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It is recommended to feed the hosts twice in the spring - after the plant awakens and at the end of May. In both cases, nitrogen and organic fertilizers are given. The next stage is the application of fertilizers in the summer at the stage of budding and flowering. The last time it is recommended to feed is no later than the beginning of September.
Host feeding goals
Almost all plants need feeding, and the purpose of fertilizing depends on the season:
- In the spring, the bushes are given nitrogen and organic fertilizers in order to bring them out of hibernation and ensure rapid growth after the winter period.
- In summer, fertilizing is given at the budding stage to obtain a lush flowering bush.
- Feeding hosts with fertilizers in the fall is carried out to prepare for winter so that the plant can withstand the cold. This is especially important for regions with extreme frosts - the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.
Fertilizers are also applied to increase resistance to diseases and pests. Enhanced nutrition is recommended in the presence of symptoms of damage, as well as after transplanting the plant to a new location.
Fertilizing provides not only rapid growth, but also resistance to disease.
Signs of nutritional deficiencies
If you do not apply fertilizer when planting the hosta and subsequently, the plant will gradually show signs of a lack of substances. This will affect the condition of the leaves and overall decorativeness. Then resistance to frost, pests and diseases may decrease. Therefore, it is useful to know what signs can be used to determine the lack of fertilizers, and then apply the appropriate fertilizing.
For example, with a lack of nitrogen:
- bushes grow poorly;
- the veins on the leaves turn yellow or turn white;
- shoots and leaves become weak even with regular watering.
In case of insufficient potassium fertilizing, the following symptoms appear:
- spots of different colors on the leaves;
- leaves wither and curl;
- begin to fall;
- the bush looks weak.
A deficiency of phosphorus supplements can be determined by the following signs:
- apical shoots become sluggish;
- leaves acquire darker shades;
- growth is noticeably reduced.
For calcium deficiency:
- leaves curl;
- they darken and may acquire unusual bluish tints.
Types of fertilizers for hosta
Organic fertilizers are often used to feed the host. They provide the plant with necessary substances and stimulate the vital activity of soil bacteria and beneficial insects. Usually hosts are given the following organic matter:
- compost;
- rotted bark;
- hay;
- straw;
- husks from nuts and seeds;
- rotted manure;
- bone meal.
Despite the fact that organic matter is the main “diet” of this plant, hosts also need mineral supplements:
- potassium sulfate;
- superphosphates;
- potassium magnesia;
- wood ash;
- special mixtures for hosta (can be purchased at a country store);
- green fertilizers (green manure) - for example, crushed wild mustard, which saturates the soil with nitrogen compounds.
They can be used in liquid form, diluting the solution according to the instructions, or given as long-acting granules. Gardeners often use preparations such as Osmokot and Bazakot.
When determining the dosage, you need to rely on the instructions
Some types of fertilizers that are used for other plants are strictly contraindicated for hosts. These are ammonium nitrate, which promotes too rapid growth, fresh manure, chicken droppings and urea. It is also undesirable to use mixtures of inorganic fertilizers that contain nitrogen compounds.
When to feed hosts
It is recommended to feed the host regularly, 3-5 times per season:
- When planting (March - April), the plant is given organic matter in the form of humus. It is introduced into the hole or scattered on the surface.
- After the plant wakes up for the next season (beginning of April), humus or complex mineral fertilizer is added as top dressing. It ensures confident growth of the hosta. Complex fertilizer can also be given at the end of May. This is especially important if the previous step was skipped.
- Summer fertilizing is applied at the stage of bud formation. It ensures long flowering and protects the plant from pests.
- In the summer, they also give organic fertilizers in the form of a layer of mulch to prepare the bush for winter: the timing is approximately the end of July - the beginning of August.
- In the fall, the hosta can be fertilized with ash, which is obtained after burning the branches. The infusion is prepared based on a dosage of 300 g of ash per 10 liters of water. You can let it sit for a few days, then stir and water the soil, being careful not to get it on the leaves.
