In every modern garden you can definitely find a hosta. Most often it is used to decorate areas devoid of sunlight. All gardeners know that decorative leafy plants are an indispensable attribute of decorating a beautiful flower bed. They provide a bright, saturated backdrop against which the vibrant buds of various colors stand out.
Hosta is a versatile plant that looks good in a single planting. The attractive appearance of the flower is preserved from the moment the leaves bloom and until the onset of the first frost. Such popularity is due to the desire of people to learn how the host is propagated. After all, many people want to plant this flower in their garden, moreover, not in one copy.
Features of the plant
Khosta is a rhizomatous perennial. Leaves basal with long roots. This is the main information for people who want to know how to propagate the hosta. Some species can reach a height of 1 m, others - no more than 10 cm.
The shape of the leaves, theircolor and size vary greatly. The traditional color is green or bluish. The surface may have a pattern of yellow or white stripes.
Flower growers love this flower for its frost resistance, unpretentiousness and ability to grow in various conditions. A variety of varieties allows you to choose the perfect option for shady, semi-shady or sunny places in the garden. Tall plants can create tropical gardens, while low plants are ideal for borders and borders. This plant also looks spectacular near a pond or fountain.
Growing hostas
Before you learn how to propagate the host, you should familiarize yourself with the features of growing this plant.
It is recommended to plant the host in the spring. Before planting a flower, it is necessary to dig up the site well, remove weeds and apply organic fertilizers. When planting several bushes, you should leave the necessary space between them for normal growth. The optimal distance is about 45 cm. The first month after planting, the plant must be watered regularly for good rooting.
The composition of the soil for the hosta is not very important. It grows in almost any environment. Difficulties can be caused by sandy or loamy soils that require improvement. In addition, it is recommended that the acidity of the soil be close to neutral.
When planting a hosta in your garden, remember that the plant responds well to the presence of organic matter in the soil. Therefore, it must be regularly mulched.compost.
So, how do hostas propagate themselves? This is a fairly easy process that does not cause difficulties even for beginner gardeners. There are three ways:
- seed;
- cutting;
- dividing the bush.
Each of them has its own characteristics. The last method is considered the simplest and most common. But how to propagate the host by dividing the bush? And when to perform this procedure?
Reproduction by dividing the bush
This way you can propagate the plant twice a year: in spring and autumn. In this case, the bush is divided into small divisions with one or two outlets. Do not be afraid that the bush will be weak. In 2–3 years, it will turn into a full-fledged ornamental leafy plant.
You can divide the bush into larger divisions (with 4 rosettes). This method is used to propagate a slow-growing variety. Also, this method of division is used if there is no need to obtain a large number of bushes.
So, how to propagate hosta by division correctly? Already divided parts of the bush must be planted in prepared soil, abundantly watered in advance. The depth of the holes is up to 25 cm. It is necessary to deepen the plant to the imprint of the earth on the plant. For the normal formation of the future bush, delenki must be planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other.
In the first days after planting, plants need abundant watering. This will have a positive effect on rooting.
Cutting hostas
Cutting hostas is best done insummer period (end of May - end of July). Cuttings are better to choose young shoots with "heels". Experienced gardeners recommend choosing shoots with short petioles and small leaves.
Immediately after cutting off the cuttings, the leaves are cut off by 1/3. Thus, the area of evaporation of moisture is significantly reduced. After separation, the cutting is planted in a nutrient substrate.
At the first time after planting, the cuttings do not look good: the leaves wither, they can lie on the ground. During this period, the plant needs abundant watering, spraying and shelter from direct sunlight. After 3 days, you can see how the bush begins to come to life: the leaves rise, the turgor returns.
Seed method
Reproduction by seeds is a rather lengthy process. How to propagate hostas from seeds correctly?
Every gardener should know that this method of propagation guarantees the appearance of a plant with the traditional color of the leaves - green. Seedlings grow very slowly. During the first year of life, they form leaflets with a diameter of 1.5 cm. By the second year, the leaflets increase, but the crops are heterogeneous. During this period, they have a typical color of the future bush. Often variegated bushes with heterogeneous color are very rare with this method of reproduction.
It is better to sow seeds immediately after they are harvested, because in a few months they can lose their germination capacity. Suitable seeds for planting are dark in color. The first shoots appear fairly quickly. Plants are planted after the appearance of the first true leaves.
Conclusion
Hosta is a wonderful plant for the garden, which can be planted in almost any corner of it. Therefore, many are interested in how to propagate the host in the fall? Often the flowers are propagated in the spring and summer. Autumn is ideal for seed propagation. Remember, the correct sequence for preparing planting material is a guaranteed result of obtaining a beautiful full-fledged bush in the future.
