I'll leave the advice to the experts re the dosage, but I don't trust anything that says guaranteed not to burn....gut instinct says sparse and more frequent is better but not enough experience under my belt...don't pay any attention to me, lol.

But why, you ask anyway? :-). Well, Last year someone (no, not me) thought they would help to fertilize the lawn. The package said "guaranteed not to burn" - well, this helper thought oh, good, a bit more can't hurt then...An otherwise beautiful, healthy, green lawn looked hideous for the rest of the summer - awful, just awful big burn marks all over! It overshadowed the beauty of the garden.

So beware, whether it's fert. for hosta or whatever, tread lightly. Fwiw

Jo

Do it when you water the pots. liquid, 1/2 strength. Putting it right in the pot (granular or time-release) is not a good thing IMHO. It can burn your plants too easily and then those leaves are messed up for the whole season. Some of the timed ferts work with heat and some work with the amount of moisture. Use those with caution, depending on where you live.

Anything too strong will burn the leaves...and that is why we grow them...for the leaves!

-Babka

I don't mix in the Osmocote or time release fertilizer. It dumps its fertilizer at a certain temperature, and I want to be the one to add any fertilizer WHEN I want it done. Like Babka says, liquid application that you mix yourself exactly when you wish to do it.

This year, I'm REpotting a lot of plants, some UPpotting going on when the roots come out and sort of explode into a big serving of spaghetti. Some of the mix might not be used up, but I might as well do new mix for the "bad" pots which have soggy mix in them, and it doesn't feel right in my hands. (I can't believe how much I've learned about potting mixes in the last two years.) I'm looking at the roots and if they are not healthy looking, or the crown is mushy, I'm doing the ammonia treatment before repotting. This has turned into a major job. Which is why I'm up at 4 am, both legs have charley horses that jumped me out of bed...I think I over did it! Oh woe is me! How much more I'll get done today I have no idea, because the storm warnings seem to run all day. But I'll do what I can.

Also no lime should be added for hostas. Hostas prefer a slightly acidic Ph in the range of 6.7-6.9 a very similar range that roses prefer. Adding lime to soil or a fertilizer combo will raise the Ph to a level not condusive to the growth of the plant. Ph is the very thing that determines whether a plant is able to draw up nutrients out of the bedding medium/soil. Likewise plants such as grasses used for lawns require a high Ph and thus the use of lime.

I hear people say all the time that Hostas like acid soil. Not true. It's a good thing they tolerate a wide range of pH.

From the Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet on Hostas.

"The ideal pH range for hostas is 6.5�7.5, which is slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. In higher pH soils, the addition of organic matter such as Canadian peat moss and cottonseed meal will tend to lower the pH."

As for Osmocote, ODZ is in Michigan, not Alabama so the three month kind should be fine. Yes, you can put a small amount on the surface of the container and water it in. Who was it that visited Bob Solberg recently and reported that he uses Osmocote on his potted Hostas and then gives a quick release liquid feed a few times later in the summer. That sounds like a plan to me.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: OSU Extension Service Fact Sheet

I think a liquid fertilizer is the way to go, but is more work. I prefer to use time released fertilizer at half its recommended dose. I apply it on the top. This gives me more control rather than mixing it in a batch of prepared potting soil. I make sure it will not time release for no more than 4 months. (I would buy three month time release if I could find it.) I also liquid fertilize at half the dose at the beginning of the season. Every now and then during the season I will provide a weak liquid fertilizer---depends on how much time I have (LOL---the more pots I have, the harder I find it is to keep up with everything there is to be done!). When it comes to fertilizer, I think the saying "less is more" applies very well here.

i did it in MI once.. killed a whole boat full of stuff .. our growing season is too short .. and the releases too long ..

it seems.. not like me.. in the way back machine.. that you want every 'easy' solution to every project...

let me tell you from experience ... there is no easy way .. and dont do it ...

get a jug of water sol ... mix at half strength ... and fert in july/august only.. and then let them slow down in fall ...

ken

Hmm Steve I tend to study the environment from which a plant comes from and to best grow it by mimicing its natural environment. Hostas for the most part are native to woodland forests where the Ph tends to be somewhat acidic to slightly acidic only plants from plains or scrub areas and certain micro environments tend to come from areas with neutral 7.0 to alkaline 7.1+ soils. Deserts would be a good example of high soil alkalinity where as evergreen forests would be the exact opposite. Understand what the extension service above is saying they will grow in other Ph type soils but if you want spectacular growth quickly, provide the correct Ph and see the difference. There is a difference between a plant surviving and doing fine and one that grows by leaps and bounds.

