Can I cut back the leaves on my drooping hostas and still get them to come back soon?
Question:I just planted them after dividing them 4 days ago. I have been watering them a couple times a day but a few are still drooping badly. Can I cut back the drooping leaves and not kill them? so that new stiffer ones will form from the middle or will this permanently shrink the plant til next year? Help!
Answers:
You should have waited until fall to divide them. They are going to be droopy until they establish some new feeder roots and that could take anywhere from 4 days to a week. I would not cut the droopy leaves off until after that time frame. If after day 7 they still look droopy, then the plant is trying to tell you that there isn't enough root to support the leaves. You will be siginificantly reducing their size this year, but you are wanting them to just get through the transition and live so they can be beautiful next year. Adding a root stimulator can help feeder roots establish quickly, but don't fertilize the rest of this year, since establishing roots is what you want to encourage and not top growth. Good Luck!
Don't cut them, water soaking every evening.
They will not grow new ones this year. Keep watering. You may have them in too much sun. Do they stop wilting immediately after watering? You may want to put a tent over them to keep out the sun until they acclimate.
More Related Questions & Answers...