered sacred. And the leaves are edible.

Hosta loves moisture, so it grows on the coast of rivers and near small streams. It can be found on mountain slopes and forest clearings.

General description of the plant

Hosta belongs to the Asparagus family and is a perennial. ornamental plant. Its main decoration is leaves.

Depending on the variety, they differ:

1. Dimensions. Small, from 5 cm long. Medium - 15 cm. Large - up to 40 cm.

1. form. Narrow variants with pointed edges, long-petiolate, heart-shaped and rounded. Grow from the root.

1. Different plate surface. The leaves are smooth or textured with bright veins. Some of them are glossy and with a metallic sheen. Matte options look original. In addition, there are wrinkled, wrinkled or waxy specimens.

1. Color. In nature, there are hostas with leaves of all shades of green or of blue color. There are species in which white or cream leaves.

Due to its rapid growth, the host is often used as. Per a short time it can occupy an area of ​​1 m², therefore it is used for garden design.

The flower reaches a height of 50 cm to 80 cm. However, new giant varieties have already been bred - up to 2 meters. As well as dwarf species - 5 cm high.

Charming bell-shaped or funnel-shaped hosta flowers rise majestically above the plant.

They are located on stable peduncles in the center of the leaf rosette. Inflorescences are collected in one-sided brushes that bloom in mid-summer. Some of them are terry, others are simple. Found in color:

• bluish;
• white;
• purple;
• pinkish.

After flowering, fruits appear on the shoots. They are a three-sided chest in which many seeds are stored. Similarity is maintained up to 1 year.

Ornamental plant - hosta is considered unpretentious, because it tolerates cold and drought. Plus, it does well in the shade. It can stay in the same area for up to 20 years without losing its original beauty.

In landscape design, the host is often used as the main background for garden flowers or low shrubs.

A unique variety of curvaceous beauty

In the natural environment, there are more than fifty various kinds hosts. They are the basis for many ornamental varieties bred by breeders. Some of them amaze with their elegance and beauty.

Hosta Wavy

A low plant, growing up to 30 cm, is distinguished by oblong ovoid leaves. Their length reaches 20 cm, width - 13. The edges are wavy. In the center, the leaf plate is painted white or mixed with green.

Inflorescences of light purple color grow up to 80 cm above the leaf rosette. They resemble a lily, which gives it elegance. In nature, hosta grows in forests where there is fertile soil.

Variety Fortune

This variety flower grows over half a meter. Its original leaves resemble a heart. Along the edges they cast gold, and in the center - Green colour. Under certain lighting, a blue tint appears.

Hosta blooms in August. The peduncle rises above the foliage to a height of 50 cm.

lanceolate hosta

Sometimes this variety is called narrow-leaved beauty. A perennial grows up to 40 cm. The leaves are usually lanceolate. The edges are pointed. Glitter in the sun. The color is dark green.

Purple buds rise half a meter above the bush. It begins to bloom in August, throwing out the last inflorescences in mid-autumn.

Siebold variety

Low bushes 30 cm high, often pleasing to the eye in summer cottages. The originality of the species is that its leaves are dense and wrinkled. Their color is pale green, but the top of the plate is covered with a wax coating.

Peduncles rise above the bush to a height of 50 cm. The buds are pale purple. Bloom from June to September.

white-rimmed hosta

dwarf plant, which grows only up to 30 cm. The leaf plate is wide, but thin. The shape is lanceolate. Color is dark green with white trim.

Inflorescences rise above the plant to a height of 30 cm. The buds are lilac, white or lilac. Begins to bloom in July. Last flowers at the end of August.

Hosta Plantain

This type of hosta reaches up to 50 cm in height. It has large, round, bright green leaves.

Huge buds are almost always white. exude pleasant persistent aroma. Begins to bloom in July, pumps in late summer. Heat-loving variety.

curly hosta

The plant grows up to 70 cm in height. The leaves have wavy edges. The color is two-tone. Green center, and the edges are painted with a white wide line.

Blooms in mid-summer. The inflorescences rise up to 50 cm above the bush. The color of the buds is light shades of purple.

decorative

Low bushes up to 45 cm look original on garden plot. The diameter of the plant is 55 cm. The leaves are distinguished by a sharp tip, about 15 cm long, and 8 cm wide. The color is rich green, painted with a white border along the edge.

