I usually apply 10-10-10 in early spring, and perhaps again in June, but never after August 1. In my zone 5 time-release fertilizers supposedly do not work, they would release too late. I have all my hostas in the ground. The AHS publication 'Hosta Adventure, A Grower's Guide', costs $8 including shipment, gives a very good explanation of fertilizing. Some people here spray hostas every 2 weeks with a fertilizer, I normally forget about that.

For my containers I use liquid fertilizer, at a low dose, less than half, weekly or biweekly (I can forget some weeks). In the ground I dop dress with compost once in a while. I have done as bernd suggests also, a general purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer, at less than the suggested rate (I'm cheep.) Out of the ones you suggest I would guess that the Fish Fertilzer is best, organic break down slowly for a constant feed. Time release fertilizer would not work for me also as in MN we have this crazy near 100 degree day or two in late June or early July causing the slow release fertilizers to dump their contents making them worthless the rest of the year.

I have read amazing results from the three I mentioned. I was looking for a general all-purpose fertilizer that I could use on everything from my lawn grass to my Hostas. I have read the Fish Fertilizer is rather stinky and may cause bugs to swarm because of the smell. Right now I'm using Miracle Grow through my garden house sprayer, and although it isn't doing any harm, I believe the results could be better.

For hosta seedlings many here use Miraclegrow Tomato Fertilizers. When you probably have 1000 hostas, then specialized fertilizers will get expensive.

I fertilized my hosta with slow release Osmocote. I just checked the bottle and the formula says 15-9-12. Is that too strong a formula for my plants.

These really aren't speciality fertilizers. I think you can get them for relatively the same price if not cheaper than Miracle Grow.

I also read about a fertilizer on these threads called Foliage Pro that a lot of people here swear by.

I use Kelp fertilizer for everything including Veg. gardens and lawns . Also cleaned up pasture of horse/ donkey manure and sprinkled it on hosta beds and it doesn't burn them either . It was free but the kelp goes a long way too

I have some kelp (Spirulina) that is left over from making some green smoothies. I wonder if it would help the Hostas if I sprinkled some over them.

Really after doing a lot of reading the fertilizer I am currently using Miracle Grow 24-8-16 All Purpose is what Al (tapla) recommends as a 3:1:2 mix for fertilizers. I think he prefers a brand called Foliage Pro 9-3-6 now, but mentions also being happy with the aforementioned Miracle Grow.

I was trying to see if anyone had achieved any extraordinary results by using any other of the fertilizers I had mentioned, as a lot of reviews for them appear outstanding.

So, now I am wondering. I apply Miracle Grow through my Miracle Grow hose end sprayer. I buy the refills which come in four packets which I believe are 50 tablespoons each and empty a complete 50 tablespoon packet into the sprayer(which is the recommended dosage). If Jack's all-purpose says to apply the same amount per gallon as Miracle Grow (1TBSP per gallon), then would I put the same amount of Jacks into my Miracle grow sprayer(50 TBSP or 750 grams ?)