Not an HVX expert, but I think the tests are accurate with or without symptoms.

Also, I don't think the soil would be contaminated until the roots enter the soil. The virus lives in living plant tissue.

If you use facebook, go to the hosta disease forum for advice. Those are difficult questions and most of us aren't sure of the answer.

bkay

I've bought from big box stores before. I know what you mean about being tempted. I don't plant those hosta in the ground, but keep them in pots for a minimum of two years. Hosta pots planted into the ground will likely grow roots into the soil. If the plant were virused, then the roots in the soil would be a problem---but much less than if the plant had been planted directly into the soil.

I like what zkathy reminded us of: do the virus test with a few hosta, not just one.

Test strips are expensive, and in the end you don't really save money. So I think, if one is not willing to grow the hosta in a pot, then it's probably not a good idea to buy those big box store hosta.

If you buy the test strips to test one with symptoms you might as well test the others as they are only good for a year. Use them up. I just tested one with symptoms that came out negative. I am watching it and will retest later this summer to be sure. No since wasting test strips, might as well have peace of mind. I didn't buy from a big box store so I'm not surprised mine was negative.

Would bubbles on a leaf, but not ink staining into surrounding areas, be a symptom of HVX or just possible cold damage?

Ester check out the 3 pages of HXV on the HL. The photos show just about every type of symptoms. Collapsing tissue can appear bubbly. I don’t know about cold damage, someone else can probably address that. Do you have pictures to share? That may help us.

debra

ps where do you get the strips from? I asked at a local nursery and they had no idea what I was talking about!!

Debra, you order the test kit from AGDIA. They're the actual manufacturer...

Pieter

Thanks Pieter! I ordered the #5 set. Wow, $70 with the shipping! Do you know, can I test the soil with these? I have a spot I removed an infected hosta two years ago. I would like to know if the soil is ok for another hosta. Though I suppose it probably takes a few more years or I wonder if soil replacement is ever done?

debra

There was an interesting discussion about HVX in soil in the Facebook group just today. A couple good studies were shared, too. I think if you removed the roots and the soil the reason to wait 2 yrs is to allow any stray fine roots to die.

Here are pics of my Autumn Frost hosta with the suspicious bubbles.

Did you look at the HXV photos? On page two you see leaves with some bubbling. IN MY NOT EXPERT OPINION, the bubbling is associated with tissue collapse. The little bumps on your leaves don’t look like tissue collapse. I would wait for others to chime in. Some of the ”experts.” :-)

debra

Debra, the pics I saw at the HL website looked like COLLAPSED bubbles mostly. As I said, there doesn't seem to be the ink staining thing going, but I'd love the opinion of someone more expert than I. Which is why I posted this here today.

Esther, wait for the second flush. If it's HVX, it will be on the new growth, too.

bk

Thanks, bkay. The hosta came from a reputable online vendor, as did all my original NYC hostas.

Since your plant is potted, then you don't have to worry about contaminating the soil. You'll just have to wait and see what, if anything, develops.

Yes, Ester I was trying to agree with you.......maybe it didn’t come across that way. But the others are right about the second flush. I am watching one plant of my own.

debra

To me, it looks like the bubbles are drops of leaf/tree sap from something above the plant. Almost all of my plants have that….under the oaks.

I took another look from a different point of view. Maybe the bubbles are the little bumps in the yellow section of the leaf in picture 3, like hives on people? Interesting. Not sure what that is, but the plant is so pretty. Keep it isolated and do not prune it.

Esther, I've had plants get that bubbled look, but they didn't have them the following year. Could be weather related. Your pics don't look like tissue collapse to me.

Thanks, Sandy. Otherwise, the plant looks beautiful and healthy.

Sandy!

Are there any hosta sources you like and trust up your way? Or do you just order online? I don’t know which I can feel comfortable with down here in Utah Valley since any place that carries hostas doesn’t seem to place much priority on them.

Kay