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Curious about soil. Here in the USA, garden centers and retail nurseries have pallets of commercially prepared soil-less potting mixes, in several different types and sizes. It's one of our main sources of revenue. I get the impression that in the UK, that's not the case, and everyone talks of the John Innes mixes, which seem to be home made. How do small gardeners, without access to their own compost, fill their pots in the UK?




Answers

 

Hi Tug, it's about the same here, most garden centres etc, have a choice of composts, either loam based , peat {or peat substitute}, or a mix of peat based plus a small amount of john innes, and of course varying prices, here's a link to the john innes information site.
www.johninnes.info/about.htm
Derek.

1 Oct, 2016

 

You can buy John Innes potting compost at the garden centre too, Tug, you don't have to make your own; it comes in three grades, 1 (seed and cutting) 2 (perennials and temporary plants) and 3 (shrub and tree or long term planting). Sold in bags which weigh around 40 or 50 litres, so smaller than the average 70 or 80 litre multi purpose because its a lot heavier. Some people do make their own, but only people with sufficient space to be able to do it. Otherwise, the options for potting composts are John Innes, multi purpose (either with a small amount of peat, or peat free; some of the latter are just rubbish - partly composted and uncomposted materials) and John Innes mixed with multi purpose - these usually come in 20, 40 or 70/80 litre bags. Then there's ericaceous potting compost - usually the same sort of stuff as multi purpose, just acidic, and there's now a John Innes ericaceous.

1 Oct, 2016

 

Hmm...so pretty much the same, but with different terminology. It does sound like if you are trying to grow some specialty plants, such as cactus and succulents, it is hard to find something straight out of the bag for them--mixing with perlite and/or grit is required.

1 Oct, 2016

 

We do have a special cactus compost too Tug. I've only seen it sold in small bags, which is good as many people just have one or two plants.

1 Oct, 2016

 

Cactus and I think there's one for orchids too, not sure, but they'd be inside the garden centre in small bags together with bulb fibre I think, not stacked on pallets outdoors like all the other potting composts. But I don't think you have anything like JI where you are Tug...

1 Oct, 2016

 

Definitely not made commercially here. I've been reviewing the formulae, and they sound much too "heavy" and fine-textured for cacti, and even for most houseplants. They sound excellent for Temperate Zone plants grown outdoors in cooler climates (but of course!), and very similar to what the best growers are now using here in the States. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like they will have enough air space to allow roots to breathe when the temperature creeps over 40ยบ C. With all that slow release nitrogen, I finally understand how you get away with so little fertilization in the UK!
We keep pallets of large bags of cactus mix, but that's because many people in our climate keep large pots of cacti and succulents as accents around the landscape.

1 Oct, 2016

 

We get away with very little fertilizer use in open ground as well, to be fair - I'm guessing that might not be true where you are...

1 Oct, 2016

 

This is my second year completed, recycling all my old compost. Never throw it on the garden. Soil is ground up rock. My Gerbils are 3 years old now, hope they last another year. They are quite happy chewing torn up plain brown cardboard into minute pieces, with an egg box as a treat in the afternoon. They like the different shape.
I clean out the big fish tank they live in on Saturdays. Tip the old wood shavings litter into the box with the old soil, add half a bag of horticultural grit sand, half a jug of Fish, Blood and Bone granules, and a gallon of water. Give it a good stir.
All my plants now thrive on this mixture. Excellent results.
Bubble and Squeak are the best pets I have ever had.
Never let them out, they are the deuce of a job to catch.
Are quite happy sharing my living room.
Recommend.

2 Oct, 2016

 

Well, in my experience, nitrogen needs seem to rise with the average temperature. It seems to be partly the increased irrigation needed, and the hyperactive denitrifying bacteria. Also, many of the processes needed for resisting or repairing heat damage seem to require some nitrogen.

2 Oct, 2016

 

Saharan sand/dust ends up over the UK quite often, broadcasting its nutrients - though not nitrogen so much, its more phosphorus and other stuff. It does increase pollution levels when its in the air though, but then, there's a price for everything!

2 Oct, 2016

 

Probably mostly potash and micronutrients, plus a bit of lime. It's also found all the way to the eastern U.S., and is important to the plankton ecology of the Atlantic Ocean.

2 Oct, 2016

 

All I know is that plants that were almost dead in the sub
standard soil that was in my garden are now thriving.
When footings are put in for new buildings there should be a local bye-law prohibiting the top soil being sold by avaricious brick layers. They condemn the new occupants to years of struggling to make a decent garden. Often
being given the wrong advice on Goy too !

3 Oct, 2016

 

Ugh!! The topsoil here in the desert is bad enough! Being forced to deal with nothing but subsoil is a nightmare! Developing new topsoil should be easier in the UK, but it probably still takes the patience of a saint. Kudos to your gerbils, and to your hard work and persistence.
RE bad advice: I am sending you a PM.

4 Oct, 2016

 

Diane if you have access to an apple tree try giving your gerbils a twig to chew one -they love it!

4 Oct, 2016

 

Hee! Hee! Apple crumble for gerbils! Hee! Hee!

4 Oct, 2016

 

But you don't have to bother with the topping...

4 Oct, 2016

 

Nope, it's already crunchable! :)

5 Oct, 2016

 

Lol.

5 Oct, 2016

How do I say thanks?

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