Buds bloom on high peduncles (about half a meter), lavender color. Blooms mainly in summer.

bloated hosta

This garden giant has large heart-shaped leaves. Their length reaches 25 cm, and their width is 20. The tips of the plate are pointed. Color is rich green.

From the center of the leaf rosette, a slender peduncle rises up to 1 m. Delicate purple buds flaunt at its top.

All varieties of hosta are classified according to the color of the leaves and the size of the bushes. They come in colors: green, blue, yellow and two-tone. Size: miniature, dwarf, small, medium, large and giant.

Growing hostas

To grow the "Queen of Shadows" in a summer cottage, you will have to make a lot of effort. One way to plant hosta is by sowing seeds. Since the similarity of the seeds of the plant is only 80%, the matter should be taken seriously. Despite this, almost all hosta varieties can be grown from seeds. It is important to stock up on planting material in time.

Seeds are harvested in late August or early autumn. During this period, the boxes acquire a brown color and open. If you miss the moment, the seeds will scatter and you can be left with nothing.

Even before sowing the seeds, they must be thoroughly dried so that they completely lose moisture. Until the moment of planting, the seeds are stored at a temperature not lower than 2 degrees in a dry room.

So that caring for her is not in vain, it is important to adhere to the basic rules.

First of all, the soil and planting containers are sterilized. This makes it possible to destroy various harmful microorganisms and fungi. The prepared soil is watered with potassium permanganate diluted in water. Then, the mass is kept in a water bath for 30 minutes. After the procedure, cool the soil.

A steam bath can be built if you take a large pot. Pour liquid into it up to half, and attach a sieve with soil on top. Bring water to an active boil and keep this temperature for 30 minutes. It is advisable to cover the sieve.

Landing containers, as well as the tools necessary for work, can be wiped with alcohol.

To obtain good harvest hosts from seeds, planting stock should be treated with growth stimulants. Then we proceed to landing:

1. We compact the prepared soil using a wide wooden plank.
2. We sow planting material, shallowly embedding it in the soil. Approximately 7 mm deep.
3. We sprinkle the surface with agroperlite (crushed volcanic rock) and again compact it with a wooden plank.
4. We take the containers to a room where the temperature is not lower than 20 degrees.

The first shoots appear after 14 days. When the leaves are already visible, it is important to know how to plant the hosts in separate containers.

First you need to prepare a more nutritious composition of the soil, which is sprinkled with sand on top. Then one seedling is stuck into each pot, covering it with film or glass. Bottom irrigation is used to supply moisture. The containers are placed in a deep saucer with liquid so that the soil is wet to the very top.

How to care for the host during this period depends on whether the plant will take root in the open field or not. Therefore, it is important to gradually harden the plant.

When the seedlings grow up a little, the film or glass should be removed for 2 to 3 hours a day. After 10 days, it is completely removed, and the plant is taken out into the street.

With the gradual stabbing of hosts, the initial temperature should not be lower than 18 degrees.

When growing a green garden queen from seeds, it should be remembered that the plant grows and develops slowly. She also loses the main features of the variety. Patience and the right attitude towards the young plant will help in this matter.

Planting hosts at their summer cottage and care

In order for the hosta in the garden to become a real decoration, you need to create for it ideal conditions. The best option is a semi-shaded, windless place. Some varieties love a lot of light, so this fact should be taken into account. For example, if there is a lot of white on the leaves or yellow color The plant loves light. Variegated varieties prefer the sun only in the mornings and evenings.

Given these points, you should wisely choose a permanent place for a shade-loving beauty. The hosta flowers shown in the photo, which are planted and cared for correctly, are a beautiful visiting card of the garden plot.

A wise florist understands that a plant wants to take a break from summer heat in the shadow. Therefore, he plants nearby tall trees or shrubs. Of course, one should not go to extremes. If there is very little light, the hosta will get sick and lose its attractiveness.

When the place is chosen and the soil is ready, holes of medium depth are made.

In order for the plant to take root well on the open ground, 2 or 3 hours before planting, the seedlings are poured with water.

Bushes are laid out at a distance of 30-60 cm from each other undersized varieties hosts. For giants - distance up to 1 m.

Spreading the seedlings in the pits, it is necessary to carefully straighten the roots so as not to damage them. It is important to keep some substrate from the pot on them.

Then the plant is covered with earth. It is important to remember: the host should be in a hole 2 cm below ground level. The planted plant after watering is mulched with crushed bark.

It is desirable to carry out work in mid-July so that the hosts take root and successfully endure cold times.

