What’s wrong with Brother Stefan?

9 years ago

I bought this hosta last fall to replace a large reverted Paul’s
Glory hosta that I needed to pull out. I
didn’t get to it, so planted Brother Stefan in a holding bed. It was a 1.5 liter pot when purchased, though only with one eye. It came up normally this spring and looked good. 4 leaves.

I got the reverted hosta dug out this spring and finally was
ready to plant Brother Stefan in his rightful place, when I saw this terrible
decline.

What could the problem be? It’s been a very rainy summer. Is
it some form of rot? It’s not a
low-lying area: it’s actually a raised bed.

Should I dig him out and pot him up, or is it hopeless? Thanks.

Featured Answer

josephines167 z5 ON Canada

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I discovered them around my Kate tradescantia first...later in the hosta, under a heuchera, etc. I would not have believed it either had I not observed it with my own eyes. We might have had a discussion about these bugs a couple of years ago. I found that my slug bait worked on them too...found little curled up balls - deceased. They curl up when disturbed but these were dead. They went on a full stomach, lol.

Lately I am finding some inside the drainage holes of my potted hostas. Lots of moisture from all the rain and I am not as active moving stuff around outdoors so they take up residence quickly. Time to sprinkle more bait under the pots.

Are you thinking of cleaning it out (bleach solution) to see if any of the crown is salvageable? Any good piece of meristem should root I would think.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
dig it up ..... and FIND OUT what is going on underground..

just like the other post ...

ken
josephines167 z5 ON Canada
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Zoomed in on your photo - looks like a chewing bug invasion below the crown at root level. Crown looks like it is rotting or roots have been chewed off. Looks like a bug on the uppermost crumpled yellow leaf petiole? Pill bugs can be a suspected culprit...had that problem here few years ago.

Yes, dig up and find out as per Ken. There is a large entry hole to right of petiole of green leaf - that is likely where the feast began.
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lindalana 5b Chicago
9 years ago
Will pill bugs do so much damage?
josephines167 z5 ON Canada
9 years ago
They did here but my Aristocrat had a few more eyes than yours and was growing in its spot for one year. (It has survived due to quick action and is growing, although slowly in a relocated site.) I first noticed inexplicable wilting of the plant, started scratching around when a few bugs started moving around. They are known for feeding on decaying matter but there was no decay anywhere in that area. I dug it up and found a nest of bugs beneath the hosta.

The entry/exit portal on yours might suggest decayed matter which may have attracted the pill bugs in the first place. I hesitate to speculate on the origin of the problem with yours but pill bugs will continue with what another critter may possibly have started.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I should have acted faster! The decayed matter is the rhubarb plant adjacent doing its natural decline. I've always just ignored pill bugs: I didn't know they did any damage.