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Well, yes, Jo, you need to be organized, since you are not like me, and just buy because it's pretty, and have no place for it. I just put my plants in a sheltered area for the winter. Wow, do I have a lot left.

Mary Ann, it's very unlikely you will get virused hostas from a known hosta grower. They seem to be in the big box store and from the Dutch.

Every year there are too many temptations and I just get greedy,end up with plants I cant share with Daughter gardeners.
Some day I will stop.I have to, I'll run out of room,like soon.
Here is one perennial garden I started in 2007 when we moved here.
May 2008.3 of the scots pines are gone now.



May 2012 the bear sits on a stump of the first tree we cut down.The other trees came down each year after 2008.

Yah Polly -- most of my hostas have come from Lowes, etc.

That confirms it for me.No more Bigbox store plants.

Me either JoAnn -- except for annuals. I've learned my lesson -- the hard way.

Check your hostas this spring & carry out the destruction if they show symptoms.

Will do.

Over in the hosta forum they are very helpful. If you think a plant looks diseased, take a pic and they can tell you. And then get it out, and bleach any utensils you use on it before going to the next plant.

I wish I could buy more hostas but believe it or not here on the flatlands of farmland little trees for shade. All the ones I have bought have been from Seabright/Mid America, in part because they are so careful and two they know my conditions and can recommend ones that might work for me.

I stopped years ago buying from anything but known nurseries because of disease. Problems.

D

It really is worth a few dollars more to have plants that have a better survival rate.

It never occured to me -- until now -- to buy plants anything but local (except Irises). Nurseries, Lowes, even Walmart. First, I never knew about diseases in plants like Hostas. Just learned this summer that Daylilies can be diseased too -- who knew. Second -- I like to see the plant before buying it -- especially when purchasing for foliage only, rather than flowers. Cost was never a consideration -- liking the plant was the determining factor. Now that I know the dangers, I'll practice extreme will-power!!

Are nurseries included in places to beware of?

I have never received diseased plants from nursies, but box stores have a buyer that never see's the product just buys and brings in the stores. Home Depot here brought in diseases with both daylilies and lilies because of careless buying practices

D

I would say that your local nursery people are in the know enough to trust,as a rule. If they aren't, they don't stay in business! They only have one "product", plants! The big box stores are more geared to selling pantyhose, appliances, and 2x4s! They MAY have been lucky enough to find a person to take care of their "outdoor" section, who is an amatuer gardener, and keeps thing watered, and can answer a few questions, but, usually the plants show their lack of care.Too often, I fear, local growers, or nurseries can't compete with big-box prices and close the doors for lack of business. Specialty growers, Iris, Daylilies, whatever, generally have a very good knowledge of "their" plant, it's "care and feeding", zone requirements, etc. Next season, when you're in a Big-Box, ask a question when you are brousing the plants. make it a silly question, like ,does this rose get tall?, or will this hosta do well in the sun? I'll bet the first thing the clerk does is to pull the tag on the plant to see what it says! All they know is what's printed on the tag! When you buy from "grower" or a local nursery, you're also buying their knowledge!!....Arlyn

And just to add, if you're in your local nursery, and the tag is from someplace like Walters Gardens, or Q and Z, it'll be fine. If it's from Netherland Bulbs, or some Dutch place, run.