Patriot hosta leaves starting to get "wrinkly"

[jglongisland]

Every year, although a bit later, my Patriot Hosta leaves get "wrinkles", by the end of the season they look a bit beaten up. I've never done anything to try to stop/prevent it. Could it be slugs?

[andy10917]

Got a picture?

[jglongisland]

Will take a pic later today.

[jglongisland]

ImageUploadedByYard Help1434409468.470071.jpg

Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[andy10917]

It might just be leaves that unfurled weirdly (sometimes when weather is weird), or it could be the dreaded Hosta Virus X ("HVX").

"Patriot" is a susceptible cultivar/variety. HVX can take years to develop, and is far more common in big-box bought Hosta. Many of the top Hosta specialty stores test for it on what they sell. Test strips can be purchased on the net. HVX is not spread by bugs, rain, or anything like that -- it's mostly the shears and tools that we use on plant after plant that spread it. Only the sap in the plants can transfer it from one plant to another.

Read up on HVX and compare to what you see with the plants. Destroy any plants that are positive for HVX - there is no cure.

[jglongisland]

What time of year do slugs become an issue? I ordered the kit/strips.

[andy10917]

Any time now for slugs.

[killerv]

looks like that good ole hosta virus


for slugs, use beer, get you a small shallow Tupperware containter, a beer, dig a small hole in your hosta garden so that the containers top edge sits flush with the soil, drink half your beer, pour the other half in the container, go out the next morning to see a bunch of dead slugs in it.

[Billybob]

I use Diatomaceous earth

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[andy10917]

JG -- did the HVX test strips arrive, and if so what was the verdict?

[jglongisland]

got the strips, haven't done the test yet. they are in the fridge.

[jglongisland]

Came back positive. I guess the option is to live with it or rip them out. I bought these at Martin Viette about 12 years ago; its the most expensive nursery out here.

[andy10917]

Then you have another Hosta with the disease, and you're using shears to trim them up and transferring the HVX virus from one plant to another. I've never heard of a plant taking more than three years to show symptoms. Learn about how to (quickly) sterilize shears, etc if you keep the plants (I wouldn't).

I don't think that anyone was testing for HVX 12 years ago. It was new then, and people were asking "what the hell is this".

HVX does not transfer from one plant to another without direct transfer of sap.

[jglongisland]

Then you have another Hosta with the disease, and you're using shears to trim them up and transferring the HVX virus from one plant to another. I've never heard of a plant taking more than three years to show symptoms. Learn about how to (quickly) sterilize shears, etc if you keep the plants (I wouldn't).

I don't think that anyone was testing for HVX 12 years ago. It was new then, and people were asking "what the hell is this".

HVX does not transfer from one plant to another without direct transfer of sap.

This group - I think 12, all show the same signs and have had it as long as I can remember. I may leave well enough alone since they are no where near any other Hostas and I never shear/touch them. Most I do is take away the dead leaves in December.

[andy10917]

Keep the disease in mind when removed finished flower scapes - I know multiple people that forgot that counts as pruning also.

[jglongisland]

Keep the disease in mind when removed finished flower scapes - I know multiple people that forgot that counts as pruning also.

Got it. Usually don't see a decline until mid-late August and by then the annuals around them are dominating.