A question about Thunderbolt

8 years ago

My son gave me a large Thunderbolt with big leaves from his yard last year. It emerged in my garden this year with many small leaves, and doesn't seem to be thriving as well as expected.

Should I dig it up and check the root system or give another year to shape up?

Thanks for your help.

Featured Answer

dhaven

8 years ago

Dig it up and reset it much higher, with the roots just barely below the surface and the crown right at the surface. Thunderbolt, Great Expectations, Dream Queen and everything of this lineage need to be planted as shallowly as possible. Other varieties tolerate being planted too deeply, these do not. It's the main reason so many people can't grow Great Expectations, they plant it too deeply and it will dwindle for a few years, than die. It's natural to want to plant these more deeply, as they are large plants, but it's not what the plant needs.

These varieties also like about 1/2 sun and will take full sun, and you should provide quite a lot of water while they are becoming established. Don't put any mulch near the crown, but you can mulch about 8-12 inches out from the crown.

Most hostas tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, but this family has very specific requirements, and will fade away if those requirements are not met. It's really not difficult to provide what is needed, and you will be rewarded with very large, beautiful plants.

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Comments (10)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
i would tie it up.. and GO LOOK TO SEE IF PLANTING DEPTH IS PROPER ...

if it sunk.. reset ...

if its at proper depth.. then this is transplant shock.. and it should recover in a year or 3...

ken
DelawareDonna Zone 7A thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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DelawareDonna Zone 7A
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you for the advice dhaven and Ken. I will check the depth and go from there.
jimr66
8 years ago
When you divide a mature hosta the resultant divisions will revert to a juvenile form. (Smaller leaves, narrower margins).

The GE clan is particularly sensitive to this. As stated above they are very particular to planting depth. They are prone to crown rot.

You may have a bunch of small plants crowded together all competing with each other.
DelawareDonna Zone 7A thanked jimr66
windymess z6a KC, Ks
8 years ago
This thread helps explain what happened to my potted Dream Weaver, which died over winter - the only hosta I lost this year. Pretty sure I had it planted too deep.
DelawareDonna Zone 7A thanked windymess z6a KC, Ks
DelawareDonna Zone 7A
Original Author
8 years ago
Clearly it was planted too deep so I raised it up so I'll see what happens.
gardencool
8 years ago
Too deep happens, easily. I dig a larger hole than the root ball as per direction. Then very soon the earth settles and the crown formerly at the surface is in a hole! My partner loves to mulch, early in the season. That is great. Keeps her busy, keeps the weeds down, garden looks great. My job is to remove the mulch away from the hostas base.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
Too deep happens, easily. I dig a larger hole than the root ball as per direction.

==>>>extra wide never hurts ..... but depth is very important ...

if you dig the hole to the depth needed .... and not fluff the soil below.. you reduce settling significantly ....

and when you set in a bare root plant ... you really tamp down that pyramid of soil.. your are spreading the roots on ...

hosta roots are not like trees.. every searching for hundreds of feet around.. so there is no real reason.. to loosen the soil below such...

ken
Claudia _michigan
8 years ago
Hello everyone, got myself a thunderbolt today. researching information before i go ahead and plant. One of you Spoke about the light requirements and somebody else confirm?

thank you
gardenfanatic2003
8 years ago
I'm so I'm so glad I saw this post because I got a Great Expectations and haven't planted it yet.

Deanna