On Thu, 18 Mar 2004 22:21:07 +0000, Chris Boulby
wrote:

In message , Chris Hogg
writes
On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 17:02:12 -0000, "lucilu"
wrote:

I'm going to treat myself to an azalea and want to keep it in a pot. I'm not
sure what compost it would be best to use. Should I stick with ordinary John
Innes or do I need an ericaceous compost.
Many thanks for any help.....


You need an ericaceous compost. Most JI composts have lime added, as
do many multi-purpose composts, but JI also do a lime-free ericaceous
compost. There are other types of ericaceous compost available, but
I'd go for the JI version.

I've always been curious about why ericaceous compost would be more
expensive than multi purpose compost, assuming that the multi purpose
composts are just ericaceous composts with something extra added to
neutralise it.

Would pure peat do just as well as ericaceous compost for this purpose?

Pure peat is certainly acid, but has no nutrients and I don't think it
retains nutrients very well either. Also IMHO it is inclined to get
waterlogged too easily after a while. The JI ericaceous compost is
soil-based but with peat and grit added (AIUI it's just the standard
JI mix but without the added lime). The soil in it gives it better
nutrient-retaining properties, and the grit aids drainage.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net