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Multipurpose compost problems

jan.sherlock46BAI1EJz5jan.sherlock46BAI1EJz5 Posts: 7
in The potting shed
Yesterday was a real battle pricking out and potting on my annuals.  I am using Vitax Q4 multipurpose premium compost.  My young plants were in individual very small pots as I normally do this.  When I added water from the top the water pooled and refused to go down.  So I then put them into a tray with water underneath.  Thirty minutes later and although some water penetrated from below, the top layer of compost was still dry.  There is something seriously wrong.   Has anyone else suffered this problem please.

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    It is a sign that the compost is very dry, which makes it very hard to re wet.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I've had the same problem too in the past.
    The compost will rehydrate.
    I mostly fill a bucket with the dry compost and pour in a couple of pints of water and stir.
    Leave a while and stir again.
    Repeat until it's soaked up the water

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I do as @Pete.8 does ... I never use dry compost ... I wet it if it’s not nice and damp .., but don’t make it so wet that it runs with water when you squeeze a handful. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    Leave the pots standing in water for several hours, it will rehydrate
  • SueAtooSueAtoo Posts: 380
    Try adding a tiny drop of washing up liquid. It's supposed to make water wetter, if that makes sense.
    East Dorset, new (to me) rather neglected garden.
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