Any Idea What Could Be Causing This

last year

Some of my hostas developed browning in the center of the leaf. Most diseases researched did not show this type of issue. A couple came up with small twisted leaves on the edge of the plant with the same brown in the center. Two of these had been divided last year and one needs dividing this year. One plant we dug up and threw away. I'm not sure how to treat them. Could it possibly be that I used too much fertilizer this year. Not even sure I fertilized them since I usually don't.

Thanks,

Gloria

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Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.

last year

last modified: last year

Thank you for the update, Gloria. In spite of my earlier comments re nematodes, which I found hard to believe but had no alternative suggestion. In light of my own experience that's so similar to yours I'm inclined to agree it's either fungal or bacterial rather than a nematode issue. I'm still digging off and on for an answer but I'm not at my computer as much this time of year for some reason, seems the garden calls. Constantly.

Pieter

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Comments (7)

garyz6ohio
last year
If this picture was taken late Summer early Fall I would say nematodes.
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Agreed, nematodes. Toss them as they will concontinue to infect any hosta you plant there. some say use boiling water to kill them…… not sure.

debra
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Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
last year
Foliar nematodes do seem the likely cause of what you're seeing. Check around other plants in the area, such as ferns for example, those little nasties can infect a range of around 250 species of plants apparently.

Years ago I received a batch of bare rooted hostas from a gal out east and most had foliar nematodes to some extent. On the advice of Bruce Banjay I treated the lot with a bleach solution and while not all survived the-at brutal process a fair number did and 15 years later they're still going strong with not a hint of recurrence.

Pieter
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
last year

I've had this 'Undulata' in one location for many years. It's flanked by two large drifts of 'Golden Tiara'. This is what I noticed yesterday and it's the only plant affected this way. No sign of anything untoward on the GT on either side and there's large 'Empress Wu' behind it that shows no signs either. Th last time I saw foliar nematodes in my yard was 2008 and as said above they came in a batch and those were all potted up and none have ever made it into a bed. When I get some time I'll remove the leaf and do a water test to see if I can see evidence of FN. This is the worst sign but I see it on two other leaves.

None of the other hostas in this bed are showing any signs. I'll keep this post updated with my findings.

Pieter
garyz6ohio
last year
Chris Wilson of Hallson Gardens posted an article that I seem to recall that spoke of a fungal infection that looks almost exactly like a foliar nematode infection, but I don't remember where I saw it. It might have been on his web site. I'll see if I can locate it.
Gloria Broadus
Original Author
last year
I am pretty sure it was a bacterial infection caused by the warm weather early here in March ( Georgia) then cooler weather and lots of rain. https://www.hostalibrary.org/articles/Bacteria.htm

I think it caused a waterlogged issue with some of the plants. I sprayed with neem oil early after I saw the problem and although I'm not sure it helped the problem seems to be ok for now. I will be picking up some copper based fungicide as recommended by the article.

Thanks for all your replies. I have been out of town and unable to get back to the forum.