It is going into a new berm and so much shade has been the issue with plants there in the past. Watering it should not be an issue. Thank you for the advise

it is no problem to keep it potted until fall ... if you used good media.. and keep it properly watered ...

its always helpful to mention where you are ... it might be a different answer in TX than for maine ...

or just throw it on the driveway until fall .. it it will probably be ok .. lol

i plant nothing in my MI .. from mid july thru the end of august .. just to freaking hot .. see above re: location ... its more an issue of night temps to be honest ...

ken

The sooner you get it in the ground the better it will grow. Plant it, water it deeply, add 2-3 inches of mulch and water it again. Empress Wu is not known for rapid growth, but it will add divisions more quickly in the ground. Do not fertilize, it's a bit late in the season for that. You could give it some alfalfa tea if you felt the need for some extra nutrients, but it's not necessary if you have decent soil.

here in MI.. it just barely time to start fertilizing ... crikey ...i dont understand the above in the least ....

but its best to fert in july.. when they start growing roots .. to store energy for next spring ...

but never fert a new transplant.. let them settle in from planting shock.. before you go juicing them ...

ken

I am in The Mid Hudson Valley of NY

I the plant seems to have recovered from being dug and moved here. Doesn't seem to be stressed in the pot. I wasn't planning on the delay nor was I planning on the offer of the plant either. Someone said I have this monster Hosta that would go perfect in the corner over there would you like some? I said yes and it wasn't until I got there that I understood why she said Monster

She has the tag from when she got it about 7 years ago. Empress Wu from Land of Giants.

there were three unopened pips about 5 inches high when I received it

Since nothing was ready I just tossed it in a pot with some bagged potting soil without the added water gels or fertilizer

Normally I would say you can fertilize until July 1st or so, but this year almost everyone has had above average temperatures for extended periods. Prevailing wisdom used to be that you fertilize for foliage growth in the spring, and roots in the fall. More or less the case. Top dressing can be done from early spring until the hostas go dormant.

I agree that a newly planted hosta should not be fertilized. Hard to know how to treat all the hostas that suffered from hard freezes this year, many melted to the ground. I suspect those plants would benefit from a very light fertilizing or top dressing, and plenty of water for those who aren't being innundated with rain. My area got 5-6 inches of rain in 2 days this week, the hostas are all very happy.

but this year almost everyone has had above average temperatures for extended periods

==>> we had 25 degrees for 8 hours.. a week or so ago ... and just last week.. we got of the 50s at night ...

and based on all the frost damage posts across all the forums.. i know i am not alone ...

ken

My last hard freeze was 3 weeks ago, but last night temps were down in the low 50s. This area has had 2-3 weeks of temps well above normal, in the upper 80s and low 90s. It's just a whacky year. Fortunately there has been a great deal of rain, and all my freeze damaged hostas are coming back reasonably well. I don't expect the ones I planted in early May (the day after 5 inches of snow melted) to add any divisions this year, but they are all going to survive. I'm not fertilizing, but they are planted in a very good area, half sun and in well aged compost.