Hostas are pretty lively plants and can grow well on their own. But, if you have poor soil in your yard, you can help your hostas a little.
Miracle-Gro is good for hostas. Put a little of this plant food under each bush and soon enough you will see results. The hostas will grow more vigorously and look healthier.
Make sure you read the rest of this article if you want to know what exactly Miracle-Gro does for your hostas. Here we will cover all aspects of this subject in as much detail as possible.
What does Miracle-Gro do for hostas?
Miracle-Gro is a product that contains all the elements needed to nourish any plant. Your hostas will look much better with it.
First of all, Miracle-Gro has nitrogen in its composition. Nitrogen is responsible for the growth of leaves and stems. With enough nitrogen, your hosta leaves will be noticeably larger.
The second is that this product contains phosphorus, which stimulates the development of the root system and the rhizome as a whole. This will result in larger crown size and a deeper root system.
Miracle-Gro also contains magnesium, which is crucial for photosynthesis. With magnesium, the hosta will grow noticeably faster.
When to put Miracle-Gro on hostas?
The best time to put Miracle-Gro on hostas is in the spring. As soon as the plant wakes up, fertilize the first time.
Keep fertilizing until about mid-season. This is because the hostas are growing until then. So it needs extra nutrition at this time.
Then comes the blooming period, after which the hostas are ready to shed their leaves. In the second half of the season, they don’t need any fertilizer.
If you use Miracle-Gro in the second half of the season or on the eve of winter, there is a risk that the hosta will not go into hibernation. As a result, it will be damaged by frost. By spring, the rhizome will most likely rot.
How to apply Miracle-Gro to hostas?
Miracle-Gro has two basic types of fertilizer powder and pellets. Depending on which fertilizer you choose, the application method and amount will be different. We will discuss this in more detail below.
Watering hostas with Miracle-Gro
The most common product of this brand is water-soluble multi-purpose plant food. It comes in the form of a powder and is designed for watering plants.
Simply dilute 1 tablespoon of the product in 1 gallon of water and water the hosta. To get the desired effect, you need to thoroughly soak the soil around the hosta so that the roots have access to nutrition. Each hosta should receive about a gallon of solution.
The manufacturer recommends using this product every 7-14 days. It is true that some plants require the above feeding frequency. However, one application of this liquid fertilizer once a month is enough for the hosta.
You can also just pour this product around the hosta. Loosen the top layer of soil a little beforehand. After putting the fertilizer in, water the hostas.
Adding Miracle-Gro directly to hosta soil
As I mentioned earlier, you can pour Miracle-Gro just around the hosta and it will work fine. In this case, you will have to apply the product every month.
On the other hand, Miracle-Gro has another product called Shake ‘N Feed. It is more convenient because it is in pellet form. One shake will feed the plant for about 3 months.
Just apply this fertilizer around March/April and it will be enough to keep the hostas fed until the middle of the season. There is no need to apply this type of fertilizer again this year.
The only thing you have to take care of is watering. Fertilizer stimulates plant growth and they need more water. Water the hostas in the growing season when the soil around them is 1-2 inches dry.
Spraying hosta foliage with Miracle-Gro
If you are using a water-soluble product, getting it on the leaves is neither helpful nor harmful. But it is better to avoid it, because the fertilizer will accumulate on the leaves, which is not good.
If we are talking about granules, avoid getting them on the leaves and petioles. Otherwise, it can leave burn marks on the tissues.
Miracle-Gro has a product called Leaf Shine. It is intended for foliar feeding of houseplants. It can be used to produce more brightly colored and larger leaves.
However, it is not suitable for outdoor plants such as hostas. This is because you have to use a lot of it but it is sold in small containers. As a result, you will lose a lot of money and sooner or later you will have to ask yourself if Leaf Shine is worth using for hostas.
Will Miracle-Gro kill hostas?
Miracle-Gro is not capable of killing a hosta if you don’t overuse it. Use a water-soluble product no more than once a month from March through July. Always follow the instructions on the label.
As for the long-acting product, use it once a season. It’s best to apply the fertilizer in the spring and that will be enough for any hosta.
If you use Miracle-Gro too often or in large quantities, the salts from it will accumulate in the soil. When the excess of salts becomes critical, it can burn the roots. As a result, the leaves of the hosta will turn brown.
Miracle-Gro potting mix for hostas
This manufacturer has an excellent soil mix that is suitable for growing hostas. This soil mix has a loose and light texture that is ideal for hosta roots.
It is best for potted hostas, however. The manufacturer does not recommend the use of this potting soil in the open ground. In addition, you will need to transplant the hosta into fresh soil every year.
The advantage of the Miracle-Gro potting soil is that it is already supplied with all the nutrients. In other words, you don’t have to fertilize your hostas when you use this potting soil. The nutrients have a lifespan of six months.