Different growing medium for pots
Andy Leeds
Posts: 518
in Plants
Afternoon, I've got a couple of plants to put into pots, and was wondering what type of 'soil' I should fill the pots with.
Previously, the only things I've put in pots have been acid loving so I just filled with ericaceous compost. For other things, e.g. the Crocosmia lucifer, cordyline red star, choisya white dazzler and viburnum burkwoodii Anne Russell I have ready to put out, is it simply filling a pot with multipurpose compost; filling with the soil from the garden, a mix of both or something different?
As you can see, I'm really not afraid of asking the stupid questions
Previously, the only things I've put in pots have been acid loving so I just filled with ericaceous compost. For other things, e.g. the Crocosmia lucifer, cordyline red star, choisya white dazzler and viburnum burkwoodii Anne Russell I have ready to put out, is it simply filling a pot with multipurpose compost; filling with the soil from the garden, a mix of both or something different?
As you can see, I'm really not afraid of asking the stupid questions
0
Posts
Good for you Andy - ask away - no one knows it all and if you don't ask you won't find out
For plants that are going to be in the container for more than one season I would use John Innes Loam-based compost No 3 - it will has a structure that will last and not break down to dust like ordinary MPC will do over time. It also has the right nutrients to feed a mature plant for at least one season.
I would add a few handfuls of horticultural grit for the cordyline as it likes really well drained soil.
Personally I wouldn't put the Viburnum burkwoodii into a container - it'll be much happier planted out into the garden - they grow into very large shrubs.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.