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To decorate the backyard, plants are unpretentious and resistant to adverse conditions. Hosta White Feather combines these qualities and is distinguished by unique external properties. Therefore, such a flower is popular among landscape designers and is often used for decorative purposes.
Description of hosta White Feather
The plant is bred by selective breeding. Due to its low sensitivity to harmful factors, the White Feather hybrid hosta is considered the most effective variety.
Bushes “White Feather” reach a height of 50 cm. The plant is sprawling, so it requires a place. The bush has several stems, each of which has many leaves. They are oval in shape with a slight pointed end.
Young leaves are creamy white. In the future, as they grow, they become covered with bright green stripes.
In early summer, buds form on the White Feather bushes, on which flowers later appear. On average, their size is 14-16 cm. The flowering period lasts from July to September, but may shift in regions with a specific climate.
Variety “White Feather” refers to shade-loving. In well-lit areas, growing such a hosta is not recommended for two reasons. First, bright light causes the bush to look pale against other ornamental plants. Secondly, because of the sunlight, the White Feather hostas bloom worse.
Variety “White Feather” is characterized by dense roots and the absence of a stem
Otherwise, this plant is unpretentious, so caring for it is not accompanied by difficulties. Hosta tolerates low temperatures well in the winter season. As a decoration for a home garden or garden, White Feather can be grown in regions with any climatic conditions.
Additional description:
The use of White Feather hosts in landscape design
The bush is used for landscaping purposes. Often it is grown as a background for bright flowers. The White Feather variety performs its decorative function in the shade. In shaded areas, the hosta blends harmoniously with many plants.
Among them:
- astilbe;
- peonies;
- ferns;
- lungwort;
- ipomei;
- geyher;
- phlox;
- primrose.
Hosta can be used as an independent decoration. They are also suitable for zoning the site as a low fence.
The hosta reaches its decorative effect after 5 years
It should be borne in mind that each White Feather bush needs a place. They should not be planted close to each other. The optimal distance between them is 50 cm.
It is not recommended to plant hosts next to:
- roses;
- geranium;
- asters;
- coniferous shrubs;
- violets;
- eustoma.
Visually, White Feather hostas blend well with almost any plant. However, some of them should not be planted next to them due to the fact that they are demanding on the composition of the soil.
Hosta breeding methods White feathers
The main way is to divide the bush. It is necessary to choose a healthy, well-developed plant. They dig it in from all sides, get it out of the ground. Extraction from the soil is carried out with the utmost care so as not to cause serious damage to the roots. The bush should be divided using a sharp tool, after clearing the underground shoots from the soil.
Sharing “White Feather” is recommended at the end of summer. In the spring, reproduction should be abandoned. Otherwise, after planting in the ground, the plant will spend nutrients on the formation of buds, and not on the growth of roots.
In a very dark place, the bush will grow slowly
The White Feather flower can be propagated by seeds. They are harvested after flowering and planted before winter. The disadvantage of this method is that the plant develops for a long time. The decorative effect of the bush is achieved only after 4-5 years.
Planting and caring for hosta White Feather
First of all, you should decide on the place. Variety “White Feather” shade-loving, so you should not plant a bush in the sun. This hosta grows well in areas with any type of soil. The main thing is that the soil is loose enough and well passes water. The stagnation of fluid in the roots can provoke their decay and death of the bush.
Landing is carried out in spring or autumn. The second option is recommended, since then the flower has time to adapt to the cold and tolerates winter well. If you plant “White Feather” in the spring, the roots develop more slowly and the plant becomes sensitive to a sharp change in temperature.
Landing algorithm:
- Dig a hole 35-40 cm deep in the selected area.
- Place a layer of peat or compost on the bottom.
- Inside the pit, form a hill from the cleared garden soil.
- Place a seedling inside the mound so that there are no voids under the roots.
- Fill with loose soil on top.
- Liberally pour.
- Mulch the soil around the root collar with peat or humus.
The buds of the White Feather seedling should be at ground level. If they are higher, roots will not develop from them. In this case, you need to sprinkle them with loose soil.
The host needs to be watered in a timely manner, destroy weeds and periodically apply humus
After planting in the soil, the plant should be watered every 3 days. The procedure is carried out 4-5 times, after which the volume of liquid is reduced.
Rules for growing white hosta White Feather
Despite the unpretentiousness, for the full development of the bush will require care. In spring and summer, it is important to ensure that the soil is loose and moist. Weeds and plant debris should be regularly removed around the bush.
Some leaves on the host may develop poorly or have an uncharacteristic color for the variety. They need to be removed in the early stages so that the bush does not spend nutrients on their growth.
From the description of hosta White Feathers, it follows that this plant loves moisture. In the warm season, watering is carried out 1-2 times a week. The frequency of irrigation is determined based on the amount of precipitation.
Loosening the soil is recommended to be carried out at least once a month. You need to speed up the procedure if the weather was rainy. Due to precipitation, the soil is compacted, which prevents the normal functioning of the roots. When loosening, peat, tree bark and sawdust are added to the soil, which retain moisture in hot weather.
For the first 4 years, perennials do not need to be fertilized.
For White Feather hosta, both mineral and organic fertilizers are useful. During the growing season, liquid solutions with potassium and phosphorus should be used. Organics are recommended to be applied before flowering.
Best suited for hostas:
- compost;
- a mixture of straw and manure;
- tree bark;
- humus.
Such fertilizers must be applied under the soil around the bush. Do not leave organic matter on the surface, as it can attract pests.
Preparation for winter
The plant is resistant to low temperatures. Therefore, preparation for winter is reduced to a minimum set of procedures.
In autumn, when flowering is over, the buds are cut off, leaving stems 6-8 cm long.
The hosta is very hardy and winter-hardy, so they do not need shelter.
Then you need to fertilize the bush with a potassium phosphate solution and treat with a fungicide. The last feeding is carried out at the end of September. In the future, fertilizers are not applied so that the flower prepares for winter in a natural way.
To protect against freezing, the basal part of the hosta is covered with soil. Sawdust, peat and straw are used as mulch. With the onset of persistent cold weather, you need to cut the stems with the remaining leaves.
The bush should be covered with coniferous branches. You can also use agril or breathable film. It is impossible to cover the bush with materials that do not allow oxygen to pass through, otherwise it will rot.
Diseases and pests
The White Feather hybrid is practically insensitive to infectious lesions. An exception is viral diseases that affect the condition of the leaves. Pathology is accompanied by the appearance of small yellow spots and dots. Affected sheets must be cut and burned, and the tool must be treated with a disinfectant.
Viral infections “White Feather” are carried not only through pests and pollen, but also through tools (pruners)
Phyllosticosis may appear on mature plants. This is a fungal infection in which brown spots appear on the plant. Damaged areas are removed, and the White Feather bush itself is treated with a fungicide.
Young hosts may be attacked by pests. This usually happens due to improper care.
Common pests:
- leaf nematodes;
- aphids;
- slugs, snails.
To protect against parasites, it is recommended to sprinkle the soil around the shoots with tobacco ash and lime. As a preventive measure, you can mulch the soil with pine needles.
Conclusion
Hosta White Feather is a popular perennial that is used for ornamental purposes. Due to its low sensitivity to harmful factors, such a bush can be grown by both experienced and novice flower growers. Hosta of this variety goes well with many plants. Therefore, with its help, you can create unique flower arrangements and decorate your backyard.