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. There’s a range of peat-free compost on the market, although some gardeners feel they are not as effective as composts containing peat. Peat-free compost generally contain wood-based materials such as wood fibre, sawdust or bark. 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. 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.

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 In this article we’ll take a look at the best compost for containers and pots, and why it’s important to choose the right product.

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. Now we’ve covered what potting compost is, and why it’s a great idea to use it for container plants, let’s take a look at options for potting compost available to buy. Is multi purpose compost OK as potting 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.

You can mix a little garden compost into your potting compost to give established container plants a boost.If you’d like to explore more container gardening resources, we’ve got plenty to keep you busy. Spring flowers for pots Summer plants for pots Fall flowers for pots Winter plants for pots Trailing plants for hanging baskets and pots Low maintenance plants for pots Growing lavender in pots Growing sunflowers in pots How to get rid of ants in plant pots If you don’t have acidic soil then I would always recommend growing these plants in a container filled with ericaceous compost and to use a specially formulated ericaceous feed. Loam and soil based composts

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’ 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. These materials are mixed together and after a few months of decomposing the materials break down into a rich humus, ready for the garden.

If you’re growing vegetables in pots and want to use peat free compost (and here’s why you should), the easy option is to choose multi-purpose potting compost. 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. Finally, peat bogs offer a unique and rich ecosystem for lots of animals. Once this environment is disturbed, it is extremely difficult to recover it. Due to the way peat is formed, it is very hard to recreate or restore a peat bog. It has good water retention as well as efficient drainage, and doesn’t compact around plants of become overly dense. This is the ‘richest’ John Innes potting mix, with three times the level of nutrients as No. 1. This potting mix is intended for houseplants that will remain in their pots for some considerable time, as well as established shrubs or trees including fruit bushes and vines. It is also good for strong growing, heavy feeders such as tomatoes and chrysanthemums.

If your container plants are looking less healthy, or have stopped growing, it may be time to replace the compost. out of reach of children It contains 50% composted wood fibre, to open the mix up and get air to the roots, and a precise blend of 3 different grades of peats to balance drainage and water holding 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. 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 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.

What is it made of?

Multi-Purpose Compost with added John Innes has added grit so is perfect for larger plants grown in containers such as smaller trees and shrubs as it adds a heavier weight and helps to prevent the compost from collapsing. Organic compost