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

Product Information

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. 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. These dedicated composts contain what the specific plant needs and will help that plant not only survive but thrive. How do you choose the right compost for your plants? When choosing the best compost for garden containers, it’s important to also understand the difference between garden compost and potting compost. 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

You will also struggle to provide your plants with the nutrients they need from garden soil. As we mentioned above, soil usually contains less nutrients than compost. This means your plants will find it harder to grow and stay healthy if they have access to soil alone. Bonsai compost is specially formulated for the long-term health of deciduous or coniferous bonsai trees. The structure needs to be free-draining so that excess moisture drains away after watering and prevents root decay. On the other hand, the compost must be able to retain moisture and release it to the root system between waterings.These are the basic requirements of any houseplant compost, but different types of houseplant will require subtly different compost mixes for optimum results. Types of houseplant compost Standard houseplant compost Fertilser - The compound fertiliser in John Innes Compost provides a wide spectrum of plant nutrients needed for balanced growth, including :- Nitrogen (for top growth Phosphates - for root growth) - Potash (for flowering and fruiting & Trace Elements for optimal growth, colour and flavor.

For a good value compost, that will help give young plants a boost, this J. Arthur Bowers Multi-Purpose Compost offers two bags at a reasonable price and provides all the nutrients plants need for their first 4-6 weeks. It contains nitrogen which helps leaves and shoots grow, as well as phosphate for root development and potassium to encourage flowering and fruit. You can also add garden compost to used potting compost to top up the nutrients. As well as being a great way to practice eco-friendly gardening, this can also help you to garden on a budget. Is topsoil better than compost for pots? Peat free compost is the replacement for peat and will often contain a mix of more fibrous material ingredients including: These are used to improve aeration and drainage in heavy clay soil and add body to light sandy soil to help retain moisture and nutrients. It also boosts the soil fertility by adding nutrients to encourage healthy foliage, flowers and root growth.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? Garden soil is usually too heavy and dense for containers. Worms and microorganisms do a great job of keeping it aerated when it’s in your garden, but if you put it in a pot it will become compacted. Once this happens, drainage becomes a problem. Water either runs straight off causing plants to dry out, or your plants end up sitting in a puddle which ultimately rots their roots.

As the name suggests, topsoil is the top layer of the soil in your garden. As such, it’s where all your plants grow – so should you be using topsoil instead of compost for your pots and containers?Suitable to use for up to six weeks, this compost retains water well and doesn’t get too compacted. It contains a combination of recycled materials to help with aeration, although it seems that the quality of these materials can vary. There may be wood, stones, and ceramic included, amongst other materials. 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. 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. 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. Loam - Loam is the most important ingredient in all John Innes compost, supplying the main body of the compost. The loam supplies the nutrition needed for the base of the plant, which helps to absorb and release plant nutrients as required. The loam also contains micro-elements and organic matter, which provides a slow release of Nitrogen to the plant.