Some people say hostas and fertilizers do not mix as they are such as hardy plant that they don’t need to be traumatized by fertilizer. Furthermore if you optimize your soil in the first place you won’t need fertilizer.
Most professional hosta gardeners recommend a 10-10-10 blend of fertilizer for hostas as a kind of universal food for the plants. However what you really need to create the perfect soil conditions for hostas is a soil test. This will provide you with an accurate picture of what nutrients your soil is missing. Your county’s office can usually do this for you or you can hire a private testing lab. The fee for this is pretty affordable and you will know exactly what fertilizer to use to augment your soil with fertilizers to grow hostas.
When it comes to hostas and fertilizer your first application should be early in the spring. This is the point when the hostas emerge from their dormant winter phase. Most professional and hobby growers of hostas say this is the time at which the plant needs more nitrogen so a 20-10-10 hosta fertilizer or even a 20-20-20 hosta fertilizer will encourage the plant to expand its root system.
The next application of fertilizer to your hostas should be in early summer after the foliage has opened. The difference between this application and the one you did in early spring is that the hosta fertilizer will be lower in nitrogen. In this case you can use the 10-10-10 or a 10-20-20 solutions to feed your hostas.
You can also skip using any of the commercial fertilizers and go organic. There are many types of organic fertilizers for hostas including ones made of manures, compost, seaweed, fish emulsion, blood meal, cottonseed and bone meal. Keep in mind that if you use an organic hosta fertilizer that it will be very high in nitrogen and therefore best to use early in the spring. As this type of organic hosta fertilizer breaks down it becomes less rich in nitrogen. Also as it breaks down it adds humic acids to the soil, which help support the growth of healthy microbes in the soil. This is why organic fertilizer is beneficial as a natural time-release substance that will enrich your hostas over an entire growing season.
When it comes to hostas and fertilizers you can’t go wrong applying manure or composted manure. Simply lightly pack a couple of inches of manure or composted manure to the surface of the soil at the beginning of each growing season. For optimum results make sure that the plant has an inch or so space away from the manure layered. This will help enhance the health of your hostas and keep them looking gorgeous all season long.
Some of the commercial hosta growers use a slow release fertilizer such as osmocote. This product can be found at your local garden center or at stores such as Menards or Home Depot. The advantage of this type of fertilizer is there is less of a chance of plant burn since fertilizer is released over time. I incorporate slow release fertilizer into the soil before transplanting hostas. I have found an application in June will produce some nice new growth which will be visible in August.
how do you grow hostas, IMA newbie, HELP?
Also what is the best fertilizer, I am really good at buying flowers and plants but not so good at planting ect.
Hostas like shady areas under trees or to be grown in pots in shady locations too. They're probably the easiest plants to grow. As for fertilizer…a simple balanced 6-6-6 fertilizer is fine and they'll grow great. they die back in Winter, but come back from the ground on their own in the Spring.
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I have a degree in Biology.
They are super simple! You didn't say if you've already bought them, or what form they are in though. They LOVE the shade, and are very care-free. I love the way they multiply, and every year or so, I just take a shovel and a sharp butcher knife and cut thru mine and transplant 1/2 to a new spot, then just fill the dirt back in around the part I leave~they get HUGE. A lot of mine are in beds far from the house, and they just get water from rain. I don't fertilize them or anything, and they thrive! I do use Miracle Gro ~in the hose attachment~ maybe once a year, but that's it:) Just remember SHADE;) They love it under/around trees.
Good Luck!!
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Hosta's are the best selling perennial in the USA. In part, because they are easy to grow, and have few insect or disease problems.
They prefer a part sun to shady location in the garden. Some tolerate more sun… but check with your local independent garden center for those selections. Keep them moist, but not wet. In early spring, you should apply a preventive "bait" for slugs and snails (the Hosta's worst enemy). Fertilize them with a well balanced product. Mir-acid (by Miracle-gro) is a good choice, again see your local experts for their recommendations in your area.
Basically you can sit back and enjoy. Hosta leaves and flowers make excellent additions to cut flowers in vases and are very long lived. They are in the lily family. Some varieties have very fragrant flowers. Try a few different varieties to get some extra pizazz in your garden.
I hope that this helps
Good luck-
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I am a professional horticulturist
I am an Hosta Enthusiast
In my opinion, hostas are one of the easiest plants to grow. I have grown them for many years and have found them to be a very enjoyable plant, whether you are an expert gardener or a novice. The main thing to remember about hostas is that they prefer shaded areas; like at the base of trees, the side of your home that is mostly shaded during the day, or just about any place not in full sunlight. They cannot tolerate full sun or very hot temperatures. They will grow in just about any type of well drained soil and are usually one of the first perennials to sprout in the spring. If planted correctly and well cared for, you should have a lovely splash of green throughout the growing season, right up until a heavy frost. Since you are new at this I would highly recommend "Miracle Grow" fertilizer or ask an associate at your nearest garden center. Good gardening!
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I've been a gardener for most of my life and have a better than average knowledge of plants and gardening in general.