I have tried this a few times with no success, but I know for a fact one nurseryman who propagates selected pardancanda (Candylily) bloom stalk bracts. My attempts with hosta have always resulted in the cutting rotting without rooting, but it may be possible if this can be controlled.

George

George, I think the question that comes to mind is at what stage do you take the cuttings. The stalks are firm when their flowering. I guess to hold the flowers in the winds.

I'm going to try it just as the flowers are starting to open. 50/50 peat perlite mix, and Hormodin 1, in a poly tent. Unless anyone has any additional suggestions, that's my plan and I'm sticking to it. Maybe a mild fungicide.

Ron

I have wondered if a hosta scape will proliferate like a dayliliy with lanolin BAP paste - anyone here tried it?

I question weather the Host Scape is morthologically the same as the Hosta plant itself, therefore probably not suitable for propagating. Hostas divide so easly, why even bother with this approach.

I am trying the stalks, primarily because I couldn't get the crown out of the grown-this Hosta is pretty old. So, I put the root hormone on the stalks and put it in a pot. Guess I will know soon.

I am not sure if you can propagate from the flower stem, but I do know that if you let that flower die all the way back that you can get seed from it. Now whether it will be true or not I guess would depend on the variety. Its worth a shot I think one flower stem puts out many many new seeds.

When you say "flower", are you referring to the leaf? I mean, to me, and I am not a professional, it's a stalk with a leaf at the end.

I've done this with orchid scapes (Phaius and Phalaenopsis) as well as with the bloom stems of Sedums, but always by cutting the entire stem and laying it horizontally on a bed of rooting medium (usually a perlite/vermiculite mix). The new plants form from the adventitious buds below the points at which the blooms emerged. No reason not to try it with hostas. My theory always is that there's nothing to lose through experimentation!