If you had the above products how would you all use them for the below type of plants?
I have: Nepeta (neptune/prussian blue/six hills giant campanula (rapido/spring bell/hirsh blue/po ocean/blue sky) bacopa abunda blue blue daisy carnatrion phalaris arctic sun nemesia myrtille aster veronica moody blues dianthus diascia pennisetum malopecuroides hameln
None of those plants require anything special, some are short lived... I would just use your Incredicompost for all of them... save the John Innes for bulkier plants like shrubs and roses, as it's a dense, heavy medium inclined to waterlogging when wet.. Your Lavender won't like it if you did not amend with anything else, it should be split 50/50 with multi purpose, adding some pea gravel ideally..
All these replies have really helped me build up a bit more understanding of what on earth the difference between various potting media are! Thanks all. I am yet to understand how to best use things like vermiculite or perlite, but I get the impression they are luxury add ins and not at all a necessity. So I am keeping it simple for now and will just stick to a compost, JL & grit combo in varying quantities.
I've just bought some bulbs to plant in pots for the spring and was delighted to see there is a dedicated commercial compost just for bulbs so I'm definitely taking the easy option there!
They [perlite/vermiculite] basically do the same job @susclarke, but the grit will do that every bit as well as they do, and often better. For long term planting especially They're mainly of benefit for cuttings and small seedlings.
No shame in taking an easy option either
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Half garden topsoil. A quarter of a John Innes compost No. 1 or 2, or 3. A quarter, a good peat based compost. Mix all together well.
As an alternative to the above, I use pre made Westland Rose Planting and Potting mix. There are other pre-made mixes I have used.
At the very bottom of the container I out a less than 1 inch layer of bark and wood chippings. Over that a layer of clay pebbles less than 1 inch think. And then I put the mix above for the rest.
At the very top I add several cups of Blood, Fish, and Bone fertilizer in granular format and work it into the top mix with my fingers.
Just to add I grow bacopa and diasica, they will actually overwinter here usually too as it only gets to about -6 in my garden, both grow happily in normal soil or mpcompost with no issues. Enjoy the bulbs @MeadowPipit its so rewarding seeing them all come up in spring! Top tips for those, keep an eye on the minimum planting depths on the package to help guide you if you are doing the 'lasagne' layers, and dont put tulips in yet to avoid tulip fire risk, wait till temperature drops a bit - I put mine in in November and plant deeply.
If you're planting tulips in containers and using commercially produced compost, they're fine. It's when they're going in the ground it's a problem, and that's why November is recommended We can normally plant them here just now without any problem, because it's colder. Your local climate is a major factor, so always bear that in mind. It was five degrees here last night, and low teens in the daytime would be high at this time of year and for most of September. It has been much warmer this year, but the whole summer has been freakily warmer.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It was forecast 6c here last night that would be 4c here allowing for altitude, today 13c forecast, may get to 11 or 12 up here. everywhere is so wet, torrential rain yesterday and through night, I’m not growing any new bulbs in pots this year but have hundreds of daffs and a few tulips in the ground.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Just to add I grow bacopa and diasica, they will actually overwinter here usually too as it only gets to about -6 in my garden, both grow happily in normal soil or mpcompost with no issues. Enjoy the bulbs @MeadowPipit its so rewarding seeing them all come up in spring! Top tips for those, keep an eye on the minimum planting depths on the package to help guide you if you are doing the 'lasagne' layers, and dont put tulips in yet to avoid tulip fire risk, wait till temperature drops a bit - I put mine in in November and plant deeply.
Thanks for the tips I think I will be like an excited child anticipating those bursts of spring colour! I've never planted anything from seed or bulb so there'll be an added feeling of satisfaction from the process.
If you're planting tulips in containers and using commercially produced compost, they're fine. It's when they're going in the ground it's a problem, and that's why November is recommended We can normally plant them here just now without any problem, because it's colder. Your local climate is a major factor, so always bear that in mind. It was five degrees here last night, and low teens in the daytime would be high at this time of year and for most of September. It has been much warmer this year, but the whole summer has been freakily warmer.
That's really useful to know @Fairygirl thanks. I'll check what the temperature range is here at the mo. I guess even though they will be in containers I could always hold back on the tulips for now and just plant the other bulbs, to err on the side of caution. I actually can't remember what else i bought in the end as i got a tad overexcited filling my basket then realised the ££ were racking up so sheepishly put a bunch back..!
Just hold fire on the tulips just now @MeadowPipit, and put them in a separate container. That will be much easier for this year. It's generally better to keep tulips separate anyway, because they have different requirements from the majority of other spring bulbs - sharp drainage and plenty of sun. Most daffs, crocus, muscari etc will cope perfectly well in damper conditions. You can group the tulips with pots of other bulbs to get a very effective display
One of my favourite pipit photos for you
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Just my tuppence..
I've just bought some bulbs to plant in pots for the spring and was delighted to see there is a dedicated commercial compost just for bulbs so I'm definitely taking the easy option there!
They're mainly of benefit for cuttings and small seedlings.
No shame in taking an easy option either
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
As an alternative to the above, I use pre made Westland Rose Planting and Potting mix. There are other pre-made mixes I have used.
At the very bottom of the container I out a less than 1 inch layer of bark and wood chippings. Over that a layer of clay pebbles less than 1 inch think. And then I put the mix above for the rest.
At the very top I add several cups of Blood, Fish, and Bone fertilizer in granular format and work it into the top mix with my fingers.
Enjoy the bulbs @MeadowPipit its so rewarding seeing them all come up in spring! Top tips for those, keep an eye on the minimum planting depths on the package to help guide you if you are doing the 'lasagne' layers, and dont put tulips in yet to avoid tulip fire risk, wait till temperature drops a bit - I put mine in in November and plant deeply.
We can normally plant them here just now without any problem, because it's colder. Your local climate is a major factor, so always bear that in mind.
It was five degrees here last night, and low teens in the daytime would be high at this time of year and for most of September. It has been much warmer this year, but the whole summer has been freakily warmer.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
everywhere is so wet, torrential rain yesterday and through night, I’m not growing any new bulbs in pots this year but have hundreds of daffs and a few tulips in the ground.
You can group the tulips with pots of other bulbs to get a very effective display
One of my favourite pipit photos for you
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...