Hostas are native to growing in volcanic soil in Asia. I think I remember you now (Areyah) posting previously under a different name. You always have all the answers. Could we please see some pics of your perfect plants?

-Babka

Areyah,

Perhaps you missed the work ideal in the quote above. There are several other Extension services that make the same claim.

If you study the environment from which Hosta come, then you should know that they are not native to woodland forests, but grow in rock crevices and in meadows in the wild in Japan. You should read The Genus Hosta by W. George Schmid. Or you can read an update of that book on the Species page of the Hosta library.

Here's what George has to say about the wild habitat of H. montana, which he calls the "archetypal" Hosta. H. montana and H. sieboldii are the two most common species.

"It is so common in central and northern Honshë that it has become an agricultural weed in rice fields, but clever farmers soon found out that this âÂÂweedâ can be harvested in spring and used as vegetable or wrapping for sushi...H. montana populations have evolved with elongated scapes to project the raceme above adjacent tall alpine grasses and subshrubs to facilitate pollination in their montane meadow habitats"

Perhaps you could point me to the source that tells you that Hostas are native to woodland forests.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: H. montana Part 1 from the Hosta Library

Last year seems so far away now. I'm trying to remember when many of the hosta have a second flush of leaves.

Is that about the timing for the half strength fertilizer?

Mine don't go down until late October, stragglers hang on into December. They go to sleep around Christmas if I'm lucky, and don't wake up until late March....also if I'm lucky. Judging by the kind of leaf freeze burn I see on some hosta, the early emergers caught some of the burn. However, it doesn't seem to have slowed them down.

If I use fertilizer, it is very sparing. For one thing, I don't want them becoming Incredible Hulks and outgrowing the pot, the garden, and my ability to keep up. The way things are going this year already, I think somebody besides me is feeding them!

Does anyone know how to acidify pots? We have very alkaline water. When I sent a plant to Texas A&M's plant diagnostic lab, they said it had chlorosis. It was Blue Angel, so I'm not sure how they knew, as it did not have the tell tale signs of chlorosis (yellow with green veins).

I just gave each pot a handful of Ironite, but I'm didn't find confirmation that it would help.

bk

Hmm so sad being new and already attacked. I think is time to leave this forum but will leave y'all with a few quotes quotes from reliable sources and I do not favour a group that does not favour facts from the growers,who have been to the regions of Japan,China and Korea where these perennials grow: This is my last post. "Diana Grenfell, âÂÂMichael Shadrack - 2009 - âÂÂGardening
Hostas have always been considered shade-loving plants, though shade-tolerant is a more accurate term since they are plants of woodland and forest margins."

"Hosta - University of Illinois Extension- Native to woodland and forest edges. ⢠Flowering herbaceous perennial."

"Hostas are native to Japan, Korea, and China." American Hosta Society

This is but a few facts on the growing locations of the specie "Hosta" not only Japan as incorrectly stated above and my last post to this group having been warned not to join this forum. Shalum.

Areyah,

When you make claims such as "Hostas are native to woodlands" you need to back those up with facts. You haven't yet done that. Do you have the link to the University of Illinois Extension that gives that information? I have searched that site and can't find it. The other information you posted doesn't support your claim.

We all know that Hostas are from Japan, China and Korea. We all know they are shade tolerant, not shade loving.

It's important when you provide cultural information to others, especially to those who are new to the Genus, that you provide accurate information backed up by science. Sometimes Nursery sites are outstanding and sometimes they are misleading.

Steve

I am sorry that you feel you should leave this forum, Areyah. I have enjoyed your comments, posts and most recently, pictures of beautiful hostas. Please reconsider?

