Compost for containers?

What does everyone use in their containers?
I just use John Innes No3 mostly but on gardening shows they always seem to mix different things :confused: and I'm confused.

My plants, mainly grasses seem fine but I was just wondering if there was anything better.

Thanks
Stingo

 

I use general purpose, and add some of my heap of mushroom compost!! :D
Apart from when I need ericaceous, of course!

 

it depends on the plant - I use mainly potting compost, I mix in 1/3 JI or soil if I am worried about the plant trying out. If it's something that prefers dry conditions I mix in grit or perlite. I normally add a bit of slow release organic fertilizer just for good measure. Then top it off with bark cippings.

 

I take your point Singo - on these gardening programmes they ALWAYS utilise their own compost mix, which is great but pretty impractical for us "lesser" folks.

I tend to stick to the basic multi-purpose for most but if the particular plant in question requires something a little more extreme then I would go out of my way to accommodate and make it as happy as the proverbial larry! :D

Good luck!

Roy

 

And I'm wondering if Dendrobium means her heap of magic mushroom compost :D :D :D

 

It's different for us mere mortals in the garden, we don't have access to all those different ingrediants :D

So I'll carry on with my ready made compost like the rest of you

They are all doing well anyway so I don't really know what I was worried about.

 

Quite agree Stingo! And there's nothing magic about the mushroom compost - or maybe, come to think of it, that's why everything's at least 6 ft tall.... :rolleyes:

 

I use general purpose, but because it is quite peaty and prone to drying out I add JI No.2 or 3. I also mix some compost from one of our worm bins into the bottom half of the pot or container.
I've used mushroom compost mixed with growbag compost for container grown toms in the past. It worked very well and we also got the bonus of a crop of mushrooms. (Mushroom compost is slightly alkaline BTW)

 

I use about two thirds multi-purpose compost and one third sharp sand. All the books I have read suggest added drainage material.