I lost one earlier this year to what I guess was root rot. The large roots looked fine but the smaller (almost thread like) roots were totally desiccated. Sorry, but I'm no help when it comes to diagnosis or solutions.

I've become almost snake-bit (an old southern expression) in the last few years when it comes to hosta. I spent about $400.00 on mail order hosta orders over the winter. I lost three of the new ones from the big order. The last $100.00 order (from a different vendor) did not get delivered. I've lost hope that I'll get a refund or hosta.

BK

BK, that's a bummer about your lost hostas -- especially for ones that weren't delivered at all. Hope you can get a refund.

I lost a number to our strange weather last winter and spring, but at least I have something to blame for those.

I am not great at diagnosing either. That said, the first hosta looks like some bug damage and seasonal decline as you say. I’d leave it be. The others look like some crown rot and invading tree roots surrounding the hosta roots. The brown roots are common in my hostas not doing well because of my maple tree. I usually can pull them out easily. I do see what looks like pips at the base of of a couple. I would try to split the ones with a bit of green and plant them together if there’s no mush on them. I have potted ones with crown rot and left them for the summer then replanted and they came back. But it’s so late in the season I would replant them and hopefully they’ll come back next spring. Your DQ also looks like seasonal decline and I wouldn’t worry.

bkay sorry to hear about your losses…..any chance you would ID the vendor if they don’t return your money so we don’t have the same problem?

debra

It's been hot, and we've had some dry spells interspersed with storms and heavy rain. It could well be related to inadequate water, as I don't pamper these as much as my other, newer hostas. These Gold Standards are divisions from large mature clumps I've had for 20+ years, and I can easily replace them in this bed. (The older ones don't get pampered either, maybe they're just better established.)

I'm in Huntsville, AL.

The vendor was Green Mountain Hosta. They have quit doing mail order. My order last year was messed up. It didn't come until the middle of July, which is too late for my zone. Then, they sent the wrong hosta. None of them were the hosta I ordered. They refunded all but the shipping. The only survivor from that shipment was Empress Wu, which I wouldn't usually try to grow in a pot.

Apparently, they can't get competent help and have had weather problems that prevent early shipping. The hosta I received were fully leafed out in July.

So, I ordered in December this last season. I always used to get great hosta from them in a timely manner and at a great price. I hated to see them go. I also hate that they have lost so much money on online sales.

Covid got a lot of small businesses. They just couldn't recover.

They have my sympathy. I'll live without the refund.

BK

I know. I paid with paypal. I can dispute it. I've bought so much from them over the years, They always gave great service and plants.

I was a small business person before I retired. It can be tough when the economy goes south on you due to no fault of your own. I survived 9/11 to close 2 years later. I barely survived the bank collapse at the end of George W's last term.

Small business is just hard, especially in this day of social media commerce.

$100.00 won't make or break me. I hope they find their way through this without totally losing their business.

BK

I agree with you bkay about not needing the refund. I was in a similar situation with LOTG when Jeff passed away. They were asking people to help them sort things out because I think at the time they (family) were out of the country. I told them not to worry about $$. They had enough to worry about.

debra