Here's Why Your Hosta Plant Is Failing To Grow

Hostas (Hosta plantaginea) are generally easy-to-grow plants, requiring little maintenance with the ability to thrive on their own. So if you notice something amiss with your hosta plants, or their growth seems to be stunted, chances are it's a pretty simple fix: moving them to another part of your yard. Hosta growth can be affected by a number of external factors, including pests, frost, poor soil, hail, sunburn, and plant viruses, all of which can be caused by poor location. You can spot an unhealthy hosta by taking note of several key symptoms, like green or blue spots on the leaves, brown leaf edges, or limp leaves. You'll need to determine what about the location is stunting the growth of your hostas and causing these issues, whether it be a nearby wild rabbit chewing on its leaves or too much sun exposure.

If your hostas used to thrive but are now looking a little worse for wear, or they've stopped growing completely, you'll want to take note of their location and examine the plants thoroughly, including their leaves, stems, and new shoots. Those areas will be key in helping you to figure out exactly what's going on with your plants and how transplanting them can fix the issue. Along with your hostas' markedly smaller appearance, note if you spot wilting leaves, missing roots, or larvae on the affected areas. Once you've determined the cause, you can treat the issue by moving your hostas to a more appropriate part of your garden.

There are a few main culprits of slow-growing hostas, typically stemming from a poor location choice. Hostas require partial to full shade, such as dappled sunlight, and if they have too much or too little sunlight, their growth may slow. While excessive shade can stunt the growth of your hostas, too much sun exposure can scorch and burn the leaves, causing sunscald. These issues may require you to relocate your hostas altogether. 

Another reason for stunted hostas could be the soil in the area you planted them. Since these plants need a moisture-rich environment (ideally, in a material like loamy soil), dry soil can cause them to shrink. That also means your hostas will require deep and consistent watering, as well as compost or other organic material to supplement nutrients and retain moisture. If your soil isn't hosta-friendly, you may want to consider transplanting them to a raised garden bed where you can better control the soil quality. 

Living near pests, like insects, rodents, and deer, as well as diseased soil, can also limit your hostas' growth. The most common pest culprits are slugs and snails, which love to feed on hosta shoots and foliage, leaving holes and tears in their wake. If you notice tan and white spots on the leaves in addition to stunted growth, you may be dealing with anthracnose, a common disease in hostas spread by irrigation water or rain. The fungal disease Southern blight, which is caused by the fungus Athelia rolfsii, typically living in infected soil, can rot your hostas' leaf bases and eventually kill them. 

Whether you're attempting to revive already grown hostas or you're planting them for the first time, there are a few things you can do to ensure a healthy, happy plant. If they aren't already in a shady spot, you may want to transplant your hostas to an area with dappled sunlight, like underneath a tree. Ensure that the soil is moist, slightly acidic, and well-draining, which may require you to add organic material, like compost. When watering your hostas, make sure they receive at least 1 inch of water per week, and you can even go over that minimum. 

If you live in an area with a high population of deer, you can prevent deer from eating all of your hostas by adding protective barriers around your the plants. This can mean fencing, cages, or netting. To protect your hostas from smaller pests, like slugs and snails, you can sprinkle a coarse material like sand around the base of the plant to deter them. Remember that most hostas don't fully mature until they are 4 to 8 years old, so this entire process may require some patience as you work out the best environment for your plants.