Hostas as stress-relief

16 years ago

Hello - I am new to the hosta forum - been lurking here for nearly two years, and have learned a lot from all of you.

In the dead of a Wisconsin winter in 2008, after a series of unhappy life events, I discovered this forum online, which helped put something green and lifegiving back into my life.

There is something about hostas that is instantly calming - my kids think I'm crazy, but I figure hostas are cheap therapy.

And as I am new to this -- I have a few questions.

One: Last year, I put in several hostas, and have learned that their placement isn't quite right - something got taller/wider than I expected, and some haven't grown much at all. So... do you ever just rearrange them? Even if they are only being moved a foot or so? Seems a little obsessive to me, but I think you'll understand.

Two: I want to amend the soil in one of my beds, but it is already planted with hostas and other things. What is the best way to do this - simply add mulch/compost on top of the soil? I am concerned with cultivating too close to the hosta plants and disturbing the roots.

Three: I cannot view photos that are posted with photobucket - it drives me crazy when everyone is commenting on the beautiful gardens, and I can't see them. What do I have to do to fix this? Do I have to use photobucket to post pictures?

Thanks for any input and suggestions. V

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
hey.. welcome..

ignore the turds... lol

gardening is my therapy.. and my aerobics .... and the plants are just a side benefit ...

dig a big hole to relieve tension and anxiety ... then.. having the hole.. may as well stick something in it...

perhaps.. if the kids were a little more attuned to your physique .... you wouldnt need so many hosta.. lol ..

in case you dont know.. stay at home dad here ...

ken
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
16 years ago
Welcome Vicky. If you are concerned about the placement of some of your Hostas, now's a good time in their life to move them. They're still quite manageable, they'll become a lot more work in 3 or 4 years. Moving them also allows you to do some soil amending -compost- of their new location.

Mulching is great for your Hostas. It helps preserve moisture and will gradually amend you soil as well, as it decays and decomposes.

Yes, you need to use Photobucket. There's a posting in the FAQ that addresses this matter.

Pieter

Here is a link that might be useful: Photobocket FAQ
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User
16 years ago
Welcome! She said she cannot view pictures posted from Photobucket.

My suggestion is, post the problem in the GW "Computer Help" forum to see if someone there can help you. Just guessing, you may be blocking Photobucket with a security setting.

(I don't use Photobucket and I post pictures here from pbase, using the html address code.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Computer Help forum
chris-e
16 years ago
Hi Vicky!

Glad you decided to plant as well as read. : )

As for moving the hosta, yes, there should be no problem. Hosta are very forgiving of that, I have moved many of mine and have had no damage. Just make sure to water them well at all times, but especially after being moved or freshly planted.

chris
vicky_sheboygan
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for making me feel welcome!

And for the advice...

I will figure out photobucket when I have some more time - because I'd like to post some pics.

I'm not sure when I realized I became a hosta collector, probably about the same time I realized they all come with different names ---- and that I should have saved ALL the tags.

vicky
franknjim
16 years ago
It is never too late to start saving hosta tags because there will always be more to collect.

My garden is an outlet for me to relax even though it can be a lot of hard work. As long as you get enjoyment from it, that is all that matters. My hostas give me the calming effect as well. That is as long as they are thriving. When you see one go downhill or getting shredded by slugs or another critter it can get a little frustrating.

You get to see something new everyday if you look close enough. A little walk through the garden can come with a feeling of satistfaction and pride no matter how large or small a garden is.

I move hosta at any time of the year if it isn't happy or if I just want to do something different. I just moved one over about 12" last week because it needed a little more room to grow. It was new last fall. I took the opportunity to divide it into multiple plants while I had it out of the ground. A young Paul's Glory that had three plants. I put one back in the new position and potted the other two up. One to give my sister who never knows their names and one for trading.

There is a thread on moving large fully leafed out hostas while having the leaves tied up. I do pretty much the same thing when moving minis. You will find me out in the garden tying up little bity hostas with twine for a week until they can hold themselves up on their own. My great big monster hands holding and tying up little hostas while being as careful as possible not to break any leaf stems.

Only another gardener will understand why you get so much from your garden. Friends and family don't quite get it unless they are bitten by the hosta bug.