Potting composts

Therefore · Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 5

Hello can you help

What is the best multipurpose compost that I can buy from the garden shops.

I am unable to find anything that does not dry out, or gets waterlogged , is
it the composts, or me.

all help appreciated

...............Leslie

Archived from group: uk>rec>gardening

"Robert \ · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 14

"Therefore" wrote in message @mid.individual.net...
> Hello can you help
>
> What is the best multipurpose compost that I can buy from the garden
> shops.
>
> I am unable to find anything that does not dry out, or gets waterlogged ,
> is it the composts, or me.
>
> all help appreciated
>
> ...............Leslie
I like the b and q one that is a peat based mixed with John Innes. Used to
mix it myself but now I use theirs

--
Robert Brimacombe
Secretary
Rowdens Reservoir Allotments Association
www.rraa.moonfruit.com

David in Normandy · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 43

Therefore says...
> Hello can you help
>
> What is the best multipurpose compost that I can buy from the garden shops.
>
> I am unable to find anything that does not dry out, or gets waterlogged , is
> it the composts, or me.
>
> all help appreciated
>
> ...............Leslie
>
>
>
>
I buy cheapo multi-purpose compost but mix about 30% of
sharp sand into it. If you are unfortunate enough to have
any moles, one benefit is the hills which consist of fine
soil. This can also be mixed with some sharp sand to give a
good potting compost. However, for seeds best to use a
reasonable quality compost - some of the cheaper ones tend
to go mouldy for some reason which encourages the seedlings
to damp off.
--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

K · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 127

Therefore writes
>Hello can you help
>
>What is the best multipurpose compost that I can buy from the garden shops.
>
>I am unable to find anything that does not dry out, or gets waterlogged , is
>it the composts, or me.
>
>all help appreciated

It's partly you Wink

All composts will get waterlogged if the drainage is not adequate. Make
sure all your containers have drainage holes.

All composts will eventually get dry if not watered. But some (the peat
based or coir based) are more difficult to get wet again. It helps if
you stand your container on a saucer or tray to catch the water that
runs straight through - you can then water it and let it stand in the
water in the tray for a few hours until the water has been soaked back
up.

A lot of people prefer to avoid peat based composts on environmental
grounds, peat being a rapidly declining habitat. So that leaves loam
based composts or peat free ones based on coir or other substances
(though I gather there are concerns about coir because of the
transportation costs).

If you go peat free, soilless, the Arthur Bowers New Horizon has a good
reputation.
--
Kay

Stuart Noble · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 51

K wrote:
> Therefore writes
>> Hello can you help
>>
>> What is the best multipurpose compost that I can buy from the garden
>> shops.
>>
>> I am unable to find anything that does not dry out, or gets
>> waterlogged , is
>> it the composts, or me.
>>
>> all help appreciated
>
> It's partly you Wink

>
> All composts will get waterlogged if the drainage is not adequate. Make
> sure all your containers have drainage holes.
>
> All composts will eventually get dry if not watered. But some (the peat
> based or coir based) are more difficult to get wet again. It helps if
> you stand your container on a saucer or tray to catch the water that
> runs straight through - you can then water it and let it stand in the
> water in the tray for a few hours until the water has been soaked back up.
>
> A lot of people prefer to avoid peat based composts on environmental
> grounds, peat being a rapidly declining habitat. So that leaves loam
> based composts or peat free ones based on coir or other substances
> (though I gather there are concerns about coir because of the
> transportation costs).
>
> If you go peat free, soilless, the Arthur Bowers New Horizon has a good
> reputation.

I think gen purpose compost is usually too compressed to be used as it
comes in the bag. Mixing in sharp sand is probably the easiest way to
break it down and make it more uniform.

Dave Hill · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 59

On 10 Feb, 18:42, Stuart Noble
wrote:
> K wrote:
> > Therefore writes
> >> Hello can you help
>
> >> What is the best multipurpose compost that I can buy from the garden
> >> shops.
>
> >> I am unable to find anything that does not dry out, or gets
> >> waterlogged , is
> >> it the composts, or me.
>
> >> all help appreciated
>
> > It's partly you Wink

>
> > All composts will get waterlogged if the drainage is not adequate. Make
> > sure all your containers have drainage holes.
>
> > All composts will eventually get dry if not watered. But some (the peat
> > based or coir based) are more difficult to get wet again. It helps if
> > you stand your container on a saucer or tray to catch the water that
> > runs straight through - you can then water it and let it stand in the
> > water in the tray for a few hours until the water has been soaked back up.
>
> > A lot of people prefer to avoid peat based composts on environmental
> > grounds, peat being a rapidly declining habitat. So that leaves loam
> > based composts or peat free ones based on coir or other substances
> > (though I gather there are concerns about coir because of the
> > transportation costs).
>
> > If you go peat free, soilless, the Arthur Bowers New Horizon has a good
> > reputation.
>
> I think gen purpose compost is usually too compressed to be used as it
> comes in the bag. Mixing in sharp sand is probably the easiest way to
> break it down and make it more uniform.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

