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Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Sunday, 1st May 2011
Has anyone bought any from garden centres, diy centres etc. that they're pleased with?
I'm getting through 4 bags of J Arthur Bowers that were on offer at the garden centre & soon need to buy more.
I've used it for potting up things in the greenhouse so far. I'm finding it stays damp, to the extent that the top can even go slightly green with watering only every few days (or when needed).
However when the top does dry out it really shrinks away from the sides & goes totally dry & solid to the extent that I have to mush it all about with my fingers & it still doesn't re-wet easily. Not something I have time to do with hundreds of small pots of seedlings!
So, what's good this year?
Own branded multi-purpose from an orange liveried DIY chain has worked a charm for many years now.
If you're a little prone to letting it dry out too often, then can I suggest applying a wetting agent to make re-wetting a doddle.
I buy mine in Lidl every year. It's great. Imay buy the odd one with added John Innes for various things, but the Lidl one has been fine. I add some sand to it for baskets and tubs.
I buy Multi-Purpose Compost Westland, 120 litres, 2 for £14.00. No stones or big lumps of wood in it just perfect compost.
Maybe I didn't describe that well Cufcskim, it holds moisture almost too well below the surface which goes green. It's only the top cm if that which dries & goes hard, the rest below that is definitely not due for another water.
I've never known compost like it. The only way of telling whether things watering is picking up each tiny pot which is a bit time consuming.....
Sadly I don't have an orange DIY chain branch near me, nor a Lidl. Westland sounds like the best option so far.
I guess I could use the cheaper Bowers stuff to three quarter fill the pot & use the better stuff for the top quarter.
For my seedlings and bedding plants I have recently been using grow bags - our local farm shop is selling them for £1 each and the contents are lovely. Nan
"Which?" did some tests and the Best Buy for potting-on was B&Q Multi-purpose or Sowing and Cutting (both also good for sowing seeds). Also good was Westland multipurpose with added John Innes or Sure Start. (But NOT the peat-free equivalents, which performed badly).
I only ever use New Horizon multi purpose peat free. I tried an alternative last year and it was rubbish. If I'm filling a large container I tend to mix it with sieved compost from my compost bin to make it go further.
Well they had the West + multi purpose at 3 for £15 so I thought I'd try it. It's the Westland new one that claims to have 4 months plant food in, so I hope it's as good as the Westland with added John Innes.....
Will report back anyway.
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