I went to a garden a couple weeks ago and the lady there had a really nice clump of Tattoo growing. She told me that someone had mentioned to her that her Tattoo was the nicest plant they had ever seen. I'm thinking next year to get a piece of her plant and try growing it. I love how it looks, and if hers is vigorous and doing well, perhaps I will have a chance that it'll grow nice for me. Here's her Tattoo, the photo taken by me.

{{gwi:1043854}}

Karen

I would repot them, in a pot quite a bit larger than you normally would for a plant that size. Use some excellent potting medium too. While I say "feh!" to Tattoo, (mine disappeared after 2 years), Remember Me is worth trying to save...it's a pretty hosta, and is usually purchased in honor of someone we have lost. Mine is for my mom. It hasn't gotten much larger, but hasn't gotten smaller either. I potted it up last week, because I am having vole issues, but I think it will improve in the pot.

Hmm, I've had my Tattoo 5 or 6 years and I've given divisions to friends twice in that time. It's not my fastest grower, but certainly not my slowest. I do give it extra water.

Much to my surprise, Tattoo is doing very well. It gets some morning sun and quite a bit of light the rest of the day.
Remember Me is a slow grower for me but has increased, needs light as it has a lot of white in it.
Good luck with yours, hang in there.
Marlene

I purchased my first Tattoo this year. I had read that it tends to diminish rather than increase. I love it, and wanted it to increase and thrive. I kept it in a pot for a couple weeks and moved it around the garden. The president of my local hosta society said that she is on her third Tattoo, but hers is doing well in a lot of morning sun. So, in mid-June, I stuck mine in the ground in one of the hottest areas of my garden -- LOTS of sun. It is THRIVING. It is in full sun from 9 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. Even in an extreme hot spell that lasted over a week, Tattoo did not scorch but some of my more sun tolerant hostas did. I guess I will know more next year, but it seems to really love sun.

both are useless heaps of nothingness

and will only irritate you forever.

the only cure.. is to get rid of them as fast as possible.. and drink enough labatts so that you forget you ever owned them

i have a whole host of curse words i would like to offer regarding these two useless plants...

be done with them.. and curse whoever released them to the trade..

and on top of it.. wasted a great money making theme for cancer.. on a plant that no one can grow ... imagine the PR if they had used a plant that actually thrived.

a pox on them all

and while you are at it.. throw out the GE ..

and if you buy me a labatts.. i will tell you how i really feel about them....

ken

PS: i tried at least 9 tattoos.. and 4 of the other ...

PPS: yeah yeah.. the 3 peeps in north america who can actually grow them will chime in and say how easy they are... phooey

Ken, I just think you're mad 'cause you got beat by a hosta! lol

ajfan, I just got a root of Tattoo in an exchange, so I'm not ANY sort of expert on the subject. However, it's a very nice division, and I'm hoping to beat the odds. It was mentioned many times that they like sun, so mine is in just about the sunniest place in my yard (I don't have any such "full sun"). Another individual mentioned that it likes to be in a pot (root-bound), so I'm trying that. A 2-gallon pot sunken into the ground. If that works, I can move it up to a 3 or 5 gallon in a couple of years. You might as well try if you're willing to experiment!.

OK, Ken... I'll take your advice on the Labatts... naw, I think a nicely chilled Rose de Anjou in an Irish crystal glass looking out on the gardens... but I won't be getting rid of either one soon.

I'm growing both... doing fine... I've probably sold 80 Remember Me's since they were named (and lost my sister to breast cancer and provided plants to all the family members at her memorial) and I keep getting people at my sale who love it and want to purchase more for friends...

a slow grower, for sure... does need bright shade... can tolerate some sun, but mine is showing damage now as it gets sun from early morning through about 2 pm... won't ever get as big as the rest of the family...

Just walked out and snapped this photo of Touch of Class, Remember Me, and Praying Hands. (Lots of people put RM, PH, and Guardian Angel together in memorial gardens...)

and I recently posted this Tattoo on another thread...

Idiothe, are you bragging to Ken? Comeon, boys! Don't fight! lol

Your hostas are gorgeous, idiothe.

O.K. so after reading everyone's input I've decided to dig up these hostas and put them in a 1 gallon pot, sink the pot into a sunny location and cross my fingers they they return in the spring...and if they don't then I won't be replacing them...so many hostas...too little time!! Many thanks to all of you. Note: We've had about 40 days and 40 nights of rain here so a sunny location may be hard to find!!

did you remember to build plant racks on your arc???

We've had two good 1" rainfalls in six weeks!

Gee ken, can't you tell us how you REALLY feel?!?

Seriously, that's good enough for me. Consider those crossed off 'the list'. Thanks for saving me some grief!

Visited K K Gardens at Hawkeye, Iowa to buy a couple hosta. They have the largest Tattoo I have seen...it must be about a yard across...Wow! Thought mine was doing well at a foot & a half across.
Marlene

Marlene, PLEASE tell me you asked them their secret! :)

Ajfan, I hope you'll be sure to let us know in the spring.

ptilda: Keith at KK Gardens has told me he gives his hosta a feeding of Osmocote in the spring. Everything looks fantastic in their gardens. I have a friend who also swears by Osmocote, but she only has a small number of hosta.
I only fertilize potted annuals & my many clematis. Maybe next spring I will try using it on a few hosta...but then again, probably won't get it done!
Marlene

ajfan - geographic location might help - are you in Alabama or iceland? idiothe had a very nice looking Remember me in Minn. Small hosta - slow growth - apparently doesn't like sun or heavy shade!

Love these old threads - idiothe Remember me photo popped up when I googled Remember me hosta. Ken gets PO'ed with old threads. Anytime I can PO ken is a good day.

who are you. and whats your problem ... lol ...

i love old posts.. all those lost friends ... its a real pick me up ...

what i dont like.. is when one like this pops up ... and someone asks a TOTALLY UNRELATED question ... like i have this astilbe that isnt flowering ... or some such ....

ken

I recall when I first joined this site and Ken gave some of his opinions / comments but once you get past this SHOUTING TYPING he had some of the best input / information that can be found I am sure the reason my Remember Me is growing is because of the sign my friend Barb gave me. She had that same tough opinions until you called her bluff. And as far as both RM and Tattoo they are both slow growing but alive. Never give up but not sure either would like the driveway much

Faye

Gary, your tattoo is way darker then mine and I do like it better. Is it in shade or

sun ?

Shade 80% of the time