Hostas from your garden family are among the most widely grown shade perennials in home gardens. They’re fairly easy to cultivate, and compatible to plant with others.
Despite being an easily cultivatable plant, they may show some spoiling symptoms. And out of all, one of the most common questions among home gardeners is, why are my Hostas turning Yellow and Brown?
Well, to answer that straightly, I’ve created an in-depth discussion here. Hostas can turn yellow or brown for several reasons.
Stick around till the end, and some pro tips are waiting for you on how to take care of Hostas.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
Reasons Why Hostas May Turn Yellow And Brown
Hostas used to be a part of the Lily family. But with research from the past decade, when categories were divided, they were shifted to the Asparagus family.
They come in large varieties and colors. You’ll see small leaf Hostas, large leaf Hostas, Variegated Foliage Hostas, Light Butter Yellow Hostas, Dark Blue Green Hostas, and many more.
One thing common among all is they all can get affected and change into yellow or brown. Let’s look at some crucial reasons for turning Hostas yellow and brown.
1. Affected Or Damaged Roots
You see, your Hostas are perfect from the outside but still turning yellow or brown. But, why?
Well, affected or damaged roots could be the reason. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts like us, and you already know that roots are the essential part that needs to be taken care of for a plant the most.
The thing is, damaged roots are unable to absorb nutrients and water. And how can a plant survive without these elements?
In terms of Hostas, they need moist and cool soil. However, in spring and winter, heavy and wet soil can lead to root rot. Eventually, this can turn into any fungal disease.
So, you need to be careful about the care of the roots of your Hostas. If you’re growing Hostas in a pot, you must use a pot with a hole in the bottom center to ensure good drainage.
2. Burrowing Animals
Burrowing animals like Moles, Voles, and Gophers can also destroy your Hostas. And that may lead your Hostas to turn yellow and brown.
These animals create problems for the root of the plants. And when the roots are damaged, your plant eventually gets damaged.
So, when you plan to plant Hostas, choose a spot among tree roots or near other underground barriers that’ll naturally block tunneling animals.
3. Lack Of Sunlight
Although I know Hostas for its growing capability in the shade, some Hostas varieties require much sunlight. If you grow them in shady places, you may face unwanted results.
So, when you choose to plant a certain kind of Hostas, make sure you know what you’re choosing. If you’re planting the sunlight kind, then plant in a part of your garden that gets enough sunlight.
Besides, in general, all of the Hostas need a decent amount of sunlight. So, it’s ideal for planting them in a specific garden spot that gets both a decent amount of sunlight and shade.
4. Excessive Scorch Of Sun
Too much sunlight can burn your Hostas at some point and make them yellow or brown. As you know, Hostas are basically shade perennials; they require shade the most than sunlight.
When you plant or place Hostas directly under the sunlight, it may be a disaster. There are some varieties of Hostas that are more tolerant to sun scorch.
You can grow those if you don’t have a shady place in your garden and have to plant under direct sunlight. Make sure your Hostas get enough water during hot and dry periods.
5. Virus And Fungal Diseases
Virus and fungal diseases are other major reasons behind your Hostas turning yellow and brown. When “Virus X” hits the plant, it makes dark spots, rings, browning, or twisting the leaves.
When you see these symptoms understand your Hostas are affected by the virus. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for this. Generally, only the leaves or a particular section gets infected at the start of the infection.
You can only cut the infected section off during this period, and the rest won’t meet the infection. Thus, you can save your Hostas. But, if the virus spreads to the entire body, it’s time to get rid of the Hostas.
Fungal diseases affect mainly the leaf petioles. However, they can also damage the stem. When this happens, the leaf petioles become weak and turn Yellow and Brown. And the leaf quickly falls off.
To make sure your Hostas don’t get in touch with fungal diseases, you need to use the Hostas fertilizers . Besides, you have to make sure you’re using excellent soil that is moist but not too wet for planting Hostas.
6. Pests And Insects
Pests like Foliar Nematodes and other tiny insects that live on leaves can cause serious harm to your Hostas. As a result, the Hostas may turn yellow and eventually die.
These pests can spread while watering overhead the leaves or while rain splashing on the leaves. As soon as you see the symptoms of spreading pest, tear the affected leaf out to save the other portions of the plant.
You can use the best pest and insect killers for Hostas to kill insects.
7. Natural Change
Plants are living beings. And every living being has a certain time to die.
In that scenario, if your Hostas is aged enough to its lifespan, it may naturally turn yellow and brown till it dies.
How To Take Care Of Hostas
I understand the significance of the proverb; prevention is better than cure. Well, nothing different in regards to your Hostas. So, you need to take care of your Hostas since you decide to plant one.
Let’s have a look at what’s to check on:
- Always select moist soil to plant Hostas. After planting, you have to maintain the moisture as nicely. Don’t wet the ground too much.
- If it isn’t possible to always ensure the soil’s moisture, you can mulch. But beware of snug and snails as they grow in mulch. And these tiny creatures are enough to spoil your Hostas’ growth.
- When Hostas suffer from frosts and get mushy in the fall, you should cut them off to grow your Hostas healthy.
- If you want to divide your grown Hostas or decide to transplant, Spring is the best time for doing it.
- After the flowers die, you should remove the stalks so that the new flower can grow nicely.
- Plant big leaf dark Green or Blue Hostas under shade and small leaf Hostas under decent sunlight. Because big leaf Hostas require more shade and small leaf Hostas require more sunlight.
FAQs
What do you do when hosta leaves turn brown?
You should cut down the brown leaves and let the leftover plant grow independently. You must do it to prevent the spread of turning the whole body of the Hostas Yellow and Brown.
How do I revive my hostas?
To revive your Hostas, you have to take proper care of the plant. You must pull out the plant to stop spreading the infection. However, you must know how long Hostas can survive out of the grounds.
Place your Hostas in a particular garden spot where they can get decent sunlight and shade. Besides, always make sure the soil in which Hostas are planted is moist. Never soak the soil with water. With proper care, your Hostas will revive soon.
Should I cut off yellow hosta leaves?
It depends on the leave condition. If the yellow hosta leaves are still growing, you don’t have to cut them off because sun rays can damage them. But if it stopped growing, or the leaves are dead, cut them off as soon as possible. Otherwise, it can damage other leaves.
Should I cut off brown hosta leaves?
When the leaves still have some green parts in them, that means it’s growing and alive. In that case, it doesn’t seem necessary to cut them off. If the edges of leaves are affected by brown spots, you can trim them a bit. But if there are no green parts, the leaves are dead. So cut them off immediately to avoid harmful leaf diseases.
Final Words
Hostas can be the beautiful ground bed of sweet purple flowers in your garden. They are the most mesmerizing creature in the garden. So, it’s a must that you properly take care of the plant.
Hopefully, you have the answer regarding “why are my Hostas turning yellow and brown”. Take immediate steps to revive your Hostas and give your garden a new look. Happy gardening!
