On May 30, 11:24*am, Dave Poole wrote:
Sacha *wrote:
That's not compost though. *That's soil improver, if that.

And highly variable too *:-| *I've seen some that is OK, but I've also
seen other stuff that is truly 'crap' and not fit for anything. *As
for growing on plants in containers, if you aren't particular about
the quality of what you're growing then go for the cheapest potting
compost you can find. *If you want to grow a really good plant that
performs well and makes the effort of growing it worthwhile, then you
need to either make a well-balanced compost or buy a decent one. *The
latter is the least expensive and easiest option.

All multi-purpose composts 'run out of steam' after 6-8 weeks, so they
need to be supplemented after that, but reluctantly I have to admit
that the best all rounder is the B&Q multi-purpose. *It has beat the
others in trials by Garden Which? for 2 years running and I like its
open, airy, root-promoting texture. *I use it as a base, adding
perlite and slow release for certain plants and use it 'neat' for
others. *I've never had anything other than very good results.

I've found my method perfectly adequate. Where do you suppose the
shop bought stuff comes from? Not from peat any more.
Gardeners over the years are responsible for enormous ecological
damage with the peat thing.

The reason they "run out of steam" is that the artificial fertilizers
added are expended. I can always go out and buy phoprogen or
something if I want. Rarely needed,I have little stuff in permanent
pots anyway.