I'd be interested in advice on the best way to use compost.
Maybe because my first experience growing plants was growing cacti, I almost never use multi-purpose compost straight out of the bag - I mix it with some other material (vermiculite, sand, composted bark, clay granules, ) to provide structure, drainage or moisture storage. I would consider mixing in fertiliser too depending on the plant except that's often already in the commercial multi-purpose compost. It's rather experimental but I like creating the mix, because it's part of learning how to give plants the environment they need.
So I've approached peat vs peat-free pretty neutrally, because I view peat as just the "water-retaining/soil" part of the mix, and I assume peat substitutes have been chosen for their water-retaining properties. That's something I would have appreciated learning more about on the latest GW episode: a closer examination of different peat substitutes and how they perform.
I've not tried any peat-free commercial composts yet, but I've grown plants in rehydrated coconut coir and that worked out pretty well for plants that like a more free-draining soil or are drought tolerant.
I have a feeling that water usage has taken a bit of a back step recently. Plagued by constant rain for months and then a drought. Water usage/consumption is not fairly organised. Just on a personal basis, I have been used to metered water supplies for years - in Europe and the UK. 2 of us in a house with 5 water butts are on a meter- NDN's with 4 people and no water saving butts are not. They freely admit that they are better off financially. Not exactly a situation which encourages less consumption.
I'm using the peat free Miracle Gro at the moment and have mixed in some Gro Char on the advice of lovely Arthur Parkinson (if he can manage it and his livelihood depends on it...). That seems to be working well. I don't notice a huge difference in terms of watering needs between that and the Jacks Magic that I was using last year. Seedlings all happy, mature potted plants all happy, <shrugs> not sure what else I should be looking out for here...?
Compared to countries like Australia the way the UK collects, uses and harvests both surface and groundwater is almost medieval. It's shockingly bad - particularly guilty is the construction sector...closely followed by those free spenders of the public purse.. the Environment Agency.
It must be your water company @philippasmith2 - we're on a meter and there's only 2 of us, can't say we've noticed much difference in our water bills. Wessex Water are generally regarded as good I believe.
I ned to keep plants in pots for 4 years .. peat free cannot do this ..
Peat-based MPC can't do this either because it simply rots. Long-term planting needs loam-based medium and regular feeding. What organic matter is mixed with the loam and sand to give it a lighter structure doesn't matter that much. What would be a problem with doing a mix of peat-free compost and loam, sort of a peat-free JI formula?
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Maybe because my first experience growing plants was growing cacti, I almost never use multi-purpose compost straight out of the bag - I mix it with some other material (vermiculite, sand, composted bark, clay granules, ) to provide structure, drainage or moisture storage. I would consider mixing in fertiliser too depending on the plant except that's often already in the commercial multi-purpose compost. It's rather experimental but I like creating the mix, because it's part of learning how to give plants the environment they need.
So I've approached peat vs peat-free pretty neutrally, because I view peat as just the "water-retaining/soil" part of the mix, and I assume peat substitutes have been chosen for their water-retaining properties. That's something I would have appreciated learning more about on the latest GW episode: a closer examination of different peat substitutes and how they perform.
I've not tried any peat-free commercial composts yet, but I've grown plants in rehydrated coconut coir and that worked out pretty well for plants that like a more free-draining soil or are drought tolerant.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Water usage/consumption is not fairly organised. Just on a personal basis, I have been used to metered water supplies for years - in Europe and the UK. 2 of us in a house with 5 water butts are on a meter- NDN's with 4 people and no water saving butts are not. They freely admit that they are better off financially. Not exactly a situation which encourages less consumption.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
What would be a problem with doing a mix of peat-free compost and loam, sort of a peat-free JI formula?
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border