all you have to do is throw the divisions on the driveway ... it is that simple...

i dont know why you would fool with anything else...

insert in ground.. roots down .... water.. water.. water ...

i would let it settle in.. before i would start adding things.. that may or may not do much of anything.. other than perhaps make it rot ..

mother earth is a root stimulator.. as far as i am concerned.. and mind you.. i am a cheap SOB ... everything else is marketing hocus pocus ... so i wouldnt waste money buying it ..

that said.. its probably entirely benign.. so why not go for it ... since you already have it.. but you will never convince me.. it did anything worthwhile ....

dont recognize the name.. welcome to the forum.. come back often ...

ken

Hi, Mavarin. Consider yourself inducted into the Hosta Forum! You caught a response from Ken right off the bat, so you are now one of US.

Stick around and tell us what hosta you have or want, and if you are north Georgia or south Georgia. I'm in Mobile AL. Do not think we have anyone from Georgia currently posting, so you are a welcome addition to the southern contingency.

Come back often, and pictures are always welcome.

Welcome, Mavarin! LOL yup, you're going to hear regular "driveway" references if you've not already acquainted yourself with previous posts...and "tape" and "crickey"... he sure knows his hosta "stuff" - and he is hilarious but I gather you've caught that? :-).

Eager to see what you got! Show n Tell please?

Jo

Mavarin, I would use a root stimulator if I had moved a hosta and lost some of the roots. I would not use it on a new plant.

AND it seems that I remember Ken saying he would fertilize in the fall with something that only had the last number if he could.

That, my friend, is root stimulator.

bk

Very interesting information! I must admit I am brand new to the gardening world- learning as I grow! I purchased the root stimulator last year upon advice from an associate at a local and what I consider a trustworthy, family-owned nursery in town. That being said, I assumed he knew what he was doing and bit the bait! Thanks for the input that it is a waste of resources! I heard the same thing on the hydrangea forum.

We purchased our home in Athens a year ago. I discovered multiple beauties growing in my yard once spring of last year hit! Hostas are very happy here under a canopy of beautiful white oaks! I had to relocate several of my friends this year. I learned the hard way that our neighborhood deer eat hostas like candy!

So, it sounds like what I am hearing is to leave them alone as long as they are in happy soil and getting plenty of water? What should I fertilize with if anything?

A lot of people use Miracle Grow. I use Osmokote in the spring and then Miracle Grow in the summer. I usually use choose a product that is equal (10-10-10 or equivalent) or higer in the first number early in the year. I also add iron at least once in the spring, and again in the summer as our water is really alkaline.

bk

Root Stimulator, hormone? I use it for starting roses from cuttings, Not for growing roots when dividing plants.

Unbidden, when I planted my little red oak, the nursery guy said to put a gallon of root stimulator on the tree each month and water once a week for the first year. Then, forget it and take an extra turn around it with the lawn fertilizer each time you fertilize. That system worked very well. My tree grew well and tall quickly.

So whomever told mavarin to use it wasn't out to lunch. At the worst, it won't help or hurt and is a waste. At the best, it will help. I would do it if I thought it would help. It certainly won't hurt anything.

bk