Peat free Compost problem

I have used 100% peat free compost this year for the first time and I have had a problem with the speed at which it has dried, on the hot days in July I had to water the plants in pots or containers up to 5 times a day and even in wet weather I have had to water plastic pots and tubs quite heavily once or twice a day. Should I have added something to the compost to aid water retention and if so any suggestions to what I should use.

 

Hi,

Not used a 100% peat free compost, but ones that still have about 40 - 50% peat did seem ok to us, cannot remember their brand name, they were just what we could get at the supermarket during last years lockdown etc.

You ought to mention the brand of compost you are using as others may have had similar problems to you and can recommend a better peat free brand ?

There are water retaining crystals used mainly for hanging baskets that you could mix into the compost before planting, but think you would be better replacing your original compost with a better brand.

Is 100% peat free important to you ?

 

Yes Ricky I should have said that it was Miracle-Gro Premium Peat Free and the fact that it is 100% peat free is due to the fact that I hear on the radio and see it on TV that using peat free is so much better for the environment.

 

Might be worth a look for you as we have had lengthy discussions about compost.
Best Supplier Of Compost 2021

 

One way to increase the water-holding capacity of compost is to add 10-20% perlite. It's an expanded mineral that holds water like a sponge and keeps it structure.

 

Thanks for that I couldn't remember which was the one that helped water retention perlite or vermicalite.

 

They both can, but vermiculite is far better for water retention than perlite. Vermiculite is still used to soak up spillages, I have seen it being used at an RTA to soak up fluids.

 

Both vermiculate and perlite will hold water and nutrients, and easily re-wet unlike many potting composts. The advantage of perlite is that it doesn't crush and break down like vermiculate. Perlite also improves drainage and aeration by holding open the soil, and the water it holds onto (3-4 times its own mass) is readily available for the plants to use.
Other water holding methods can make the soil anaerobic or stagnant, which will suffocate the roots on all but aquatics and marginals.

 

Does it say on the packaging what material the compost is made from? If your constantly having to water, then your likely to have nutrient deficiency as it will leach out of the compost.

 

Sorry gks but I can't tell you, I had thrown the bags away before the problem became apparent, the same thought accured to me so I fed all the containers every three days and the plants have seemed to grow and produce as well as last year.

 

Perlite vs Vermiculite, Fully Explained - The Vermiculite Association

Both products are good at doing both aeration and water retention, but vermiculite is recommended for water retention. As you know I am used to working with these materials to make growing media. Vermiculite and perlite sold in a GC will tend to be available in only one grade, vermiculite will tend to be 1-3mm for seeds and perlite will tend to be 2-5mm for aeration. Vermiculite comes in far more different grades than perlite, we only use 2-5mm perlite as it is the only grade asked for but yet we use and sell vermiculite in 1-3, 2-5 and 3-8mm grades you can even get a vermiculite grade of 5-15mm. When mixing in larger grades of vermiculite into potting compost it will help in both water retention and aeration. We sell and use far more vermiculite than perlite, yet cost is very similar. Vermiculite is widely used in other sectors, from insulation to bedding and incubation for reptiles.

 

As a very frugal (mean) gardener, I sometimes use roof insulation vermiculite in composts - it's a very large scale and holds lots of water. I find it difficult to get perlite of a large enough scale to avoid it just ending up at the top of the compost.

 

I'm getting confused here
Vermiculite holds water?
Why would something that holds water be used as insulation?

Looking it up I see it can be used to fill cavity walls, sounds like a recipe for disaster to me if it holds moisture.