You have a lot to contribute. The success of this forum is not measured by how much one knows, but how much experience one shares with others IMHO. It's not just that. Every contribution has merits. I am not a master gardener but have been gardening since 1980. Even I have something to contribute. Sometimes for me, the "academia" of hosta is secondary - it all depends on the subject at hand.

Differing viewpoints often bring about new and interesting bits of information during the course of a discussion - I really enjoy that.

Jo

I didn't mean to open a can of worms here but a little controversy is OK especially if it brings out some facts. I'll take a little from everyone and some from my own 50+ years of gardening.

Ken...Not sure what ya meant by me wanting the "easy solution to every project" but if I can avoid more work with good results I will. My garden time gets a little slim in the middle of the summer so if there is a short cut I will take it. Actually I am putting more work in my garden now than I ever have before. In the past, I just dug a hole, threw in a shovel full of compost and planted the hosta. Every year I'd just put down more compost around each plant.

Now I'm mixing planting medium, worrying about diseases, fertilizing, sterilizing tools and a dozen other things you good folks said I should be doing along with all the enabling. Mind you I'm not complaining, I really am enjoying it and all you good folks here.

I actually think my container plants may suffer in mid summer from lack of water when I am on vacation. Time will tell.

Thx again all.

I didn't mean to open a can of worms here but a little controversy is OK especially if it brings out some facts. I'll take a little from everyone and some from my own 50+ years of gardening.

Ken...Not sure what ya meant by me wanting the "easy solution to every project" but if I can avoid more work with good results I will. My garden time gets a little slim in the middle of the summer so if there is a short cut I will take it. Actually I am putting more work in my garden now than I ever have before. In the past, I just dug a hole, threw in a shovel full of compost and planted the hosta. Every year I'd just put down more compost around each plant.

Now I'm mixing planting medium, worrying about diseases, fertilizing, sterilizing tools and a dozen other things you good folks said I should be doing along with all the enabling. Mind you I'm not complaining, I really am enjoying it and all you good folks here.

I actually think my container plants may suffer in mid summer from lack of water when I am on vacation. Time will tell.

Thx again all.

Old_Dirt, I can relate to the progression you describe...I started out just throwing things in the dirt and feeling lucky when something grew! Also, being a young mom and a graduate student, I am always in favor of time and labor saving measures. So you better believe I use time release fertilizer in my containers! I know it isn't optimal, but I'll worry about optimal when I'm retired. :)

I suppose I haven't been around long enough for a gardening forum to be anything more than that...just a virtual "room" where like-minded folks get together and talk shop. You won't be best buddies with everyone at the party, but it doesn't mean it's a bad place to hang out. Hope we get to keep all the hosta-lovers we can.

I thought I had mine covered last year on vacation. I was very specific. Water every plant every day. It didn't happen, even if there was an agreement.

I'm sure you know all about "best laid plans".

bk

Me too, Jadie - well put. :-)

"If I use fertilizer, it is very sparing. For one thing, I don't want them becoming Incredible Hulks and outgrowing the pot, the garden, and my ability to keep up." Moccasinlanding said.

I never thought about that, Moc---that I may be fertilizing and encouraging too much growth! That definitely gives me something to think about. I'd like to find the right balance between maintaining the health of my hostas without excessive growth. I have always viewed the growth of my hostas as a very good thing and patted myself on the back that I had done a very good job of looking after my hosta pots---in fact, the more new eyes the better! But now I see that many of my pots require repotting into larger pots. Not sure how I will handle lifing these pots during the season and overwintering. I can see that it will become more challenging. So I need to ponder---just how much fertilizer is the right amount?

NHL, I had pots of hosta long before I got "hooked". All I ever did was throw a handful of yard fertilizer in them in the spring, kept them watered and on pot feet. They all did fine.

I had the workhorse type of hosta, of course - no picky ones. I had the green one, the blue one, the white edged one and a little white edged one.

bk

That is good to know, bk. I guess it's best not to fuss too much. Most hostas are quite tough. So when I get to stressing about my hosta pots, I will remember what you said!

I started out with almost 1/2 yard of pine bark mulch and now have a 55 gallon barrel of fine screened "fines" (more work than I bargained for.)

Does anyone use these fines without the additives for in ground soil enhancement? I was thinking 1/3 each of soil, compost and fines for the initial hosta planting.