No! Don't cut the leaves!

If you need a bigger box, the USPS offers themf or free. Get the Big triangular ones. Here is a link to the excellent instructions posted by seedseller a few years ago.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to divide and ship hostas

NO WAY!!! I won a hosta on ebay--a couple of summers ago, and specifically asked for the leaves
NOT TO BE CUT!! She replied with, "they will do better if I do!" I countered--under no circumstances do
I want they them cut!

She cut about 7 of them, right at the ends, anyhow--and this was a tiara, so it wasn't about shipping costs!
I had even said I'd pay extra on the shipping IF that were the issue! Thankfully, I kept it separate
from the garden and didn't plant it that year!!!

Sure enough--the following year--nematodes 'all OVER the plant'!!

So, if I receive a hosta with cut leaves, I am very suspicious--about HVX or nematodes!!!

BTW-this woman had a 100% feedback score--and still does--and if she cuts the leaves, no one knows
in time to rate her for having sent bad plants!!

I wonder if you refer to the same seller I bought from; years ago i bought some Climax, Honeybells & Paradigms from her. Beautiful plants but in the summer, they all showed nematode infestation. I did get rid of them, but it was not amusing. I did contact her to inform her; she never replied back...
-Luis

Janice & Luis I'm not sure if I would know nematodes if they came up and introduced themselves. And I hate to admit this also, but I just took delivery yesterday of a hosta won on ebay. From a lady. No the leaves were not cut off. I did learn that was not a good thing from everyone here. Still, wish I knew which one you all are referring to. The plant is in a pot at this point, and may never leave it.

I know better...I know better...I know better. I am weak, I am weak... Must be stronger.

Alexis

This time of the year--there would be no need to cut the leaves, as most tell me that nematode symptom
usually don't show up until the end of July or August or later. HVX, however, can show up anytime
so if someone were to cut them this early--I'd definitely be suspicious of that being the case!

Email me, and tell me who you've purchased from and I will acknowledge if she is the one I bought mine from.
She sells a lot of things other than hosta, and maybe the other things would be okay--but given the lack of
integrity I experienced from her--I'd not buy ANYTHING from her. There are far too many others who
sell on ebay that are good, honest people--so NEVER AGAIN for me with her!!!

btw--alexis--I buy hosta online, on ebay--but the people I buy from have been proven trustworthy
by folks on this forum, mostly! I've recently purchased from someone new to me, who I believe to be
trustworthy though I've not heard him recommended here! I will find out soon enough--probably!!

Just keep an eye on the hosta--keep it at a distance from your others and if possible, under an eave somewhere
where rainfaff will not fall on it. Water it from under the leaves and see if it turns out okay by the end
of the season. Not a guarantee to be clear of nematodes, but it will be a better risk if it proves clear of
the tell-tale symptoms.

Do a search for 'nematodes' on this forum for more info on what to look for. Personally--I'd rather have a plant with HVX
than nematodes--since I can throw it out and be reasonably safe--but with nematodes, once introduced--you're basically gonna
have to live with 'em!

I AM less hysterical about them these days--since I've reminded myself 'life ain't perfect--even in the garden'! :o)
But, I will still take measures to avoid them where possible!

I AM less hysterical about them these days

Not a lot...... LOLOLOL!

I have only received one Hosta, that had nematodes and it was from a, usually, very reliable nursery. Due to my neglect, it, along with the rest of the shipment had not been planted by the end of summer, when, as noted above, the nematodes reared their ugly head!
After saying a number of choice words, excuse me Lord! I cut off all of the foliage at the crown, sealed it in a plastic bag and sent it to a landfill. I moved the plant to a very isolated location behind a tree on the back 40 and forgot about it.
When found several years later, it never again exhibited signs of nematodes, but I was so afraid of it, that I never planted it in the garden. It is still in a pot, in a lonely spot, under a Maple tree, far from other Hostas.

Janice & Luis I'm not sure if I would know nematodes if they came up and introduced themselves.

Alexis, I received 8 Hosta as part of a secret trade year before last and a couple of them were infested with foliar nematodes. At the time of discovery there were a couple of threads going that dealt with the subject, with this one being the most extensive one. I also detailed my experience on my website -link below- and I'm happy to report that so far this year I have not noticed any signs of those danged worms still being present.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nematode trials and tribulations

Alexa--well--I HAVE, recently, been in therapy for my nem-phobia--and it seems to help, some, until----
I see a hideous brown stripe from any source on my hosta! (sheepish grin)

I'm working on it--okay???

Deep breath in--breathe out--in--out!!

'lady'--I actually feel sorry for your lonely hosta--sob!!! It would be better to send it to hosta-heaven
than to leave it indefinitely banished in lonely hosta-hell!! But--I UNDERSTAND the angst!!

Maybe you could try one of the several remedies offered on this forum--to be rid of the nems. on a hosta--mostly!!

I'm doin' the work--right?

Oops--constructing a response while 'pietre' was posting! He has been very helpful in this sort of dealings!
He's one of the guys I was referring to in regard to a method of treatment for the little demons, er, nems!!!

Janice - I was just teasing, not trying to be mean. I know some people really do get freaked out by them, I'm just not one of them. I have one hosta I suspect has nematodes, but has always been planted off by itself and I don't ever plant to dig or split it, so I am not worried about it.

Besides, nematode damage shows up when the hostas are beginning to look carpy anyway.......

Alexa

I knew that, Alexa--that's why I 'teased' back--but therapy might not be a bad idea--ya know--since
I've overcome my fear of spiders--seems it might be worth a try! :o)))

Yeah--I know what you mean--I guess I knew I was actually less hysterical, when last year I found one stripe
on a beloved JCC--and instead of ripping it out of the ground I pinched off the leaf! Sigh! After awhile, it's just
that part of life, in the garden, we have to learn to do what we can about and just accept it for what it is, when
we've done it all and they are still present--a nuisance to be sure!! :o/

Janice