Sorry, I thought this microscopic photo would be larger, hopefully you can see the little things surrounding the root.

Of course, with some hostas, the 1st year they sleep, the 2nd year they creep, the 3rd year they creep, the 4th year they creep, creep, creep... It's their genetics. Like Blue Shadows or Tokudama Aureonebulosa. Two of my favorites, but oh so slowwwwww. Don

Don, I'm sure you know I'm talking about how they grow not about genetics and my personal favorites are a fairly fast growing tokudama sport I call H.'Butch' and H.'Wagon Wheel' another tokudama that is so beautiful it makes your teeth hurt. Both are slow compared to many of todayÂs superstars that I donÂt think compare to these. What better performers than the sports of SmithÂs plants like Halcyon, etc? How bout H.ÂJuneÂ?

Everyone should have Blue Shadows, Tokudama Aureonebulosa, Tokudama Flavocircinalis (sp), Wagon Wheel and a few more TokudamaÂs of various sizes.

Regardless of what you like and have, how and why they grow is as important as how much they cost.

Very interesting post & pic, EO , after working many years w/ my eye attached to a microscope , I learned something new today. Thank-you. ~Dot

Hostahavum, If you like I'll go into the fungi part?

When you see all these organisms aggregating around the roots, then you understand that they are doing something there, duh. Probably doesn't surprise you but we need to not do things that interfere with the process and chemical fertilizers do just that.

Since so much is going on directly next to the roots it is clear that overall Ph doesn't matter if the Ph needed is proper right there around the root. If a healthy biotic community is there they will create the Ph they need and the plants needs. The plant cannot create this Ph without the microorganisms; again we need to keep these organisms healthy for the plant to be healthy.

Guess IÂm a little weird but when I look at the beauty of the foliage my mind also goes down the petiole to the crown on to the roots and every part is beautiful.

I've seen Wagon Wheel, but never seen Butch. No pic in the Hosta Library either. I really like most of the Tokudama's. What is Butch a sport of and its description? Can you post a pic, perhaps under a new heading? As far as Halcyon and June, two wonderful hostas! Everyone should have them!
As far as the soil organism around the roots, can you tell us what affect water and aeration have on them, to create the best conditions? Thanks, Don

Yes please, EO any fungi post would be great! I do not find any thing weird about being interested in the science part of gardening. Call me a geek too then, but part of the fascination & enjoyment of hostas is learning about the history & genetics behind the beauty. When I look at pix posted here of 2 exact plants so amazingly different side by side , well frankly learning the explanation for the differences excites me . If having an inquisitive mind makes me weird, I like weird then :) I am w/ Don also , more info on aeration techniques would be appreciated to! Maybe I need to study up on botany & biology , I will put that on my winter to-do list! Learning keeps us young , digging in the soil keeps us strong, seeing the beauty brings us joy! What a great hobby to have! Now I really have a "need ", to acquire a H.'Halcyon'............:) Thanks again ~Dot

Don, H.'Butch' is a sport that came out my tissue culture
program, unknown but I had Tokudama's in the program and
it is late to appear, slow growing, persist late into the
fall so I've assigned it Toludama parentage?

I had many off types from the test tube that showed no
special characteristics except Butch and H.'Patsy' and a
large green with a yellow edge unnamed, similar to Patsy
in that they both have the blue white back.
I've been trying to get photos of Butch but my camera
isn't working.

Here is Patsy

Patsy is a knockout! (Both the lady and the plant lol)

"I am w/ Don also, more info on aeration techniques would be appreciated to!"
Dot

Go back to the root photo and consider size or scale. What type of equipment do you have or can buy or invent to aerate this tiny space where all this activity is taking place? The soil organisms will do it if you get out of their way.

Humus or humified organic matter: Complex organic compounds that remain after many organisms have used and transformed the original material. Humus is not readily decomposed because it is either physically protected inside of aggregates or chemically too complex to be used by most organisms. Humus is important in binding tiny soil aggregates, and improves water and nutrient holding capacity.

Most things that hold water when hydrated will allow air when the water is used or evaporates which creates the aeration found in a natural setting such as a meadow or wooded area. Water filled soil, drainage and evaporation creating spaces drawing in air or we say aerated.

The methods involve many soil organisms involved in the formation and stability of soil aggregates. Bacterial activity, organic matter, and the chemical properties of clay particles are responsible for creating microaggregates from individual soil particles. Earthworms and arthropods consume small aggregates of mineral particles and organic matter, and generate larger fecal pellets coated with compounds from the gut. These fecal pellets become part of the soil structure. Fungal hyphae and root hairs bind together and help stabilize larger aggregates. Improved aggregate stability, along with the burrows of earthworms and arthropods, increases porosity, water infiltration, and water-holding capacity. These fecal pellets aggregating the soil into the structure needed for good growth is also what gives healthy soil the smell we like, since we like it we call it a rich odor.

Does this start to put the picture together? To me this is all magic like relativity is to mathematicians. As a practical matter if the soil is working properly then I can sit on my porch or walk through my garden and enjoy the beauty above this labyrinth of intense unknowably complex activity.

"Maybe I need to study up on botany & biology, I will put that on my winter to-do list!"
Dot

Please and share what you learn, I don't know what I don't know and some of what I know ain't so.

"When I look at pix posted here of 2 exact plants so amazingly different side by side, well frankly learning the explanation for the differences excites me."
Dot

If you run the numbers of possible crosses with the current registered cultivars it will be 500,000 or 1mm or more, I don't know but a lot. The gene pool of hosta is huge so finding the end of possibilities is a bigger job than I am up to.

Most hosta in the trade are tissue culture, which is not cloning rather it, is micro-division. So each one has the same probability of sporting as every plant in your garden multiplied by 10, 50 or a 100,000 or more. How many sports would you expect if you had 10,000 of the "same" plant in your garden? Out of tube they are culled then grown on and culled again and usually sold as is unless something is obvious. Now they are grown on further, 1-2 years and sold, most good growers will do some culling but the plant is 1-2 years old and not mature so they donÂt know for sure.

Lets be sure, start with 10,000 H.ÂSagae and grow them to maturity before you sell them (4-7 years). How much space would be required and what would the market have to pay for all this. Now weÂve done that and IÂm in this field of 10,000 Sagae and I find what is now called H.ÂLiberty and exclaim WOWEE, YIKES MARTHA BRING THE TOILET PAPER, MY SHOVEL AND THE GUN IÂM NOT LEAVING THIS PLANT FOR FEAR SOMEONE WILL STEAL IT!

Or we propagate as we are doing now with no 2 plants exactly alike, only similar and hopefully very similar if when you buy Sagae it looks like the Hosta Library photo.

Thank-you EO for taking your time & giving such a good explanation.I find all this so fascinating. Too bad Darwin is gone,I bet he would have loved hearing about tc's. I feel I have a good understanding of this now. Your 'Patsy'sure is a beauty ! Thanks again ~ Dot.

Dot, how about a little homework?
Search Dr Sara Wright re mycorrhizae, its value and influence. Give us a report.

Thanks for the homework assignment EO , I just read Part 1, great stuff. I will now go to bed & most likely dream about "Sustainable soils" :) It will take me some time to read through all this. I will report back on the subject if anyone else is interested. ~Dot.