Hostas are wonderful plants that require a little attention to be healthy. Today, we will look at one of the common problems that arise during the growing process.
QUICK ANSWER: The scorching sun, strong winds, and drought are the leading causes of the splitting of the hosta leaves. In addition, mechanical damage, low humidity, and a lack of nutrients cause the hosta leaves to crack.
Too much direct sunlight
The scorching sun is one reason why hosta leaves split. Exposure to the sun’s rays causes the tissues to fail and crack.
Hostas prefer reflected sunlight or the dappled sun to direct sun. Some varieties can tolerate a few hours of direct sun, while others cannot.
How to fix
Shade the hosta with a screen or an umbrella for intense heat and scorching sun. Water once with an extra 1-2 gallons of water.
Next spring, transplant the hosta to a shady location. Or plant a tall plant on the south side of the bush to protect it from the mid-day sun.
Read more: Planting And Caring For Hosta
Heavy winds
Because the hosta leaves contain a lot of water, they have internal pressure. As a result, they are pretty brittle, especially when exposed to strong winds.
Wind can force a leaf to fold crosswise or lengthwise. If this happens abruptly, the leaves will crack. There may be several parallel cracks.
How to fix
Plant the hostas in a location that is sheltered from strong winds. If necessary, transplant the hosta to a more sheltered area.
Don’t overfeed or overwater the hosta. This will make the leaves grow larger but will also make them brittle.
Dehydration
Lack of water can also cause cracks or tears in the leaves. This is because dehydration causes the leaf blade to become soft and can tear under its own weight or for other reasons.
In most cases, the hosta can extract the necessary amount of water independently. However, there may not be enough water if it is a newly planted hosta or the drought is severe. The same can happen if the hosta is growing in sandy soil.
How to fix
Water the hosta when the soil is more than 2 inches dry. Watch newly planted hostas especially closely in extreme heat and keep them from suffering from thirst.
If your hosta grows in sandy soil, transplant it to soil improved with organic matter. Be sure to mulch the root zone with organic mulch.
Read also: How Do You Mulch Around Hostas?
Low humidity
Too dry air is always bad for the appearance of the leaves. Symptoms can vary, and one of them is cracking.
Other symptoms can be partial browning of the leaves. Marks may also appear on the stems.
How to fix
Provide additional shade over the hosta during hot or dry weather. Next spring, transplant the bush to a shady location without direct sunlight. In a shady spot, the air’s humidity level is optimal for the hosta.
Lack of nutrients
Lack of nutrients in the soil can lead to discoloration or yellowing of the leaves. Leaves that have little chlorophyll are more susceptible to splitting.
Poor or too alkaline soil is the leading cause of starvation. In the case of alkaline soil, the plant cannot absorb the nutrients.
As a result, the leaves turn yellow with green veins. There may be cracking or slits in the areas of yellowing.
How to fix
Test the pH and add an acidifier to the soil if it is much higher than 7.0. Feed the hosta once a year with a slow-release multipurpose fertilizer.
Do this only at the beginning of the season; avoid fertilizing later than July. Mulch the hosta with fresh, quality compost.
Mechanical damage
A final cause of cracks in hosta leaves can be mechanical damage. This is usually the most common cause.
First, dogs can play around the hosta and damage the leaves. A neighbor’s dog can do this even if you don’t have a dog.
How to fix
Make a low barrier around your hostas. This will prevent damage in most cases. You can also move your hostas to the back of the garden, away from the sidewalk or seating area.
When working in the garden, be as careful as possible to avoid damaging the hostas and other plants. Remove badly damaged leaves. The hosta will produce new ones very quickly.
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