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

Product Information

These composts are based on the John Innes formulation which as well as green compost, expanded wood fibre and fertiliser, also includes top soil or loam and sand or grit. The grit or sand helps to keep the structure of the compost open, improving aeration and drainage around the roots.

On top of that it contains a 6 Month Controlled Release Fertiliser - meaning whatever you grow will get a slow and steady stream of nutrients for 6 Months Perfect for pots, baskets and planters for growing any plants0 Simply the best compost available to the gardener today and now available with reduced peat content!As part of our drive to improve our 'green credentials', from 2020 we have reduced the amount of peat in our compost Compost can often be used at many different intervals along the life of your plant, from encouraging seeds to germinate, to aiding with repotting plants, or persuading plants to flower. Typical orchid composts, suitable for popular orchid species such as Phalaenopsis or Cymbidium, contain a mix of bark chips, peat moss and perlite. The organic compounds in these composts gradually decay so it is recommended that you re-pot orchids with fresh compost every one or two years, depending on the growth of the plant. Carnivorous plants compost 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. This compost is specially formulated to be used for growing plants that need a more acidic soil type. These plants include Rhododendrons, Camellias, heathers, Pieris, Acers as well as blueberries. If plants like these are grown in a lime-based non acidic soil (called ‘alkaline’) they will be unable to access the nutrients they need and the plant’s foliage will go yellow and have very few flowers and fruit and eventually die.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? Garden compost is the homemade compost you find in a compost bin. It’s made from rotted-down plant, vegetable and fruit waste, and can also include things like grass cuttings and cardboard. Garden compost is great for improving the structure of soil and adding nutrients, but it’s not the same as potting compost.

You can certainly re-use them but it’s best to tip out all of the old compost and then give your pots a clean to minimise risk of pests and disease. If you have a really large container then you can re fresh the top few inches of old compost with fresh and remember to keep feeding. Why shouldn't I use my own garden soil to pot up plants?Carnivorous plants have evolved to cope with low-nutrient environments such as peat bogs and require specialist composts; standard houseplant compost will kill them. The precise compost required will depend on the genera of the plants you are growing.

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. You can mix a little garden compost into your potting compost to give established container plants a boost. The consistency of this compost makes it easy to work with. It’s very smooth, and has a fresh smell to it with a crumbly texture. The most important thing is to make sure it’s not able to dry out. In storage, ensure it’s as airtight as possible and it should last for up to a year.

Whilst a lot of composts are sold in 100 L bags, these may not be practical for some people in the garden. They can weigh anywhere from at least 25 – 30 kg. 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).

If you are growing cacti or succulents, you should choose a specialist compost which contains a high proportion of sand and grit. The compost should be free-draining so that the roots of the plant do not sit in saturated conditions that can cause rot, but it must still be able to absorb and retain some moisture. Image by liqionary from Pixabay A recently developed product that is suitable for use with ericaceous or ‘lime-hating’ plants. Peat-based or peat-free media with ‘added John Innes’ Traditionally, a lot of composts contained peat – it’s high in nutrients and works wonders on plants. However, the negative effects of harvesting and using peat have become more evident in recent years.

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.