Google Hostalibrary and when you get to the site click on Hosta HVX.

The red spots is a fungus called rust. Another possibility is anthracnose.

Anthracnose is a fungal leaf disease of hosta that thrives in warm, wet weather. This is not the same fungus that causes anthracnose on sycamore and ash.

Symptoms of hosta anthracnose include large, irregular spots with darker borders. Eventually the centers of the spots fall out, and leaves become ragged. Usually this disease doesn't mean "hosta la vista baby," but it sure makes them look like they were in a gunfight.

Try to keep leaves as dry as possible by using soaker hoses or watering the soil rather than the plants. Improve air circulation as much as possible by dividing plants or selectively thinning trees. If anthracnose still seems to be a problem, it may be worth beginning a fungicide spray to protect the emerging leaves. Ideally fungicide application should begin in spring as new leaves emerge and as long as wet weather continues. Look for fungicides containing thiophanate methyl as the active ingredient. Always read and follow pesticide label directions. Check to see that the fungicide is labeled for hosta to control anthracnose or leaf diseases.

Although more common in southern states, Sclerotium blight can be a serious disease of hostas. Symptoms first appear as lower leaves wilt and brown. Eventually upper leaves wilt and show a soft, brown rot of the base of petioles. This disease is difficult to control since the fungus can reside in the soil.

Leaf nematodes can also be a problem on hosta. Damage appears as brown areas between veins. Sunburn is not an infectious disease and appears as tan or whitish areas on the leaves.

Frank

Here is a link that might be useful: Diseases of Hosta sp.

HostaLibrary HVX link below

Here is a link that might be useful: HOSTA VIRUS X

Novice,

Below is a link on how to put photos in your posts. If you need further help feel free to ask and we will help you.

And don't feel that you have to read every old post before asking a question here. It is not a requirement.

Frank

Here is a link that might be useful: Including photos and thumbnails in your posts

You just keep them coming!We all are learning, that is why we are on here

Novice,
We were all in your shoes at one time or another. Hostas are "The Friendship Plant" and 99% of the folks who raise them are friendly. I have made some great friends from this forum..cAROL and Butch to name a couple.I appreciate your curiosity and feel free to e-mail me again as many times as you need.We are all in this learning curve together.

DEnny

Kudos to GardenWeb for removing the offensive response on this thread, and a big WELCOME to Novice2009. aahostas is spot on--most of the people on this forum are terrific, knowledgeable hosta people who are more than happy to share their information. Keep the questons coming!

Welcome to the Hosta forum! Some people could get off wrong some day, but mostly the same persons are great helpers on this forum and have always shared their many years of experience.

Please look at this information about Hosta Diseases :
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/sul14.pdf

You can also search this website for
"Hosta Pests (info to read and print)"

Bernd

Ahhhhhhhhh,a breath of fresh air just came through.
Yes, welcome to the hosta forum Novice,hope you stick around for a long time.
cAROL

Hey novice,
Go to as many hosta gardens around you as you can. Join the local hosta society. You will make new friends and pick up all sorts of helpful info.
PS: start a little garden journal of what hostas you have and where they are planted. If you do get hooked on hostas, you will want to know which is which.

Thanks everybody! Noticed a few posts were missing. I love hostas, and found recently that one has sprung up where I had one two years ago and moved it. Is that some kinda natural root division? Wow. When I first got started on the front of my house, it was nothing but weeds. No gutters, north facing.......After making some beds, my very first plants I put in were two hostas, still too much of a newbie to write down what kind they were, because one I wish I had because I am in love!!! It comes back huge, faithfully, every year, and although it doesn't bloom much, like another, the leaves are large, green, and lush.
Really fills out that space on the side of the porch. As I bought a few more hostas, my only problems I could see were slugs and snails(very abundant in that environment). So, I set out some shallow dishes of beer to catch em.
But, I'm learning that each hosta is different, and something is up other than heat and the slimy guys. Grasshoppers like to munch on them? Maybe they were just hiding out there. Saw some suspicious leaf spots (not sunburn or heat). Started thinking....
So thanks for all the advice, and links, and help.
I started a garden journal this year, but haven't really focused on the hostas. Now I can, and as I learn, keep track of them also. Just assumed they were hardy and reliable, other than the slugs....
Anyway, thanks again!

Hi Novice, I was affraid you were not going to come back, nice to hear from you.Yes, a few posts have been removed.
Hosta are very hardy,and reliable,good luck with any newbies you may be buying, you will have a collection in no time at all.:0)Any more questions, just ask away.
cAROL