B & Q Multipurpous, Seived then add about 10% pearlite (More if you
want it for seeds) then you can add some loam if you want, and coars
sand or grit.
If you are gouin to use mole hill soil then cooking it in the
microwave first helps kill off the nasties it contains.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

Dave Hill · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 59

On 10 Feb, 21:24, Dave Hill wrote:
> On 10 Feb, 18:42, Stuart Noble
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > K wrote:
> > > Therefore writes
> > >> Hello can you help
>
> > >> What is the best multipurpose compost that I can buy from the garden
> > >> shops.
>
> > >> I am unable to find anything that does not dry out, or gets
> > >> waterlogged , is
> > >> it the composts, or me.
>
> > >> all help appreciated
>
> > > It's partly you Wink

>
> > > All composts will get waterlogged if the drainage is not adequate. Make
> > > sure all your containers have drainage holes.
>
> > > All composts will eventually get dry if not watered. But some (the peat
> > > based or coir based) are more difficult to get wet again. It helps if
> > > you stand your container on a saucer or tray to catch the water that
> > > runs straight through - you can then water it and let it stand in the
> > > water in the tray for a few hours until the water has been soaked back up.
>
> > > A lot of people prefer to avoid peat based composts on environmental
> > > grounds, peat being a rapidly declining habitat. So that leaves loam
> > > based composts or peat free ones based on coir or other substances
> > > (though I gather there are concerns about coir because of the
> > > transportation costs).
>
> > > If you go peat free, soilless, the Arthur Bowers New Horizon has a good
> > > reputation.
>
> > I think gen purpose compost is usually too compressed to be used as it
> > comes in the bag. Mixing in sharp sand is probably the easiest way to
> > break it down and make it more uniform.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> B & Q Multipurpous, Seived then add about 10% pearlite (More if you
> want it for seeds) then you can add some loam if you want, and coars
> sand or grit.
> If you are gouin to use mole hill soil then cooking it in the
> microwave first helps kill off the nasties it contains.
> David Hill
> Abacus Nurseries- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I should have added that the 150 litr bale is good value esp if bought
on a Wed with over 60 discount
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

Stuart Noble · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 51

Dave Hill wrote:
> On 10 Feb, 18:42, Stuart Noble
> wrote:
>> K wrote:
>>> Therefore writes
>>>> Hello can you help
>>>> What is the best multipurpose compost that I can buy from the garden
>>>> shops.
>>>> I am unable to find anything that does not dry out, or gets
>>>> waterlogged , is
>>>> it the composts, or me.
>>>> all help appreciated
>>> It's partly you Wink

>>> All composts will get waterlogged if the drainage is not adequate. Make
>>> sure all your containers have drainage holes.
>>> All composts will eventually get dry if not watered. But some (the peat
>>> based or coir based) are more difficult to get wet again. It helps if
>>> you stand your container on a saucer or tray to catch the water that
>>> runs straight through - you can then water it and let it stand in the
>>> water in the tray for a few hours until the water has been soaked back up.
>>> A lot of people prefer to avoid peat based composts on environmental
>>> grounds, peat being a rapidly declining habitat. So that leaves loam
>>> based composts or peat free ones based on coir or other substances
>>> (though I gather there are concerns about coir because of the
>>> transportation costs).
>>> If you go peat free, soilless, the Arthur Bowers New Horizon has a good
>>> reputation.
>> I think gen purpose compost is usually too compressed to be used as it
>> comes in the bag. Mixing in sharp sand is probably the easiest way to
>> break it down and make it more uniform.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> B & Q Multipurpous, Seived then add about 10% pearlite (More if you
> want it for seeds) then you can add some loam if you want, and coars
> sand or grit.
> If you are gouin to use mole hill soil then cooking it in the
> microwave first helps kill off the nasties it contains.
> David Hill
> Abacus Nurseries

I can't get on with perlite. I seemed to be forever sweeping it up.
Apart from the weight aspect, it doesn't seem to offer any advantage
over sand. Probably missing something (again)

GemBio · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

We use a multipurpose, somtimes a plain base diluted home made. The home
made stuff is pretty concentrated. Depending on the plant we'll mix it
down with sand/etc to whatevers needed.

Therefore wrote:

> Hello can you help
>
> What is the best multipurpose compost that I can buy from the garden shops.
>
> I am unable to find anything that does not dry out, or gets waterlogged , is
> it the composts, or me.
>
> all help appreciated
>
> ...............Leslie

--
Gemini Bioscapes
Plants & more on Ebay
http://tinyurl.com/hi6g

robertharvey · Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 420

On 10 Feb, 16:29, "Robert \(Plymouth\)"
wrote:
> I like the b and q one that is a peat based mixed with John Innes. Used to
> mix it myself but now I use theirs

I thought we were supposed to be avoiding peat to save the wetlands?
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?section=environment:water:peatlandcampaign
http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/Gardening/DoOneThing/GoPeatFree.aspx
http://www.kew.org/ksheets/peat.html

B&Q told the world they were going peat-free in a press release in
2001. I am dissapointed to hear they didn't stick to that.

David in Normandy · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 43

Martin says...
> In the Netherlands there are warnings about the rising number of legionella
> cases caught by people visiting garden centres
>
I'm intrigued. How do they catch it from garden centres?
--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

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