Fertilizers are applied more often in spring and summer
How to fertilize hostas when planting
Every plant needs feeding when planting, and hosta is no exception. After preparing the planting hole, humus and compost should be poured into it in equal quantities. Then the seedling is rooted, covered with soil, compacted a little and watered abundantly.
If hosta fertilizer was not applied at the time of planting, it can simply be sprinkled on the surface. For better absorption, the soil is also watered abundantly. It can then be mulched with straw, hay or pine needles to better retain moisture.
What to feed the hosta for growth
Experienced gardeners recommend feeding the hosta in the spring for lush growth - this is of great importance for both young bushes and adult plants. To do this, you can add (1 fertilizer of your choice):
- fresh humus;
- complex mineral fertilizer.
The optimal time is immediately after the plant awakens, when the buds begin to open (early April).If this stage was skipped, then complex fertilizer is given in late spring or early summer.
What to feed hostas in summer
In summer, fertilizers are applied at the stage of bud formation so that the bush can grow stronger and increase green mass. To do this, nitrogen or complex fertilizers are given at the beginning of June. They are pre-dissolved and the soil is thoroughly watered without getting on the foliage and buds.
In the summer (early August), you can feed the hosta to prepare it for the winter: for this, superphosphates and potassium sulfate are given. These fertilizers contribute to greater accumulation of nutrients in the rhizomes. Therefore, the plant will survive the cold period much better.
How to fertilize hostas for lush flowering
Since buds begin to form on the bush in early summer, it is important to add additional fertilizer for lush flowering. These are compounds of phosphorus and potassium:
- calcium phosphate;
- phosphate rock and bone meal;
- ammophos;
- superphosphate - regular and double;
- potassium sulfate;
- potassium chloride;
- kalimagnesia.
These fertilizers can be applied 1-2 times at the stage of bud formation and when the first flowers appear
What to feed your hosta in the fall
Autumn feeding of hostas in preparation for winter can be carried out either in early September or at the end of summer (mid-August). At this moment, the bush needs to be prepared for the cold weather. You can use special mixtures, for example:
- "Fertika Autumn";
- "Bonna Forte Autumn";
- "Gardener Autumn".
You can also feed the hosta in the fall before sheltering with wood ash. It will provide the plant with a quiet winter. There is no need to apply other fertilizers so as not to create conditions for the active growth of new shoots.
How to properly feed hosts
Fertilizers are applied in liquid or dry form. In the first case, the mixture is first dissolved in a standard 10 liter bucket of water, choosing the dosage according to the instructions. It is better to water the hosta at the end of the day, at sunset, or in the morning (before 10-11 o'clock). In this case, you need to try not to get it on the leaves, watering only the soil.
In the second case, the mixture or granules are simply scattered over the surface of the soil, in the diameter of the tree trunk circle. Nutrients must first be absorbed by the roots, and only then they will enter the stems and leaves of the hosta.
You can feed hosts with fertilizers in the fall and other seasons in 2 ways:
- Root – pour a liquid solution or scatter granules on the soil. It is important that even dry fertilizer does not get on the leaves.
- Foliar – for example, they use such fertilizers as “Aquarin”, “Sortvorin”, “Agrovit Aqua”. The solutions are prepared according to the instructions, after which they are poured into a sprayer and completely processed.
The dosage is selected according to the instructions. It is also worth paying attention to generally accepted standards.
Fertilizer | Dosage for 1 adult bush |
Potassium | 20 g |
Phosphoric | 15-20 g |
Wood ash | 300 g |
Plants with blue and light blue leaves should not be treated by foliar treatment: fertilizing can destroy the protective wax coating
Conclusion
It is important to feed hostas in spring, summer and fall. The most important is spring and summer feeding - nitrogen and a mixture of superphosphates with potassium salt. For the winter, no special fertilizer is required - you can simply water it with an infusion of wood ash and mulch the roots.
