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Peat Free Compost

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  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    The trouble with New Horizon is its made by Westland, and as I've had bad peat compost from them ( so fine it floated when I tried to water, and didn't retain moisture) it has put me off buying that make @Elothir
  • Bought Horizon peat free compost. Planted up tubs of Polys Bellis Pansies Cyclamen. Have lost most of them due to rotting off. Have not watered but you cant stop it raining. Even added grit to the compost. Any suggestions. It’s going to be an expensive winter at this rate
  • I've been peat free for a couple of years now. The two types I've been delighted with every time are Sylvagrow and Dalefoot. However, peat free compost seems to stay dark when dry so I can't just look at pots to see if they need watering (peat compost went pale when it was dry so I'd know to water it) so watch out for that! 
  • I've had noticeably better results from Sylvagrow than anything else (New Horizon was particularly poor for me).
    What surprised me was that the Sylvagrow multipurpose has produced stronger plants than the Sylvagrow organic.
    I'm tempted to give the Wickes a try at that price!
  • Janie BJanie B Posts: 963
    Have just ordered a couple of bags of the Wicks peat free mpc (thanks for the heads-up @amancalledgeorge ) ... let's see how we get on... 
    Lincolnshire
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Do you mean you've planted them all in the same container @ritajones50.rj?
    If so, there's probably just too much compost for the size of the plants, and bellis like quite dry conditions, so it certainly wouldn't be good for them.  :)

    Pansies and cyclamen don't really mind wet conditions though. Are the 'Polys' polyanthus? Have you got the pot[s] raised off the ground and are there sufficient drainage holes, and are they clear to let excess moisture drain properly? 


    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlashingPlashing Posts: 328
    My son got me a couple of Wicks  peat free m p c And I wont by it again you needed loads of water it just wouldn't hold water it was just dried up wool and bracken and other rubbish, I will not buy it again,  no goodness in it at all.
  • Looking by peoples comments, it’s going to be trial and error! Suppose we’re so used to using bought compost. Might try mixing with John Innes 2?
  • Sorry posted my last comment too soon! J.I contains peat as well! Vermiculite then. Will try add some for drainage
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    @ritajones50.rj. Silvergrow doesn't,.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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