Does this fit the description?

"Sclerotium blight has become a serious disease of hostas in isolated situations. Initially, lower leaves wilt and brown. In a short time, upper leaves also wilt; close inspection shows a soft, brown rot of the base of petioles. The fungus, Sclerotium rolfsii, appears as a fluffy, white mass of mycelium on the petioles and surrounding soil. Tiny tan sclerotia (fungal structures) the size of mustard seeds can be seen in this mycelium and on the soil. "

Link below.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta Diseases - IPM University of Illinois

That's interesting looking stuff. Could it be some kind of insect egg case. Kind of looks like a praying mantis case, but not quite. Hope we can get it figured out! It definitely detracts from the plant's beauty (unless it is a praying mantis case - they are great!) Kenh

Looks more like dog vomit slime mold.`Google it, I'm not kidding.

The leaves aren't wilted and brown, so not likely Sclerotium blight. In fact, the leaves don't look like they are that harmed by the growth, whatever it is.

Is this correct? Or, have you lost leaves to this problem?

bkay

I don't think that looks like any blight I've ever seen. Those big globs are special. I second the vote for "Dog Vomit Slime Mold".

-Babka

Definitely not praying mantis egg sacks. Too early in the year, too large, not the correct shape or texture, etc. I've seen lots of mantis eggs sacks, usually on tall grass, blackberry vines, or wire fencing, but never on a hosta. They seem to know what kind of plant material will winter over.

No Joke. Go here:

Here is a link that might be useful: Pics of Dog Vomit Mold

Looks like the worst case of salt build-up as I have ever seen. Do you fertilize much?

Seriously, no damage to the plant is apparent so likely not a blight. I'd go with a slime mold.

tj

How about removing it (carefully)? I would soak it in soapy water applied with a brush, then use tools to break it up.

Another vote for Dog Vomit Slime Mold. That was my first thought before I read any responses.

Alexa

email chris to a link to this post.. if he doesnt chime in ...

have you been having hot and balmy windless nights with hyper humidity?>?? [or is that the definition of TN .. lol]

ken

Thanks for all the responses.

It's been real dry here, but we have been watering, but not a lot. It was in a new bed my wife put around a tree with bagged Scott's Topsoil and pine bark mulch. There are about 7-8 hostas in the bed and some are different varieties, but this is the only one that has the funk. All were planted about a month ago.

From what I've read, the dog vomit starts out yellow and looks like "dog vomit". This is just white, soft, chalky stuff. It can easily be brushed off. My only worry is it spreading to the other plantsand maybe eventually killing them.

Grumpy,

Is it harming this Hosta or is it just using it as a place to grow?

Steve

Ken, Chris chimed in yesterday with the third response. Wake up!!!! ;-)

-Babka

Southern Blight isn't that obvious. You have to really look for it on the lower part of the petioles. And if you're like me, you have to wear your reading glasses in order to see it.

Deanna

Now that I think about it, that looks like something that bloomed in my worm bin one time. Don't remember what I had put in there, but it seems like it was a woody type material. It won't hurt the plant, it's just freaky looking. Just rinse it off.

Deanna

find out what this was?

Holy Canole, I thought I knew my stuff until I saw this post.

I certainly hope I never, ever, see this!

Please, not YET ANOTHER Hosta problem.

They're so well known to be a relatively problem-free plant.

Drat, now THIS.

All that said, thanks for the alert, all!

Mebbe us hillbillys up in zone 4 will be exempt???

hh

it's sort of scary when someone as knowledgable as hostahillbilly doesn't even know!
maybe the alien seed pods have finally arrived.

Michelle

It looks like mold to me. It is probably harmless to the plant. I have Dog Vomit Mold periodically and I don't think this is it. I have never seen it on any plant; it lies on the ground and definitely looks like vomit. It has a yellow color to it as well.

DVM is spread when it rains. If you spray some water on it the mold will "explode" with what looks like puffs of smoke. Very interesting to play with. I have kept it in check by spraying it when it is very dry. I think it needs the moisture from rain to "colonize" in new locations (which explains why rain triggers the "explosion". Setting it off in dry conditions seems to thwart the process and stop the spread of the fungus.

It only shows up occasionally and I look forward to the display it gives off when sprinkled. It may seem strange but I look forward to having a clump or two of vomit look-alike show up. They loose their bright color and disappear shortly after the sprinkling.

I would remove and throw away the "fungus" and wash with soap and water and then treat with a fungicide........and replant it.

Whatever it is, I have it too. I found this yesterday evening. We've had tons and tons of rain. This happened over the day because it wasn't that way in the morning. I was out looking for slugs so I sprayed it with ammonia. It was more powdery looking before I went into the house and exchanged my ammonia sprayer for the camera. In the (bad) picture it looks more like melted marshmallows. Today I'm going to slop some dish soap on it. No other plant has this. I'll be very interested if someone figures out what it actually is.

Meanwhile, I am SO looking forward to the 95 degree whether forecast toward the beginning of next week. Give me sun over rain any day.

I have this on one of my hostas too. Did anyone ever figure out what this is?

yes.. both above in the answers ... and again in your own post ...dog vomit fungus .....ken

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4813587/white-stuff-on-my-hosta?n=2

I don't think so, Ken. Look at the spot where the petiole attaches. This is not a dog vomit slime mold, whatever the above one was. This is melting the petioles. That looks like southern blight to me. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/rot/crown-rot.aspx

Read the article by Bill Meyer about a southern blight strategy. It explains how the fungi life cycle works and how to eradicate it from your garden. http://hostalibrary.org/articles/RR.htm#c.
bk

I've had SB in my garden several times and that's not what it's looked like here. SB is just so lethal that an infection that severe would have killed the plant already. It's pretty obviously some kind of fungus, I just don't think it's Southern Blight, (Sclerotium Rolfsii).