I was curious about the composition of the various composts & found this site ..
http://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/soil/john_innes/john_innes.htm
It's all clearer now 8)
Thanks for the link. One of those topics you are comfortable you know about until someone asks for a slightly more detailed explanation and then.........
Spot On! I was asking myself if I could 'make' my own ericaceous compost ......errr.....no I can't, so shall 'borrow' a bucketful from a friend today for this camellia I'm currently fussing over. (an alternative twist to 'borrowing a cup of sugar'!)
Alan Titchmarsh is always going on about mixing his own compost (put in a bit of John Inns, abit of this abit of that)....how do you know what the best mix is? Do you have to kill loads of plants to gain experience?
Alishka, that is a really useful link. I am having a go at making my own ericaceous compost this year, I have started a special compost pallet bin for it, and so far there is leaf mould in it, conifer clippings, a little horsemanure and orange peel. Planted blueberries this year and bought ericaceous compost for them to put in the planting holes, but thought I'd have a go so I can put more on next year with no money involved.
Kippers garden - well I killed a few in my time!
;D
When I mixed my own cactus compost, I used to use 1/3 sharp gravel, 1/3 rotted down turf and 1/3 leafmould.