crown rot?

17 years ago

Some of my hostas were decimated in a hail storm a 3 days ago, should I do something for them? Also that same day I received two plants(Old Glory and Earth Angel) in the mail bare root and planted them three hours before the freak storm, and now one is really not doing well(Old Glory). On one leaf in the center it was torn up and now the center has dried out-it is still green but paper thin(actually FEELS like paper). A few of the other leaves seem really floppy and almost lifeless, is the only way I can describe it. That is the worst one-The Earth Angel seems pretty floppy too and my Loyalist leaves were decimated the most, more than any other plant. Also on the Old Glory and the Earth Angel where the hail went through the leaves all around the edges of the breaks turned white. I sent an email to the person I bought my Old Glory from and s/he said it could be crown rot. What should I do? Should I dig them up and replant? Should I just water the heck out of them? (I thought I was giving plenty of water) Should I cut off the damaged leaves? I am a newbie if you couldn't tell ha ha

I can post a pic in the morning right now it's too dark and I didn't think to take a pic while it was light out.

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Comments (5)

von1
17 years ago
With crown rot the leaves will rot off at the ground level. I usually notice when some of the leaves turn yellow and sit on the ground.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
you said.. edited version:

Some of my hostas ... hail storm a 3 days ago, ... that same day I received two plants(Old Glory and Earth Angel) in the mail ... bare root and planted them three hours before the freak storm, and now one is really not doing well...

===============

DO YA THINK .... lol ...

the jump to rot is so long.. i would be surprised if you hit the long jump target ...

lets see.. raped from a pot or mother earth ..

perhaps divided ...

wrapped in plastic ... or newsprint

stuffed in a box ....

2 or 3 days in a hot truck or freezing plane cargo hold ...

recpt ... unpacking..

in the heat of summer ....

no proper hardening off to the new sun and heat ...

planted in the ground while stressed ...

and then pummeled to kingdom come.. by the cruelest mistress there is.. mother nature ...

yeah.. it might be rot.. and you gave notice to the right person .. the seller ...

otherwise.. THEY MIGHT JUST BE A BIT STRESSED ... lol

i would suggest the following...

DO NOT BUY HOSTA IN JULY/AUGUST ...

IF YOU JUST HAVE TO [believe me i know the sickness] ... lol

pot them until early september... when it will be a better time to plant ...

RELAX... give them a few weeks.. water properly ...
they will either reflush .... and the new leaves will be just fine..

or they will rot ... and either the seller will replace it ... suggest shipping in sept .... or you will learn your lesson ...

good luck .. and make a sacrifice to the hosta gods .. that your hosta luck improves ...

ken
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alyciaadamo
Original Author
17 years ago
Our summer days are usually around 70 the hottest day last year for us was 94 and it only lasted a week in August. The hotest day was 99 back in 1975.

Also all my plants are in pots and they are in only part sun.

The only reason why I wasn't able to get them in before the hail was I was busy with my 5 month old. I got my hostas on my porch towards the end of the storm.

The only reason why I buy through the mail is we don't have real nurseries where we live just Walmart and Lowes. Actually there is one nursery about 40 mins North but they are never open when I am able to drive by. I really wasn't thinking about the heat they had to go through to get to me because I just wasn't thinking.

I wish I had really thought about it, but even if I knew not to have them shipped bare root in the summer heat, I don't think I could have contained my self for very long. lol

Thank you very much for the help. I think I have learned my lesson(maybe..... I hope!);)

Hey should I put fertilizer on them to try and help them? Its classicote 16-9-23 time release fertilizer.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
i dont like fooling with time release in pots in z5 ... because if the big fert dump is too late in the season ... they wont harden off properly.. and will go into winter soft and mushy.. and that WILL ROT THEM OVER THE WINTER ...

i wouldnt mind doing that early in the season ...

and i would do it to mine. now.. with first frost in october..

but with your zone.. and the fact that it might freeze tomorrow.. lol ... i might suggest a half strength water soluble .... for the rest of the month.. and then let them age for winter ...

ken
alyciaadamo
Original Author
17 years ago
you are too funny about it freezing tomorrow, it is so sad that it is so true!LOL

Thank you so much for letting me know about the fertilizer I probably would have ended up killing all my plants-that would have been such a bummer!