My plant has the "creeping crud"

[bkay2000]

Well, I had hoped that my little hosta had sunburn. The new leaves are out and the photos don't look good.

I'm going to test everthing, since the squirrels have been rooting around in all the pots. Fortunately, I only have about 20. Will the test strips show politive even if the virus is new to that pot?

Thanks for your help.

bkay

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/ ... /crop1.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/ ... /crop2.jpg

[viktoria]

The test strips do not (reliably) indicate the presence of the virus until it has built up a considerable presence, which may take a year or more. You might as well throw away five dollar bills if you test hostas without a reason to think they might be infected.

Viktoria

[bkay2000]

So, how do I get rid of the problem (other than squirrel stew)? My elderly neighbor loves the squirrels. She feeds them. I have pecan and oak trees. They aren't going anywhere. Even when my dog kills one occasionally, there's always one to take it's place. They dig in the pots all the time. I have a radiant edger that I received in 2009 as a bonus plant. They must have dug that plant up 10 times over two years. It's within 10 feet of the infected Diamond Tiara(?) which I have had for many years. I may also have an infected Sum and Substance.

Do I just give up hosta and throw them all in the trash? Because they may be infected, but I can't test them to be sure, because the test strips may not work until a year or so after infection? Then anything new I buy may get infected by something I can't test?

This situation sucks!

bkay

[paul_in_mn]

Slow down - your postings about hvx seem as though you are in an emotional state...... time to get to an informed state about hvx. Squirrels burying nuts next to a hosta doesn't even rate as a concern for me - in a yard full of oaks. I have had to remove a few hosta that were infected - not a bit deal - doesn't scare me - easy to remedy.

First, if you have a confirmed HVX plant (tested or visual id) - it will not recover - remove it toss in trash, clean tools, do not plan on putting a hosta back in that location. You have pots - clean just like tools and let dry in the sun for a couple of weeks or reuse pot next year. Then let it go and stop worrying, but still be watchful.

Second, HVX spreads via sap to sap (a cut/damage) of a plant - so clean tools after each hosta plant you cut scapes, trim leave, divide or dig - before using that tool again. I leave the hosta leaves and scapes till spring to cleanup - last spring I pulled a few scapes and left what little was left of the leaves.

Third, find trusted specialty hosta suppliers - leave those boxed hosta and cheap big box store hostas on the shelf. Chris and other hosta specialists - protect our interest - I am more than happy to give them my business, to ensure their success.

My garden is my peace and joy, not my burden... not going to let hvx interfere.

[bkay2000]

Yes, you're right. I'm emotional. I love my hosta and I hate to trash them, but I'm probably going to have to trash three of them this spring, at least. I've set the Diamond Tiara on the porch to dry out so that I can trash it. My Sum and Substance is coming up, so I'll find out about it soon. My Radiant Edger is up, with tiny little leaves. Soon, I'll know about it, too. That just leaves me 15 to test that don't show symptoms. It's a good thing I don't have 1000 of them. Makes you want to go back to African Violets.

Thanks for your input.

bkay

[paul_in_mn]

If already decided, pull Diamond Tiara out of the pot now and toss in the trash(garbage can) - drying out serves no purpose. Don't compost it.

Is there some reason to test all of them, if they show no symptoms - seems like a waste of money.

[ViolaAnn]

If you are concerned about the squirrels and if the hostas are in pots, try covering the top of the pots with decorative stones. Slows down the squirrels big time.

[thy]

There is a good reason for testing the 3 hostas you are concerned about. For what I see it can be HVX, but it can be frost damage too - how does it look from the backside of the leaf ? Look agaist some light ! If you can see a clear Zig Zag line between the veins, do not spend any money on a teststrip. just get rid of it.

I was thinking the samw as Viola Ann.. add some nice stones, as big as possible and good looking on top of the soil, sqirrels are lazy and mostly find an easier place for their nuts.
How old is your Diamond Tiara ?

[bkay2000]

The diamond tiara is long gone. It was several years old - my best guess is about 10 years old.

The Sum and Substance looks fine. There are no signs of HVX. It must have been sunburn.

The Radiant Edger is still questionable. It looked great when it first emerged. The squirrels have so thoroughly abused it in past years, I tried the stones on the pot. It must have stayed too wet, as part of it turned to mush.

Either it's sick or it doesn't like 1) me, or 2) Texas, or 3) growing in a pot. I got it from a reputable grower and it's always been in a pot. It's on it's third year and I still have never seen it looking decent.

bkay