Westland 50L Multi-Purpose Compost with John Innes, Brown

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Of course, composting is also good for the planet. Creating compost at home in a compost bin is a great way to recycle kitchen and garden waste. Ingredients in Compost The best compost to use in your garden will depend on what you’re planting. However, most beginner gardeners will likely start off with patio pots, hanging baskets, herbs or flowering bedding plants. For these jobs we recommend a peat free all purpose compost. For houseplants it’s always best to use a peat free houseplant compost. Which compost is best for all plants? Are you looking for advice on the best compost for pots and hanging baskets? This guide covers everything you need to know about choosing the right compost for your container plants. What is the best compost for container gardening? In terms of the compost itself, it contains 14 vital minerals to create a rich compost that also drains well. It contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as expected, alongside 11 trace elements which help to maintain the health of plants. Let’s have a look at the different types of composts available to buy and what goes in them. Peat Free All Purpose (or Multi Purpose) Compost

If you’re looking for a general purpose houseplant compost that is suitable for many indoor plants you are most likely to choose this type of growing media. This type of houseplant compost is typically known as a multi-purpose compost or indoor potting mix. Overall, it’s one of the best composts to use if you’re after value for money. It’s a good quality product, in a size that’s easy to manage, and you still get a lot for the price. As well as plenty of controlled release nutrients, this compost has a water retaining agent to keep hanging baskets happy. * SylvaGrow peat free potting compost

If you like the idea of low maintenance houseplants, this is good compost option. It has added Seramis granules to regulate water intake, and perlite to help with airflow and drainage. How often should you change compost in pots? You can also give potted plants a mini-refresh by simply removing the top layer of compost and replacing it. Should I repot with compost or soil?

Sarracenia, Dionaea, Cephalotus and many Drosera will thrive in a ‘standard’ carnivorous plant potting mix of peat moss, sharp sand or grit, and perlite. Compost is used to help improve soil texture, aid soil fertility as it is rich in nutrients and it also contains healthy bacteria that improves the soil health What types of compost are there? Well, peat-based compost is still readily available, but a lot of gardeners are choosing to avoid it as much as possible for the above reasons.

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A multi-purpose premium potting compost, this is rich in nutrients and has great water retention, making it ideal for thirsty pots and planters. Best compost for seeds * John Innes seed sowing compost Peat-free compost also tends to be more expensive because there is more processing involved than simply digging up peat. There is also some peat in the mix, which more and more gardeners are looking to avoid; however, it is considered a ‘reduced peat’ compost, so they have gone to measures to keep the peat content down. Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. Compost is also suitable for vigorously-growing plants such as tomatoes and chrysanthemums.

Mexican Pinguicula can tolerate various mixes, but I find they do well in a coarse compost of grit, sharp sand, perlite, baked clay and sphagnum moss peat; during winter allow the compost to dry out and treat them like succulents. Peat - Sphagnum Moss Peat in the John Innes Compost increases the total porosity and improves both the aeration and the water-retaining capacity. Peat decomposes slowly into humus. It can be used at any stage of a plant’s development, including seed sowing, and the large bag is sufficient for filling approximately 70 small pots (12 cm diameter), or 14 medium pots (22 cm in diameter).

What is it made of?

Inevitably, the compost in a pot will eventually become exhausted and no longer able to provide enough nutrients for the plants. At this point, it’s time to refresh or replace the compost. When it comes to shop-bought compost, always buy a reputable brand so that you know the quality will be consistent and of a high standard such as Miracle-Gro or Levington. Homemade compost needs to be a rich dark brown colour and should be dry and crumble between your fingers. You know when your compost is ready as there will be no nasty smell, just a deep earthy smell. What is the best compost for beginners? Any houseplant compost needs to provide water, nutrients and oxygen to the root system of the plant. It must be free-draining but able to retain moisture, and must not become so compacted that the roots are starved of oxygen.

Bagged compost is perfect for using in pots, containers, seed trays and hanging baskets as well as for filling up raised beds. It can also be used mixed in the bottom of a planting hole with garden soil. 2. Homemade compost The key ingredients to look out for are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Broadly speaking, nitrogen helps with leaf growth, phosphate is for a strong root development, and potassium will encourage flowering and fruiting. Sand - The coarse sand or grit is used as a physical conditioner to allow excess water to drain from the compost and thus prevent water-logging. It also helps to provide stability for larger plants.

My Top Recommended Multi-Purpose Compost

When you buy a bag of compost, it’s essentially organic matter which is designed to improve soil, or support plants grown in specific conditions – such as containers.