what was the impact on the blue leafed ones.. if that was included in the test? not the plant... but the blue itself ...

since once the blue washes off you have a green plant.. which will probably grow faster than the blue anyway ....

ken

As I think you know I seldom comment about things I haven't researched or actually performed the field work myself. If I use others research I often try to replicate it myself.

There weren't any blues in the area, there were var with a blue cast but I didn't look close enough to say.

This was a very gentle mist and I don't know if gentle mist will wash off the blue wax. BIG BUTT I have not checked.

The plants were, 'Torchlight", 'Wide Brim', 'Great Expectations' and a couple of others I can't name now but no real for sure blues.

I do find loss of wax more of a problem from heat than water.

if full sun .. wax warms.. and then i would wonder if it would wash off easier than if no water in the heat of the day ...

well .. if you experiment again .. throw in one of the old standard blues .... ken

In the instance that someone was unfortunate enough to have foliar nematodes or introduced a plant into their garden and was unaware it was infected, would this make it easier for the nematodes to travel from one plant to another? I've heard overhead watering is a no-no for that, is this similar? Just wondering.

Thanks

Do you grow all your hostas in a building? Have you ever heard of that phenomenom called RAIN? If I had to rely on watering my hostas with a sprinkling system,then what would be the reason to even grow them? I'll take nature,thank you! Phil

would this make it easier for the nematodes to travel from one plant to another?
playinmud

You'll get all the movement you want with the rain; in fact the mist does not create drops that splatter like the rain.

interesting

i tried some mist last year and plan to use more of it this year

i'll try and post some pics when i do

i tried some mist last year and plan to use more of it this year
greenguy

I was working on the question, "how much water can hosta stand", or how much is to much so I left it on 24/7 all summer. I would recommend using it to water plus to cool. Checking temp and AND when it gets in the mid 80's to cool the plants with the mister.

If you can use it on a few blues and a few different plants, hopefully you will have some of the same plants in other spots to compare. The effect on blue color would be good to know.

hosta_freak "I'll take nature, thank you!" Phil
You represent a percentage of hobby gardeners; others want more basic hosta horticulture while others will go to greater lengths pursuing their hobby. Some only want 2 hosta, the green and the green and white. A little statistical insight into hosta collectors.

I used to hand mist my hosta in pots with a hose end mister. Problem is we have hard water and it left white mineral spots on the leaves which was very apparent on the blue ones with more glaucous bloom. It doesn't rain here in Summer. Regular sprinkling forms big drops that roll off the leaves and don't leave a residue. Also, wouldn't 'damp all the time' lead to some other problems like fungus?

-Babka

I'm sorry,but hostas can get too much water! Have you ever heard of crown rot? I have,and some of mine even had it when too much water was applied. That said,I'll leave the extreme methods to you experts.My garden is in the woods, and misting is not an option. Phil

Phil, don't be sorry I have you at a disadvantage. These conclusions are based on about 12 years of research. I discussed my work with George Schmid and he found similar results and his work in Japan in the wild also supports these conclusions.

If you like I'll give you more details and you can try to replicate the work.

BTW were you born and raised in the south?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

And if you don't know how to fix it be careful not to break it.

My favorite from my father-in-law, "you don't know what you don't know".

phil ... crown rot is a function of the heat in the southern climes, plus the water.. plus how the water moves through the soil .... plus the bad spores ...

it is not JUST a water issue ...

i havent studied it enough to know the specifics beyond that ...

ken

I'm with Ken, curious about the effect on the traditional old blues.

Hmmm... thanks for sharing!

I'm with Ken, curious about the effect on the traditional old blues.

Hmmm... thanks for sharing!
Lisasmall

I would like to know and may do the work myself but if anyone sets up a misting system please share. Remember this mist is very, very fine so I don't think it would wash the wax off the leaves, it is almost like fog.

I was wondering what misting Nozzles you use?

"Conclusion: If you were willing to suffer the expense of automatic watering then I would include a system that would allow changing the emitters to mist when the temperatures reach the 80's."

I would like to add "if we are all to suffer the waste of watering at temps in the 80's ..."

M-A

Misting is a known subject for greenhouse growers, the unit I used was bought off the shelf for use around a pool. It was about 3-3.5 ft tall and I just sat it in front of the plants and turned it on and left it on 24/7. At one point it became clogged and I put it in lime away and turned it back on.

For me it was more about using a lot of water not misting although I wondered from the beginning about the influence of reducing the temperature around the plant.

If I were to set up such a system I would use it when the plant needed water and when it was hot water requirement aside.

I would like to add "if we are all to suffer the waste of watering at temps in the 80's ..."

M-A

I think I agree about waste but many water and mist is more efficient than sprinklers. Misters can be directed to one spot more or less and only water the hosta and not as much in areas we dont't want to water.

I've only watered one year except the bog which is watered by my shower, kitchen sink and washer.

I read somewhere that if you add Bone Meal to your misting system it greatly increases the root growth of the hostas. :)