The answer to all your questions is yes.

You need to be absolutely sure you have got rid of all the rot or it will continue to kill the plant.

If you use lots of water to get all the media out this will stop too many good roots getting broken. Give it a good soak in a bucket of water first then use a hose to wash the media out, you can put your finger over the end of the hose to increase the pressure of the jet.

Once washed off cut out any infected tissue making sure you have got it all. Dunk it in a solution of 10% bleach and water for half an hour or so, wash it off and then repot in clean media.

Keep the plant in full shade, keep it watered and it should make a full recovery.

Hope that helps.

Dave

Thanks so much Dave! I needed to "hear" it from someone else. I had a gut feeling that my Minuteman potting job was not correct, but I was afraid that I would set back the plant by removing all the soil. But then again, I would be setting back the plant if I didn't "clean" it up. So I will once again repot that plant.

When I water some of my pots, I see the water standing on the top too long. That's a clue, for sure, that the media requires removal. It's a lot of work but then it is very satisfying once it is done, isn't it. So I will do my best to change the media, and then stand back to admire my hostas as they thank me (this year or next)!

NHL, you raised an important point:. "When I water some of my pots, I see the water standing on the top for too long". That is the best clue that it's time to change the media.

Into the third year of hosta-pot-growing here and it is time for me to change up, refresh as if potting for the first time, and repotting. I only have a few of those left to do. The majority of them had to be up-potted last year due to circling of roots and escaping through the drainage holes.

Your hostas are beautifully grown - no doubt they will continue that way! :-)

I would suggest you tape up the leaves before you hose off all the media. They tend to wilt when all the soil is removed.

bk

I agree with you Jo that water standing on top of a pot is definitely not a good sign! I have so much work to do! I know it will all be very satisfying after the fact. Thanks for the compliment. You always seem to know the right things to say!

I hope the hosta will not wilt for too long after I have removed the media and repotted. But thanks for the reminder about the tape, bk. I needed that!