Hostas are perennial plants that can be used in any garden or container. They originated in Japan and China, but are now grown around the world. Hostas are shade-loving perennials that can tolerate partial shade and full sun, depending on the variety.
Hosta leaves come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some hostas have upright leaves while others have more horizontal leaves. Some have deeply cut sinuses while others have shallow sinuses. Some hostas have variegated leaves with yellow margins while others have green leaves with white edges.
Hosta flowers appear in late spring or early summer on stems 10 to 15 inches tall above the foliage mound of the plant. The flowers are usually white or lavender in color with five petals each measuring 1/2 to 1 inch wide by 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. The blooming period lasts about two weeks before dying back into the foliage mound once again until next year when they will bloom again.
Powdery mildew is one of the most frustrating problems that can infect hostas, and it looks like your plants may be struggling with this nasty pathogen. While my personal feeling regarding the use of broad-spectrum, chemical pesticides is that they generally make more problems than they solve in the long run – including killing key beneficial bugs, like lacewings and predatory wasps which will scavenge for aphids. I still believe it is better to spray plants with something that won’t kill the good bugs.
Bugs are one of the most severe threats to your hostas. Ignoring this problem can at the very least lead to the ugly appearance of your plants. In the worst case, the bugs can destroy your hosts. Let’s take a look at what they are and determine how to deal with them.
3 Ways To Protect Your Hosta From Slugs and Snails
Hostas are a favorite of gardeners everywhere, but they can be vulnerable to pests. Getting rid of insects that destroy your hostas can be a challenge. The best insecticide for hostas should kill the insects without harming your plants.
There are several options available to you, including organic and synthetic chemicals. Organic insecticides include soap, hot pepper spray, and pyrethrum. These are safe for humans, but they may not be as effective as synthetic chemicals. Synthetic insecticides include carbaryl, bifenthrin, and malathion. These are also effective at killing pests on hostas, but they may pose a risk to humans and pets if ingested or absorbed through the skin.
The best way to protect hosta plants from bugs is to spray them with horticultural oil. Mix 1 teaspoon of dish soap and 2 tablespoons of horticultural oil in 0.3 gallons of water and spray the hostas with it. You also need to clean the entire surface around the hostas of decaying plant debris where insects can hide.
| Bugs | Treatment |
| Mealybugs (Pseudococcidae) | Neem oil, Insecticidal soap |
| Boxelder bugs (Boisea trivittata) | Insecticides |
| Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) | Neem oil, Insecticides |
| Grasshoppers (Caelifera) | Pesticides (carbaryl) |
| Cutworms | Insecticides |
| Whitefly (Aleyrodidae) | Insecticides (3-4 times per season) |
| Aphid (Aphidoidea) | Neem oil |
| Pill bugs (Armadillidiidae) | Neem oil |
| Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) | Insecticides |
Mealybugs (White bugs)
The Mealybugs are common pests of hostas. They can be detected by the white residues that form in the process of life. These pests can cause damage to the hosta, but this is not likely to be fatal to the plant. The food of these insects is the juice of the plant. They suck on leaves and stems and feed on them throughout the growing season.
Mealybugs are a kind of soft-bodied, scale insect that can be a common problem on hostas. They feed on sap from plant stems and leaves, and they secrete a sticky substance called honeydew. This is what causes the black sooty mold that appears on leaves, stems, and the soil around the plant.
A mealybug infestation can be treated with neem oil or horticultural oil. You will have to spray the plant thoroughly with either product every 7 to 10 days for 3 weeks in order to kill all of the bugs and prevent re-infestation.
Boxelder bugs (Orange bugs)
This pest has a flattened elongated black body with orange spots. It can seriously damage your hostas. These beetles mainly gather in large groups and migrate over long distances. They can penetrate the room and even bite people.
Boxelder bugs feed mainly on the seeds of trees, but they can also eat greens. One beetle is unlikely to harm your hosta, but a large cluster of these insects can seriously damage it.
Control. Boxelder bugs are quite strong creatures, so remedies like neem oil and garlic spray have little effect against them. Fortunately, strong insecticides have been developed for agricultural use that can easily control them. You can find such products in every garden center or online plant store.
Leaf beetles (Red bugs)
This insect has a rounded body, and the back is colored bright, preferably red. It feeds mainly on leaves, and in agriculture, it is extremely damaging. May cause considerable damage to hostas, especially the larvae of this beetle.
Leaf beetles are one of the most common pests to attack hostas. Leaf beetles are small, oval-shaped insects that can be either brown or green in color. The adult female leaf beetle lays eggs within the leaves of a hosta plant. The larvae feed on the roots of the hosta plant after hatching from their eggs. The larvae cause damage by eating the roots of the hosta plant and weakening it.
Control. Gardeners use different methods to control it, but the most effective and long-term is spraying plants with insecticides. Neem oil also works well against them.
