Marianne's Response

Can Hostas Rebound from Broken Leaves and Stems?

I recently acquired a small hosta. It was doing nicely in my living room by the window. However, after about two weeks, my kitten decided to knock over the whole thing and play in it during the night. Most of the leaves are snapped at the stem and are wilted. Is it salvageable? Should I cut back the broken leaves? I’m afraid it’s done for!

Posted by Emily Milligan on June 5, 2019

Marianne's Response

No worries! Hosta are tough perennial plants. If you cut back all the broken leaves, new foliage will soon appear. I am wondering about growing your hosta indoors, however. Like all outdoor perennial plants, hostas need to go dormant during cold weather.  The foliage will turn yellow and then turn brown. That's okay! The hosta needs to hibernate during cold weather. In spring, fresh new growth pops up. You will need to move the potted hosta outdoors in the fall so it can experience some cold winter weather. Keep the soil moist while the leaves are growing. Good luck with your kitty training. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti