All Purpose Compost!

[Bigmallly]

Was just sat staring at a bag of J4ck's M4gic as you do........................and noticed that it is marketed as an "All Purpose Compost" not MPC............I wonder what the difference is.

[Bal]

ALL means everything, Multi means many things. So unless you can use ALL purpose compost for both acid loving and alkaline plants, it is misnamed.

[Bigmallly]

Good point Bal.

[veggiechicken]

But what does multi-purpose mean? How many uses are there for compost, except as compost?
You can't eat it, cook with it, read it (although BM reads the bag).

[Bigmallly]

It is not suitable for acid loving plants:

http://www.gardenhealth.com/uploads/...els/150020.pdf

[Bal]

So it's not ALL purpose then.

[Bigmallly]

What confuses me is that it is 90% peat which has a pH of around 4.5 but is not suitable for acid loving plants..............it doesn't make sense.

[Bigmallly]

I've just emailed Westland as it does not add up..............see what they say.

[Bal]

They must add a neutraliser to bring the ph up.

[Bigmallly]

I'll post their reply.

[Bigmallly]

They must add a neutraliser to bring the ph up.

Spot on Bal................

Here's the reply from Westland:

"Good afternoon

Our Jack's Magic All-Purpose compost does indeed have 95% peat, and the pH is adjusted using powdered lime to bring it to pH 6.0-6.5, which makes it unsuitable for ericaceous plants as they need pH4.0-pH5.5, therefore not contradictory at all.

All-purpose compost in the case of Jack's Magic is finely sieved and can be used for seed sowing, as well as many other jobs, but has 6-7 weeks feed included. In the case of Gro-sure all-purpose, this is ideal for many jobs (except ericaceous) and has 4 months' controlled release feed included, so no need to add any fertiliser for 4 months.

Multipurpose compost is a mix of 50% peat and 50% peat alternative (in our case wood fibre from Sitka spruce trees), and has 6 weeks feed added. This is usually the cheaper compost and can be used for many different jobs too.

I hope this clears up any anomalies for you.
Regards

Westland Customer Services Centre"

[Potstubsdustbins]

But at the moment Jacks Magic is probably one of the best composts around, I love it............

[Bigmallly]

But at the moment Jacks Magic is probably one of the best composts around, I love it............

I'm not denying that Potty, I wanted to know why it wasn't suitable for acid loving plants when it claims to be 90% peat.

[Bal]

So if "normal" compost is 90%peat with something added to it. Ericacious must be 90% peat with nothing added to it, why is it more expensive?

[Bigmallly]

So if "normal" compost is 90%peat with something added to it. Ericacious must be 90% peat with nothing added to it, why is it more expensive?

Maybe because it's a speciality compost so they have to mark it up.