List Of Insecticide For Hostas
When it comes to hostas, you’re going to want to start with a good insecticide. There are a number of different options out there, but we’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular ones so that you can make an informed choice.
BioAdvanced 502570B Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer Insecticide, 24-Ounce, Ready-to-Use
Price: $7.59
Features :
- INSECT KILLER: Kills Aphids, Caterpillars, Whiteflies, Japanese Beetles, and more on contact
- 30-DAY PROTECTION: Protects against listed insects for up to 30 days
- USE ON: Roses, flowers, plants, and even houseplants
- RAINPROOF PROTECTION: Rainproof within 1 hour of application
- COVERAGE AREA: Treats up to 34 plants
- RESTRICTIONS: Restricted in CT, MD, & VT. Not for sale, sale into, distribution, and or use in Nassau, Suffolk, Kings and Queens counties of NY
Additional Info :
| Color | Ready-to-Use |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 11.25 Inches |
| Width | 2.19 Inches |
| Length | 5 Inches |
| Weight | 0.00024 Pounds |
Cutter 61067 HG-61067 32Oz Rts Bug-Free Spray, 1 pack, Silver Bottle
Price: $8.97 ($0.28 / Ounce)
Features :
- KILLS FAST: Kills mosquitoes, listed ant types, fleas, and other listed insects
- QUICKFLIP HOSE-END SPRAYER: Hose-end-sprayer activates spray at the flip of a switch – just grip, flip and go
- LASTS ALL SUMMER: Controls up to 12 weeks against house crickets, carpenter ants, harvester ants, lady beetles and earwigs
- COVERAGE: Treats up to 5,000 square feet of lawn
- NO MIXING REQUIRED: Attach the sprayer to a garden hose to treat your lawn, landscape, and outdoor surfaces where insects hide
Additional Info :
| Color | Silver Bottle |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 11.5 Inches |
| Width | 2 Inches |
| Length | 5.25 Inches |
| Weight | 1.08 Pounds |
Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter2: With Comfort Wand, Kills Ants, Cockroaches, Spiders, Fleas & Ticks, Odor Free, 1.1 gal.
Price: $14.49 ($0.10 / Fl Oz)
Features :
- Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter2 with Comfort Wand kills ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, and other listed bugs; the formula is odor free, won’t stain, and keeps listed bugs out
- KILLS BUGS INSIDE: Kills those annoying home-invading insects, including ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, scorpions, beetles, silverfish, centipedes, and millipedes
- KEEPS BUGS OUTSIDE: Creates a bug barrier that will kill bugs you have and prevents new bugs for up to 12 months (applies to ants, roaches, and spiders indoors on non-porous surfaces)
- NO STAINING OR STINK: This spray can be used indoors and out, leaves no residue, and has no odor; people and pets may re-enter treated areas after the spray has dried
- WAND MAKES APPLICATION EASY: The Comfort Wand eliminates hand fatigue, and there’s no pumping required, making it easy to spray along your home’s perimeter–indoors and outside
Additional Info :
| Color | White |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 4.88 Inches |
| Width | 12 Inches |
| Length | 8.95 Inches |
| Weight | 0.73 Pounds |
FMC Talstar Pro 3/4 Gal-Multi Use Insecticide
Price: $58.69
Features :
Additional Info :
Monterey LG6575 Sluggo Plus Wildlife and Pet Safe Slug Killer, 1 lb
Price: $12.89
Features :
- Slug and snail control – Sluggo plus is one of the Best snail and slug control products. It is designed to bait and poison these pests along with earwigs, sow bugs, pill bugs, and cutworms.
- Snail bait alternative – being a two-in-one bait and Killer, Sluggo Plus is an alternative to traditional slug and snail baits.
- Pet and wildlife safe – Sluggo plus contains iron phosphate which naturally occurs in soil, so it is safe around wildlife and pets. Do not leave an open container where Pets can get into it. Although it is non-toxic, simple precautions Should be used.
- Granular formula – This Repellent comes in an easy-to-use granular formula which makes it a convenient product for gardening. Over time, It breaks down into fertilizer, making it great for organic gardening.
- Effective after rain – after application, rain or sprinkling will not change the effectiveness of the product on slugs, bugs, or snails. However, if heavy rainfall occurs, reapply the product to ensure full Effectiveness.
Additional Info :
| Color | 1 lb. |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 10 Inches |
| Width | 5 Inches |
| Length | 4 Inches |
| Weight | 1 Pound |
In Conclusion,
Hostas are a beautiful addition to any yard. They can be grown in containers or in the ground and they come in a variety of colors and sizes. However, if you don’t treat your hostas with insecticide, they will become infested with various insects and pests that will cause damage to your plants. If you do not have time to treat your plants yourself, there are many companies that can help you with this task.