Tiny spots on hosta leaves

18 years ago

Sorry, no photo at this time Â I'll try to post one a little later Â but my hosta leaves are having what seems to be a chronic problem with tiny tiny spots.

The spots are about the size of the tip of an ink pen. Very small. But very abundant. At first blush, it looks as though it could have been where a droplet of rain may have been, but left a small "deposit?" after it dried up. It appears to be almost a mineral like deposit. If caught soon enough, one can wash it off with a squirt bottle and a wipe. If left alone, this deposit tends to start eating holes in the leaves.

The whole thing reminds me a bit after a rain on a nicely waxed car, you'll get those dust spots.

Now, thing is, the hostas are under an ash tree. I'm wondering if perhaps this may be sap residue from the tree Â I know maples are notorious for dripping sap Â and it's the minerals from the ash tree sap that are actually eating tiny tiny holes in the leaves. I can't imagine that this is an insect, but I wouldn't put it past slugs to leave some sort of depositi Â ha! Â as they slither across the leaves in the dead of night.

I know, a picture would help. But I'm hopeful this word image may jaunt someone's noggin who may have encountered this before.

Thots?

thankee a buncho

dave

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Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
18 years ago
dave.... dave.. dave.. you said:

If caught soon enough, one can wash it off with a squirt bottle and a wipe

I DONT EVEN CLEAN MY HOUSE during the summer... do you really clean your hosta?????

lol ...

i have no clue... i never look that close ... though sap does seem to be a good analysis ..

ken

PS: one way to get past this problem.. is to buy another 1000 hosta... so you arent so fixated ... lol
bragu_DSM 5
Original Author
18 years ago
I'm working on it ... I have 265 varieties, trying to catch up to my hosta retailer friend who has over 350, which he sells at flea markets Â EXCUSE ME ... Farmers Markets. Thing is, I had to build a pergala 10 x 10 Â the first of two "dueling" pergalas Â to create more shade in the yard.

Nice to have less lawn to mow! ( and bag, and throw away Â oh that's the OTHER thread)

dave
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just1morehosta
18 years ago
Ahhh, not so sure about the sap, my neighbor has all most all of her hosta with this problem,her hubby sprayed with seven but the damage is already there.

We are talking about A LOT OF HOSTA with this problem,she thought maybe thrypes(spelling)?

Any one else out there with this goings on?

Carol
botanybabe
18 years ago
Could be whitefly, could be some nasty residue in the air of your city which is condensing on the leaves, could be acid rain, acid dew, there's no telling. First thing to look for are insects. Use a magnifying glass. Spray everything down with hose, you can get rid of lots of problems that way. That's just a start. Try it and get back with results.

Lainey
just1morehosta
18 years ago
Lainey,

Hi, my neighbor has had this problem now for two years,she is very tuned into her hosta,she has sprayed,with water,and some organic spray,this year her hubby used 7.
It starts out with a very,very,small white spot,then turnes into a hole.pretty soon the whole plant is just covered in holes.she is at a lose as to what else she can do..
Oh, she did use a mag.glass and saw nothing.
I will keep you posted .

Carol
bragu_DSM 5
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks folks ... not insects. I'm sticking with the sap theory for now.

dkB
just1morehosta
18 years ago
bragu,

I hope you are right,i will go over to her house later and try to post a picture of some of her hosta,check back later to see if this is what yours look like ok.

Actualy, i will post a new thread on the subject,:0)

Carol