Best compost mix for alpines?

Coming this week, 6ft x 2ft trough planter, to be used for rockery/alpine plants. What compost should I buy for that?

 

I grow mine in a 50/50 mix of JI2 and grit.

 

I don't think I've ever come across a ready mixed compost for alpines.

I think you might have to mix it yourself.
Agree with punkdoc you need sharp grit and a soil based compost mixed together.
You don't want any thing too rich.

 

I agree too. Compost just breaks down and disappears, so you need something sturdier. The more grit the better.
I grow a few sempervivums in almost pure grit. Other alpine type plants have a bit more soil. Compost is fine short term for smaller containers, but not for something bigger.

 

Thanks Can you buy bags of grit?

 

I buy grit in B&Q - much cheaper then GCs etc. You can even use pea gravel, depending on what you're planting.

 

Grit is readily available at most G/S.

 

I buy sharp grit for cacti and often come up with the same mix you need for alpines.

 

Yes - I put mine into a container which has plenty of holes in it, but I have some fine mesh that I put across the bottom. It gets a good wash when it's raining, and if I need it before then, I do some through the sieve with some extra mesh.

 

Awesome, ta. Will persuade somebody to get me some from somewhere - our local wee garden centre is nearest - they aren't fancy or dear, just good plant people.

Woodside Garden Plant Centre and Tea Room | Scottish Borders

 

I watched a gardening programme many moons ago and they washed all the multipurpose compost off the roots from the alpine plants before planting as the compost was too soggy to the stems and the main roots and would cause rotting over the winter with holding too much water .... and the plants were all in pots and very quickly settled in you wouldn't of known they had had the multipurpose compost removed

Spruce