John Innes Seed Sowing Compost by Westland Garden Health 10l

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JOHN INNES POTTING COMPOST No.2– for general potting of most house plants and vegetable plants into medium size pots or boxes. Contains double the amount of nutrient in JI No 1 to suit established plants. Commercial composts of this type, either John Innes composts, or composts with ‘added John Innes’ should have been specially formulated to allow for good drainage, aeration, fertility and optimal plant health and plant growth. Then there is soil-based compost such as John Innes which consists of loam (clay, humus and trace elements – humus turns into organic matter over time), sphagnum peat moss and sand.

Don’t forget that some acid-loving plants such as azalea, camellia or rhododendron will require an ericaceous compost with a lower pH. Here are some details to help you understand what is in John Innes loam-based composts, and how to make these products yourself following their recipes. 1 John Innes potting compost. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-mulches/john-innes-compost It’s worth mentioning that many plants enjoy this type of compost as it supports their growth at every stage. This improves drainage and is especially useful for small potted plants and, as a 50% mixture with compost, cuttings. You can also mulch seed trays to keep moisture in, although it does make it easy to overwater when there’s a gritty layer, and some gardeners think it causes bacterial problems. I often surround tender plants with coarse grit, to aid drainage. Coarse horticultural sand However, the Aston Martin option does give the gardener with limited space, the opportunity to grow more tomatoes and in places where it may not have been possible without this option.Peat free compost is the replacement for peat and will often contain a mix of more fibrous material ingredients including: If you ask experienced gardeners about these three soils, they will tell you that they are all high-quality and actually contain everything a plant needs for healthy growth.

The best compost to use in your garden will depend on what you’re planting. However, most beginner gardeners will likely start off with patio pots, hanging baskets, herbs or flowering bedding plants. For these jobs we recommend a peat free all purpose compost. For houseplants it’s always best to use a peat free houseplant compost. Which compost is best for all plants? As an alternative to using the original seedling mix, a special mix is sometimes used to root cuttings. The mix contains no added fertiliser or amendments, only the soil component: All purpose is generally not recommended for small seeds as often the nutrient levels can be too high although it tends to work for larger seeds like beans and sunflowers.

Advice on buying John Innes composts

They add it to improve buffering, improve the trace element content of the formulation, or improve the weight of the medium. Loam is the most important ingredient in the compost as it provides the main "body" of the compost. It also forms the base of Loam soil consists of inorganic materials such as clay, silt, and sand, and can also contain organic matter. It is used for mature plants, trees, shrubs, and different houseplants. Loam Based Ericaceous Compost Loam (or soil) obviously varies from area to area - you can probably tell that from your own garden. The original J.I. requirements were for a medium clay loam, stripped from grass ley (established pasture). Now, I suspect that mostmanufacturers use a sandier soil, but clay is the magic ingredient. It is mainly the clay fraction that provides and holds on to nutrients and retains water. But clay is heavy (gardeners talk about a heavy clay soil and it is physically heavier) and can be difficult to handle, especially if it's wet.Loam requires to be sifted before use to remove stones etc. and wet clay is impossible to sieve.

How did the white tomatoes do, I found that they went yellow as time went on and the flavor was not as one would expect. The days when you could opt for peat-based or loam-based compost are gone. Peat-based compost grew things well, although once it dried out it was hard to rehydrate. Loam-based compost was more expensive and heavier but held water and nutrients far better. A loam-based compost that contains peat will have a higher pH than non-peat based compost mixes. References Getting the right amount of food into a well aerated root system is the best way to go. This is often difficult to judge – especially when growing in compost because it is difficult to know exactly what’s in it.Loam mix. The John Innes Foundation researched and devised the ideal recipe for various growing mixes according to the plant’s needs. The basic mix includes sterilised loam, peat (yes, peat again ….), coarse sand or grit, and fertilisers. You can easily recreate your own, peat free, loam mix. See here for advice. To make your own loam based compost, and we will tell you how later, you need to know two rules. These rules include the quantities of materials and the ingredients of each John Innes loam based compost.