Topic: Vital Earth compost?

[goodlife]

I buy just any multipurpose/peat and adjust it for my purposes. Some of the "better" =expensive are sometimes sieved too fine almost powdery and if they get dry are not fun to get properly moist again..

[lincsyokel2]

I buy just any multipurpose/peat and adjust it for my purposes. Some of the "better" =expensive are sometimes sieved too fine almost powdery and if they get dry are not fun to get properly moist again..

That due to the lack of wetting agent.  Once a compost has dried out it can be seriously difficult to wet up again without.

Some ingredients are even harder to rewet, such as coir.  Some compost makers buy compressed coir blocks in late summer and leave them stacked up outside all winter to get them to wet up.

[Vinlander]

Before I started using capillary watering I used to put 20-25% John Innes mix into soilless composts - the clay works as a wetting agent (and the extra weight made the pots less likely to blow over).

It never washes out.

Any friable clay will work too but I used to be more worried about soil contamination than I am now.

Cheers.

[lincsyokel2]

Before I started using capillary watering I used to put 20-25% John Innes mix into soilless composts - the clay works as a wetting agent (and the extra weight made the pots less likely to blow over).

It never washes out.

Any friable clay will work too but I used to be more worried about soil contamination than I am now.

Cheers.

Have you tried the clay granules sold by Klassman ?

[Vinlander]

Have you tried the clay granules sold by Klassman ?

I'm not sure what that is. Do the granules support capillary watering or do they disintegrate to act as a wetting agent?

I've looked it up and I'm still not sure.

Since I have clay soil the idea of buying clay goes against the grain!

I know, I know, I'm being inconsistent since I used to buy John Innes, but I convinced myself I was getting a sterile, fertilised and pH balanced product that wouldn't downgrade the soil-less compost I was adulterating.

I would be tempted to use burnt and pulverised subsoil if I was doing it now - the only good use for a bonfire in my opinion (apart from making charcoal/'terra preta' - but that's another story).

Cheers.

[lincsyokel2]

Have you tried the clay granules sold by Klassman ?

I'm not sure what that is. Do the granules support capillary watering or do they disintegrate to act as a wetting agent?

I've looked it up and I'm still not sure.

Since I have clay soil the idea of buying clay goes against the grain!

I know, I know, I'm being inconsistent since I used to buy John Innes, but I convinced myself I was getting a sterile, fertilised and pH balanced product that wouldn't downgrade the soil-less compost I was adulterating.

I would be tempted to use burnt and pulverised subsoil if I was doing it now - the only good use for a bonfire in my opinion (apart from making charcoal/'terra preta' - but that's another story).

Cheers.

No it opens it up and brings in air whilst allowing capillary wetting.

If your anywhere near Lincolnshire i have a 25Kg bag spare your welcome to have...........