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horticultural potting grit

hi2u_ukhi2u_uk Posts: 58
in Tools and techniques
Hello  i have half a bag of horticultural potting grit. It claims to improve drainage of potted  plants and the instructions say that it should be mixed in with the compost that you are going to put in the pot.  I am going to plant a fig tree in a pot soon, can someone confirm that the  horticultural potting grit actually works  and that it wont do any damage to the fig tree in the pot

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It’s exactly what a fig tree needs. I use John Innes No 3 and pitting grit in a ratio of about 3:1 for my fig and bay trees. 

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





  • hi2u_ukhi2u_uk Posts: 58
    Thanks im guessing you also put in some top soil. I will be planting a little miss figgy plant
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    No, you don't need top soil as well as John Innes No.3 plus grit.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • hi2u_ukhi2u_uk Posts: 58
    OK Thanks i thought i had read somewhere that you shouldn't plant directly into compost
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I suspect that referred to Multi-purpose Compost which is primarily suited for short term plants in containers eg summer bedding plants/annuals, and the growing of tomatoes etc in pots. 

    Composts made according to the John Innes formulae are ‘loam based’  … explained clearly here 

    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/what-is-john-innes-compost/  

    Hope that helps 😊 

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





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