Bleached my Great Expectations

5 years ago

My Great Expectations has been rapidly declining. I don't know if it's just a bad case of summer uglies, or if there is more going on. It has lost most of its leaves entirely. Here's a photo from earlier today:

Some of my other hostas are looking typically ratty, but nothing this bad.

I checked out the roots:

(Yes, that's on the driveway.)

I soaked the roots in a 10% bleach solution for about an hour before re-potting it.

Is there anything more I should do? Is there any hope for this plant?

Featured Answer

undertheoaksgardener7b

5 years ago

Ben, I think you did well. I am not a horticulturist, botanist, or professional gardener; I am just an amateur who annoys my husband by collecting hostas and other plants. I think your GE is going dormant now/early after a stressful growing season. The grower probably forced it to emerge early and hit it with lots of fertilizer. Then, grew it in too much sun to get that early white color. Then, the summer was super-hot and dry. The plant is growing in a pot, so the roots feel the heat more. Based on the plumpness and overall appearance of the roots and crowns, you did a good job keeping it watered. I would probably repot and store it in a cool, darker area of your garden until spring. If the rain can keep it watered until spring, then that should be enough water while it is dormant. I also live in 7b, so heat-induced dormancy does happen. It the plant breaks dormancy in mid-late autumn or February, it may not survive a frost. If you do get into a warm spell after a couple of weeks of cold nights (less than 40 F), you may want to pitch a handful of ice on that dormant plant every couple days to remind to stay asleep.

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Comments (13)

Ben D (zone 7b)
Original Author
5 years ago
This is from early July:

And this is from early June, when I bought it from a local nursery:
bkay2000
5 years ago
I'm not sure that one will make it. Sorry.

Great Expectations is hard to grow, especially in warmer zones.

bkay
Ben D (zone 7b) thanked bkay2000
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
after bare rooting.. what did you see that made you think it needed bleach?

too much sun shown by leaf damage ... too small a pot given the roots you found ... probably not enough water ..

probably some level of early dormancy... but i sure do see one giant bud.. and maybe a second smaller ...

where are you. big city name??

i dont know why bkay said what she did ... based on what i see ... but she knows what goes on further south ...

all that said.. i killed about 50 of these.. so wtf do i know ... lol ... oops... wth ...

ken
Ben D (zone 7b) thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Ben D (zone 7b)
Original Author
5 years ago
Ken,

I thought the roots looked pretty good, but I figured bleaching wouldn't hurt. I'm new to this kind of stuff.

Yes, there is one big bud and four smaller ones.

I originally had the pot in a spot that gets morning sun for a few hours then dappled shade. When it started showing issues I moved it to a spot with less direct sun. I can't imagine it not getting enough water, although I did slow down the watering once outer leaves started pulling loose.

I'm in Huntsville, AL.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
leaves started pulling loose

==>>

i know nothing about southern blight.. as its not a MI thing ... i would probably defer to bkay on that ... and the bleach wouldnt be out of line for that ...

as i said.. a very hard one to grow... as proved by my failure rate ... and usually when i say something along those lines.. all the braggarts start posting pix.. and say it the easiest one they ever grew ...

ken
Ben D (zone 7b) thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
5 years ago
Those roots sure look good! Did you also check the crown for rotting---any dark spots or softness? In regards to bleaching, I believe the recommended amount of time is approx. 20 minutes. Having said that, I don't think you did any harm by leaving the roots in the bleach mixture for an hour. The roots should be rinsed off after the soak.
Ben D (zone 7b) thanked newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
djacob Z6a SE WI
5 years ago
The only one I every purchased, died the following spring, crown rot I think. Nothing was even there.

debra
bkay2000
5 years ago
I hope I am wrong. Good Luck.

bkay
Ben D (zone 7b) thanked bkay2000
Ben D (zone 7b)
Original Author
5 years ago
newhostalady, the crown seemed firm and healthy. As I mentioned to Ken, there are several small buds forming around the crown.

utog, your theory sounds hopeful that maybe it is just an early dormancy. And I'd have not thought about adding ice if we have a warm spell in winter.

We've had typical summer heat this year, nothing out of the ordinary. Rain has been more frequent than usual -- we've had a decent rain just about every week. So much so that all the lawns here are being invaded by army worms.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
5 years ago
Sounds hopeful. Good luck!
Ben D (zone 7b) thanked newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Ben D (zone 7b)
Original Author
5 years ago
All the leaves are gone. The stump of the scape is still held firmly in place -- and it's putting out new growth!

Remember I said there were five small buds around the crown?

I don't know what this portends for upcoming dormancy.
djacob Z6a SE WI
5 years ago
I am no expert, but it looks like planting your hosta has stimulated new leaf growth rather than root growth. Not sure…… maybe both can happen????? When I looked at the photo above, it seems there is not much of a crowm….reminds me of mine.

debra