The hosta plant shown in the photo does not require care. special efforts. Growing the "queen of shadows" can be afforded by people who do not particularly like to engage in land work. And for those who do not have time for this at all, the host is a real find. When a plant grows, it needs minimal care. And with young seedlings you have to work a little.

Newly planted bushes should be watered twice a day - in the morning and late in the evening. You need to direct the stream of water under the root, since the leaves can turn black from moisture. The water pressure should not be strong so that the soil under the plant does not compact. If the tips sheet plate darkened, which means that the plant lacks moisture. This feature is an indicator of the frequency of watering.

To protect the root system of young seedlings and moisture near them, a little peat is poured around the plant. Periodically, the flower can be fertilized. It is best to do this in early spring or after the last flowering.

When a flower grows on a mineral-rich soil, you can feed it once every 3 years. For this, it is better to use humus. Apply fertilizer late autumn as an element of mulching. scatter after a good downpour or thorough watering.

Fertilizers in liquid form are used only up to the middle summer period. If you make them longer, the flower will actively grow fresh leaves. As a result, he will not have time to switch to preparation for the cold period.

To make perennial bushes look attractive, experienced gardeners remove young flower stalks and missing leaves. In this form, the flower looks well-groomed and decorates country cottage area. A matured plant tightly closes the soil around it, so it does not need regular weeding from weeds.

Diseases and pests of the charming hosta

If the "queen of shadows" has suffered from spring frosts, it is affected by a fungus. The disease manifests itself in dark yellow spots on the leaf plate.

Flower stalks sometimes suffer from pests. AT this case, such specimens should be dug out of the garden to protect healthy flowers. The soil must be disinfected.

No less dangerous for a flower are caterpillars, which can destroy all leaves in a short time. In addition to them, the plant is affected by grasshoppers or beetles. After their invasion, the flower resembles a battered warrior returning from the battlefield. They can only be controlled with insecticides.

When a plant is provided with competent care and protection from pests, it will delight its owners for a long time. And the garden will turn into favorite place enjoyment.

Decorative hostas in recent times began to rapidly gain popularity among summer residents. Hostas have become really trendy. The leaves of the hosta are shaped like a heart. As a rule, hosta leaves bloom from mid-summer to late August.

What you need to know when landing a hosta?

In the case of excellent hosta care, a person receives a return in the form of the beauty of the plant. Care and planting hosts - the process is not complicated, and short-lived.

This flower is beautiful by nature not with multi-colored coloring, but with special leaves. With good care, hosta leaves become more colorful over time.

Hosta is not demanding on the soil. So, the soil should be sufficiently moist, while without stagnant water. Excessive dampness will not benefit the plant, this is worth remembering.

Exhausted soil during planting should be fertilized with sand, humus, as well as a variety of mineral fertilizers.

If you want your hostas to look more colorful and bright, plant them in sandy soil, be aware that hostas grow quite slowly in such soil.

What place in country garden most beneficial for hosta planting? Shaded areas of the garden are the perfect place for this. interesting plant. Keep in mind that hosts prefer shade. If you notice an advantage on the leaves of a plant white color then know that the plant needs light. Such a hosta will be delighted with the sunlight.

When caring for hostas, it is worth remembering that it is preferable to block hostas from hot sunlight with perennials. Hosta is a plant that is not afraid of winters.

Sometimes hosta is planted after seedlings have grown from seeds. For successful seedlings, it is worth taking care of planting seeds in special small pots in April. The plant sprouts within three weeks. It is necessary to take care of the seedlings, to limit it from direct sunlight.

At the end of summer, the shoots are planted in a permanent place in the garden. The depth for the plant should be chosen the same as in the pot. During planting, the sockets of the hosts are watered and also mulched.

In fact, taking care of hosts is a simple process. The main operations necessary for caring for a plant are weeding, watering, top dressing, and loosening.

The main task before the summer resident is the selection of the optimal plant variety.

Also be guided when choosing a variety of hosts by the harmony that will come after planting a flower in the garden.

The host itself universal plant, since it can be planted along paths, curbs. The hosta will look very beautiful if it is planted in a flower bed.

Composition host - great option for country house. In the first rows, hosts of lighter tones are often planted, and then darkened ones. It is worth knowing that hosts can live in one place for twenty years.

How to fertilize the soil?

Properly selected fertilizers will make it possible to enjoy the beauty of plants for a long time. During the life the flower is fertilized ammonium nitrate, mullein infusion, compost, potassium sulfate, superphosphate.

