Choosing the Right Compost
Plants grown in hanging baskets, pots and containers will fill your balcony, patio and terrace with overflowing colour.
Big displays in small spaces provide brilliant blooms and close-up beauty that can be changed around depending on what’s in season at any one time of the year. Try to think big. The larger the container the more impact your plants will give and the less watering that will be required.
Choose the right type of compost for the job you have in mind. Not all composts are the same. Some are labelled for seeds and cuttings, others are for potting. Some other composts, often called ‘Ericaceous Compost’, contain no lime and are designed specially for growing acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias in pots and containers.
Fit for purpose versus multi-purpose
Multi-Purpose compost gives satisfactory results when you want one compost in which to sow seeds, take cuttings and pot up plants in hanging baskets window boxes or patio planters. The nutrient reserves of an ordinary Multi-Purpose Compost, however, are set at ‘medium’ so that there are just enough nutrients for the first few weeks of growth, but not too much that seed germination would be hindered.
In contrast, a special Seed Compost will have a much lower nutrient level so all seeds, even the finest, are not compromised and germination will be excellent. A Potting Compost or specialist Moisture Control Compost will have much more nutrients than a Multi-Purpose compost so plants are encouraged to put on stronger, healthier growth and produce many more beautiful flowers.
As your skills develop you will find you get the best results with a compost that is just right for the purpose, rather than a compromise. If you are not convinced, try growing the same plants in different composts to see the difference - we did, and the results were amazing.
Here’s the evidence
Plant ‘A’ grown in an ordinary Multi-Purpose compost for 8 weeks with no extra feeding and plant ‘B’ grown in Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost for the same time with no extra feeding. Get the picture? Not all composts are the same.
All plants growing in containers need to be watered regularly and because you will often be growing several plants in just a small area they will need to be fed occasionally, especially if they are only planted in a multi-purpose compost.
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