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Using spent compost

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
edited February 2023 in Plants
I have several large pots/ containers that had annuals or perennials that succumbed to the weather. If I jiggled in some  slow release fertiliser, are there any plants apart from bulbs that might do reasonably well?
In London. Keen but lazy.
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  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited February 2023
    If sterilised to eliminate pests and weeds, it should be usable.  Take small quantities up to 70ºC for about 5 minutes.  I leave it to you to work out how. I would also refresh it with ca 30% vermiculite and some slow release fertiliser, but that depends on what plants you will use it for.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • newbie77newbie77 Posts: 1,838
    I have used such compost for annuals like zinnia, cornflowers etc., basically anything that can be grown in poor soil.
    South West London
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    As you can guess  bede I don't think I'd bother sterilizing the soil but I don't mind picking out the weeds.  Thanks for suggestions @newbie77
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I use it for seed sowing or potting on plants. Not a problem at all. I just mix with grit or home made compost or soil, depending on what the plant is. Seeds just get some grit or Perlite usually. 
    Or - I use it as a soil conditioner. I probably do that more often, but I'm looking to re use compost rather than buying.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I usually empty the pots onto the flower beds but I'm feeling a bit parsimonious and idle today. 😉
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm just a tight Scot @B3 ;)
    It's mainly been a case of adding to borders for me because this is still a 'new' ish garden and the conditions weren't good. It's amazing how quickly it can all be improved though, just by adding organic matter etc. 
    It's looking like a bridge too far for the gold Libertia I have by the pond though. I couldn't get that well enough amended as it was part of the compacted ground/path, and then the spell of below minus tens, along with the freezes etc, hasn't helped. 
    Hopefully the nursery will have some as it's a lovely foil for the dark foliage nearby. A different site for it though.  :)  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Never heard of that plant. It's lovely isn't it @Fairygirl
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    Onto the borders/veg patch with mine.  But I used the same grow bags for tomatoes last year as I did the year before.  I cut holes in them and plant the toms into bottomless pots, stuck in the grow bags.  They were absolutely fine.  But I think to try and squeeze another year out of them might be a stretch, so that the contents of those will go on the veg patch too.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The one I have is L. ixiodes Goldfinger. There's a few gold ones though. 
    The standard green one is a bit dull IMO, but the gold one is lovely. I have it with one of the Ligularias which has gold/orange flowers, but that has a specially 'organised' area where it never gets dried out, as they don't like that. It's just been a bit too wet and cold for the Libertia, although I'd raised the ground it was on etc. I keep having a wee look to see if there's any new growth, but I doubt it'll make it. Annoyingly, there's an orange Agastache next to it which is fine. Such is the joy, and the fine line, of plants eh? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • I just tip the spent compost onto the veg plot and flower beds as a sort of mulch. My pots often end up with slugs and weevils so wouldn’t reuse it in pots but feel spreading it on the beds let’s the birds eat any nasties.
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