It is desirable to fertilize the soil three times during the entire growing season: at the beginning of the season, during budding, and also after the flower has faded.

When should hostas be watered?

Like many other plants, hostas prefer morning watering.

Please note that watering the hosta is done moderately, as excessive watering will lead to the death of the flower.

How does a flower reproduce?

Hostas can be propagated in two ways: division and seeds. The bushes are divided and transplanted often before the flower begins to show leaves.

Regarding the time of the year, the most suitable for the reproduction of a flower, let's say that this is the end of April - May.

For successful reproduction of the hosta, it is necessary to dig up the hosta bush, and then rinse the roots in water.

Enliven your garden with colorful greenery, and take the host as an assistant for this. It is unpretentious when planting, in care and cultivation. This plant is popular in landscape design, because its leaves have different forms and color, depending on the variety.

Description, varieties and varieties

The beauty of this plant is in the leaves, not the flowers. From green to golden and white, from long to round and heart-shaped, this is what a 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 decoration of the garden from early spring to late autumn.

Having decided to start growing hosta, see how it looks in the photo. Choose your favorite from over 3,000 varieties. By color scheme foliage they are combined into 5 groups:

• green;
• blue (with a bluish tinge);
• yellow;
• variegata (this includes hostas variegated and bordered in light color);
• mediovariegata (leaves are light, with green edges).

There is a huge variety of types of hosta

Those who grow hostas in open ground are also familiar with the classification of varieties by size:

• 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, among other things, are used for breeding:

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

Landing hosta

The optimal time for planting hostas in the open field is early spring or late August-early September. It is not worth postponing to a later time. Choose planting material 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's too early to plant it, store the sprouts in a cool and dark place at t +5-10 °C. A basement, the bottom shelf of a refrigerator or an insulated balcony will do.

Traditionally, the hosta is 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. Partial shade or even a sunny place is suitable for growing light hostas. Make sure that the plant is not under direct rays, otherwise burns on the leaves cannot be avoided.

Hosta can be planted in shade or partial shade.

Light, well-drained, moist soil is good for planting and propagation in open ground. 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, fall asleep fertile soil, compact. Finish planting with abundant watering. Mulch the roots with crushed 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, pour additional soil under the root.

plant care

Although not demanding hosta, planting and caring for her require compliance with the rules.

Fertilizer and fertilizing hosta

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

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

The hosta needs to be fed several times a season.

For these purposes, fertilizers with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus are most often used. Compost and humus are also useful for hosts. They are best applied in the fall. organic fertilizers preferably mineral. The golden rule of grooming is not to overdo it. Too frequent or abundant top dressing may cause a burn.

Plant propagation

There are 3 ways to propagate hostas:

• division;
• cuttings;
• growing from seed.

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

Division of the hosta bush

Growing hostas from seeds is a time-consuming and laborious process. The germination of the material is 70-80%, so 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 the sterility of the soil and containers for planting. Before sowing hostas, pots must be disinfected with potassium permanganate or alcohol.

Propagation by seeds should begin 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 crush it, cover the container with glass or film and place in a shady place. The hosta germination temperature is + 18-25º C. Under such conditions, seedlings appear in 2-3 weeks.

hosta seeds

At this time, the care of young seedlings consists in moderate watering and removal of condensate. Keep the sprouts in a lit place, protecting 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 upper layer won't get wet. Harden the sprouts: remove the glass or film for a while, and remove them altogether after about a week.

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

Diseases and pests hostas

The host rarely gets sick, but one of its most characteristic ailments is phyllostictosis. Yellow-brown spots appear on the leaves. Affected plants must be burned, and the soil must be disinfected. If you notice gray mold or sclerotinia on the leaves, apply fungicides.

Phyllosticosis hosta

The pests that make big holes in the beautiful hosta foliage are slugs. To scare them away, mulch the soil with something caustic: rubble or broken shells. Help and beer bait. Place containers with this drink around the bushes, and in a day select slugs from them. Use insecticides to control insects (caterpillars, grasshoppers).

Hosta: combination with other plants

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

Hosta in the flowerbed

There is an opinion that you should not 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 host groundcover for shady places. She creates coziness in gardens stylized as natural nature. If you still decide to combine the cultivation of roses and hostas, decorate with them, for example, the shore of a reservoir.

Hosta in landscape design

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

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

Growing hosta: video

Varieties of hosts: photo