How good is multi-purpose at the end of the day ?
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 6:31 am
I have been on other forums and asked about multi-purpose compost. There is quite a dim view of it with keen amateurs. I once potted up with it this in around June time and then tried to carry my 9cm pots(perennials) through winter with this. I found that the compost was possibly to old and flat to get a good result.
This time I have potted them up in mid august from already having had a good root system from 9 cm pot and re-potting up again fresh into new pots. So basically good roots into a fresh multi-P mix.
I wondered how well they would perform 'on average' given most perform reasonably in summer. This time I have added vermiculite with the peat based multi-purpose. In a thread you talked about this in August 2009.
I was thinking about adding a top dress of loam so the peat does not go to flat over winter and am hoping vermiculite will help drainage.
Also one more question. Many people say that the organic matter humus of peat holds on to water well. I understand this but why does it dry out quicker than a loam mix if this is the case in summer ?
I would prefer if a scientific answer did not get to scientific as it can be confusing I find. It is useful though to explain things.
It should be interesting to hear the views on peat/perlite and overwintering.
Then also water holding with vermiculite added to multi P in winter.
Don't forget loam could be added as a top dressing now.
Thanks very much.
David.
This time I have potted them up in mid august from already having had a good root system from 9 cm pot and re-potting up again fresh into new pots. So basically good roots into a fresh multi-P mix.
I wondered how well they would perform 'on average' given most perform reasonably in summer. This time I have added vermiculite with the peat based multi-purpose. In a thread you talked about this in August 2009.
I was thinking about adding a top dress of loam so the peat does not go to flat over winter and am hoping vermiculite will help drainage.
Also one more question. Many people say that the organic matter humus of peat holds on to water well. I understand this but why does it dry out quicker than a loam mix if this is the case in summer ?
I would prefer if a scientific answer did not get to scientific as it can be confusing I find. It is useful though to explain things.
It should be interesting to hear the views on peat/perlite and overwintering.
Then also water holding with vermiculite added to multi P in winter.
Don't forget loam could be added as a top dressing now.
Thanks very much.
David.