I would just use Miracle Grow on my Hosta. Also be sure that they are getting enough water in their new spot.
Good Luck with your Hosta!

Here is a link that might be useful: Midnightgirl's Gardener's Diary

Never feed a plant under stress....wait until next spring before you give them anything but compost.
Linda C

Linda is right... For my new/recently moved hosta I stick with compost. Thankfully my significant other is a compost whacko.

My established hosta (and other plants) get fish emulsion if they look a bit sad. Fish emulsion is foul stuff but the plants love it.

Mulch and water is all I would do for now.

So, is alfalfa water and pellets also not a good idea when first planted?

I put an alfalfa pellet in the hole when I plant my hostas, and they grow like gangbusters!
Donna

So, is alfalfa water and pellets also not a good idea when first planted?
HeyJ

Alfalfa is an organic input that will be dealt with by the soil organisms in the same way mulch will. Corn meal is also good, coffee grounds as well. Personally I don't think the cost is worth the benefit except the coffee grounds that are free.

Chemical fertilizer can easily interfere with the soil organisms who are what really make plants grow.

Here is a link that might be useful: mulch is your friend

if you have good soil... just try to drown them .. subject to proper drainage ...

feed them in a month or two.. if you really think it is necessary

ken

I get my alfalfa fairly reasonably priced, I think---$13.95 for 40 or 50 lbs.--can't remember exactly
the weight--but it goes pretty far for me!

Thank you all for your replies. I never actually did anything special for my hostas before. But now I know what I can do for the established ones. I will just keep the new ones watered and wait for a few months for the feeding. :)

Clyde

think of it this way ..

the transplant is interfering with the roots ability to pump the requisite water ...

so ... water it until the roots start pumping again ...

WE DO NOT WANT TO ADD ANYTHING THAT MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE ROOTS STARTING TO PUMP AGAIN ...

the wrong fert .. in the wrong amount MIGHT do that ...

so get them pumping .. feed them later ...

or think this way ... marathon runner... 26 mile race... at the end of the race ..... do we water him.. or give him a steak dinner ...

we water him ... and later.. when all is well .. we stuff his gills.. lol ... otherwise we might clog an artery and kill him.. before he recovers from the race ...

time to go kill more weeds .... too much wisdom for me ...

ken

Moving entire gardens from one city to another. We mix in a big handful of alfalfa meal in the bottom of the hole for all perennials including hosta. Buy a large bag at the local Farmer's Co-op, lasts several years, inexpensive. Never fertilize my hosta, just water well.
However, everyone's soil & zone requirements will vary.

Since we are on the subject of alfalfa, does mulching with alfalfa hay have the same results as the pellets? I spread what I had on the surface and worked it into the soil a bit, as well.

year old cow poo after 1 year in the pot or garden

There is no need or value to work it into the soil, organisms designed to breakdown organic matter are varied and specific to do certain jobs. Those near the surface are designed to do the job preparing or consuming fallen organic matter such as grass like alfalfa then other organisms come into the process to further move the organic matter down into the soil finally becoming humic or fulvic acid or another carbon product similar to charcoal.

We can't do anything except get out the way.

In general, hostas like to be transplanted in soils with a good amount of organic matter, and if possible, the PH is in a range of 6.5 and 7.5. You can use ground limestone if you need to modify the PH. On the other hand, if the soil where I plant it is poor, you can add agglomeration of organic matter.

Never use a quick release fertilizer on a freshly transplanted hosta. This could harm you and will not help you at all.

Once the plant is sufficiently rooted, you can begin a fertilization program. Personally, I recommend using a balanced slow release fertilizer on hostas (ex: 12-12-12). Depending on the duration, an annual fertilization (early spring) may be sufficient or you may have to fertilize twice (spring and summer).

time release ferts are location specific ...

early spring applications in ground freeze areas.. would do nothing until the soil warms enough to start the release ..

and the best time to fert is in july.. when they start growing roots to store the energy.. to emerge in spring ...

ken