Plant Tissue Culture PPT

Hostas are herbaceous perennial plants that vary in size from miniature varieties to over 30cm in width. With their broad leaves in various shades of green, they make excellent focal points in shady areas of the garden. They are also grown for their flowers which are often fragrant. Here is a short guide on how to grow them and some of my favourite varieties.

Hostas are hardy and will grow on any moisture-retentive soil. Adding plenty of organic matter before planting will also help conserve moisture. They require very little in the way of maintenance. The leaves die back in winter and can be composted. The plant will then put up new shoots in the spring. The main problem with growing hostas is that they are a favourite food for slugs and snails. To help prevent the leaves being stripped by these pests use an anti slug mat such as sharp sand, grit or even egg shells. Do this as the new leaves begin to emerge. Hostas are easily propagated by division in autumn or spring. Simply lift the clump with a garden fork and then divide in half with a sharp spade or kitchen knife. Replace one half into the ground and place the other in another part of the garden.

Hosta 'Big Daddy' is a large hosta with crinkled sea-green leaves and brilliant white flowers in summer. Hosta 'Patriot' has variegated leaves of mid-green with splashes of creamy white. 'Halcyon' is a popular variety with leaves of a bluish tinge and large flowers on upright stems. Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' is a small hosta with small round thick blue leaves that form a clump. 'Dancing in the Rain' is another variegated variety with large leaves that have white centres and green-blue streaks and edges. For more unusual varieties try hosta 'White Feather'. This hosta has large leaves that emerge creamy white in spring that then develop green streaks which spread to gradually turn the whole leaf a bright shade of green. Hosta 'Praying hands' has upright, narrow, tightly folded leaves that resemble hands folded in prayer. The leaves of hosta 'High Society' emerge with egg-yolk-yellow centres in spring which pales to white by mid summer.

Hostas can be grown in garden planters using any good general purpose potting compost. Hostas grown in containers must be regularly watered to make sure that they don't dry out. Also feed once a month with a liquid fertiliser. Once they plants become too big for the pot, they can be lifted and divided as described earlier.

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