How to Reduce Shock When Transplanting Hostas

Series Summary

Hostas are a plant species native to northeast Asia. The hosta is similar to a lily, and used to be called a Day Lily, or sometimes known by the name Funkia. Hostas are a herbaceous perennial plant with large leaves and flowering panicle, and as many as 3000 species of hostas are known to exist. They make great ground cover plants, and have made a popular garden plant for centuries.

In this series of free gardening videos you’ll learn how to divide and transplant hostas. Expert gardener Amanda Kantor demonstrates the process in easy to follow step-by-step instructions, including how to dig up hostas, how to examine the root systems, and how to divide the plant. You’ll learn tips on how to protect the roots during the transplant, how to replant the new hosta plant, and how to fertilize and water the new addition to your garden.

Video Transcript

"This is hosta albomarginata and it's a wonderful shade plant. And we're going to reduce the shock of transplanting this plant by watering it with a real slow trickle watering system here. We're going to make it flow just real slow, we're going to put it down into the base of the plant and we're going to allow that to soak the plant thoroughly. The reason we do this is so that the root system can absorb as much water as possible and when we actually go to uproot the plant this should minimize shock to the plant. You should soak your plant probably for a half an hour at the least. The best procedure is to soak your perennial, soak the hosta for at least a half an hour so that it's thoroughly drenched. You want to make sure that the root system has time to absorb as much water as possible, this will help reduce transplant shock when you go and actually uproot the plant."