Jo, if you have a commercially potted hosta, which arrives already potted in the mail or from your local nursery, I doubt it is in MiracleGro potting mix.

For the rest of your question, someone else will have to supply an answer.

I have read that the fertilizer contained within potting soil will sustain plants for up to three months, some premium ones state/claim up to six months.

==>>> crikey.. i am going to go get what i just typed in another post:

"everything else is marketing hocus pocus ... so i wouldnt waste money buying it .."

i would not recommend using such ....

add your own ferts.. so YOU ARE IN CONTROL of it all .. and i would suggest 1/4 strength water sol ... every time you water .. stopping in august or so ....

so you know what goes in the top;.. in what formula.. becoming effective when you want it to be ...

if you were to get some bright idea.. to pot something up in mid fall .. and all that fert immediately releases ... then the hosta will not go dormant properly ... and will rot...

so buy it w/o ... and add what you want in early summer.. and then insure.. the plant is slowing down in fall ..

and for a nickle.. i will tell you how i really feel about marketing hocus pocus ...

ken

ps: no plant.. needs fert.. in the 1st 3 months in in NEW MEDIA ...and in fact.. across many types of plants.. i dont even bother fert'g until the 3rd year ... why in the world would someone think such would need fert that fast ... it isnt a child.. crikey ... [i keep forgetting the irish one that isnt a cuss word.. lol]

I haven't seen anything, hosta-wise, of course, planted with fertilizer mixed into the media, whether delivered to me or purchased on site. Most go with the slow-release on the top. I just talked to Bob Solberg about this today, actually. He uses slow-release in the top and also supplements with a water soluble 2 or 3 times during hosta season. I use slow-release, but hadn't been doing the water soluble, so I think I'll add that to my regimen.

I agree mostly with what Ken says, with one caveat. When it comes to potted hosta, if they didn't need fertilizer but every three years and only when they weren't newly potted up, well, then they would NEVER get it! Hostas usually get a new pot within the three year timeframe b/c they are potted without much room in the beginning. I think three years is stretching it a bit. I would let them settle for a month or so, then add slow release to the top (that's just my opinion) and later supplement with liquid. Of course, that is assuming that you are potting them up in the Spring or Summer and not the Fall. If it was Fall, of course, I agree with Ken, no fertilizer needed. It will get it the next Spring when it can really be used.

Ken, "the Irish one that is not a cuss word...."
You must be referring to THE LIST by MountainyMan.
hehehehehe......

i MUST ONCE AGAIN ASK JO.....for search assistance. I bet she knows right where to find that post by Denis......a link if you please, Jo?

Mocc....You ask - and ye shall receive!

Jo :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Denis's Irish sayings

You are so good at the searches of forum posts, Jo! Thanks.

Mocc - I was using MGrow as example only " ie.," as I couldn't think of any other name at that moment.

Ken - .... and I re-read every word you reiterated, crickey! you are hilarious!

i will trade your nickel for one of my own re marketing ploys....I agree with the gist of your p.s. ,! "Why in the world would someone think....." ...I should clarify I'm not one who would think such...remember? I don't fertilize - yet! However, I am following advice offered in the potting thread and am applying a very weak solution to the hostas I forced out of dormancy indoors. All my hosta will get granular, slow release fertilizer (one application only and early in the season) that should carry them through the rest of the growing season.

Funnthsun, I go along with your theory as well....thanks for sharing your conversation with Bob Solberg - I like to ride on successful coat tails when it comes to hostas!

Thanks, Mocc....sometimes the brain cooperates! Right now I have too much time on my hands! I NEED my garden -NOW! :-( I may sink in mud, but I'm going outside to do something...anything....think I'll "poke" around - Ken is rolling his eyes, isn't he?

Ken, this forum wouldn't be the same without you - you can take that to the bank! Got any pips yet?

Jo

The reason why Bob uses slow release ferts followed by water soluble ferts later in the season is because the slow release particles are controlled by temperature. When it gets to 90+ degrees the little pellets dump their entire load of fertilizer at that time. In North Carolina 90+ degrees happens pretty soon. That's why he supplements with the water soluble later. Just make sure that you don't fertilize after September 1st. After that point plants need to be getting ready for dormancy, not setting new growth.

Steve

Thanks, Steve...I really appreciate the reminder :-) . I'll be mindful of that when summer brings on the heat waves... and stop feeding by the end of August.

Jo