Make Your Own Ericaceous Compost

[Dynamite]

Hi everyone, I have a quick one. I want to make my own Ericaceous Compost but not sure how.

Any advice? What are the ingredients?

Kind Regards.............Rob

[DannyK]

This covers JI ericaceous.


HOW TO MAKE JOHN INNES COMPOST |The Garden of Eaden

[Dalrimple]

I just got a load of spam on that wep site ! don't click on to anything on there ! Dal.

[Baldy]

Cut n paste - Dal you might want to check your browser / pugins - loaded up ok for me but on a locked doen linux computer.
John Innes Base Fertiliser is the name coined at the John Innes Research Institute in the 1930's for a ready mixed blend of hoof and horn, superphosphate and potassium sulphate for mixing with loam, peat and grit to make John Innes Loam-based Potting Composts.

The following lists gives the formulae for the Composts - the proportions of the substrate are measured by volume, with loam and peat passed through a 9mm sieve. For the No. 1,2 and 3 composts the John Innes base fertilizer consists of 2 parts Hoof and Horn for the Nitrogen (N), 2 parts Superphosphate for roots (P)and 1 part Potassium Sulphate (K) for flowers and fruit. This is balanced with one part ground limestone (CaCO3) to provide an optimum pH.

For growing seeds, cuttings and ericaceous or calcifuge plants (plants which require acidic conditions) the proportions vary and for the latter the ground limestone is replaced with an equal quantity of Flowers of Sulphur which lowers the pH.

Compost Substrate Fertilizer rates for the John Innes base are per each cubic metre of mixed compost.

John Innes No. 1

7 parts loam
3 parts peat

2 parts sand 0.6kg ground limestone

1.2kg hoof and horn,1.2kg superphosphate

600g Potassium Sulphate


John Innes No. 2

7 parts loam
3 parts peat

2 parts sand 0.6kg ground limestone

2.4kg hoof and horn

2.4kg superphosphate

1.2kg Potassium Sulphate


John Innes No. 3

7 parts loam
3 parts peat

2 parts sand 0.6kg ground limestone

3.6kg hoof and horn

3.6kg superphosphate

1.8g Potassium Sulphate


John Innes Seed Compost

2 parts loam
1 parts peat

1 part sand 600g ground limestone

1.2kg Superphosphate


John Innes Cutting Compost

1 parts loam
2 part peat

1 part sand no added fertilizer


John Innes Ericaceous Compost

2 parts loam
1 part peat

1 part sand 600g Flowers of Sulphur

1 part superphosphate


Mixing is more easily performed if the ingredients are not too moist so that the particles do not stick together and so become more evenly distributed. Storage should be kept to a minimum as the nutrient balance will change due to the Nitrogen being mineralised by bacteria to unavailable Nitrate (NO3=) ions.

[Dynamite]

I was hoping to make my own but looking at the above, it wouldn't be possible.

What is Loam, superphosphate, sulphur etc and I reckon garden centres don't really sell it anyway.

Might it be best if I just buy some ready made?

Regards.........Rob

[Jay-ell]

Superphosphate is a high phosphate fertiliser - available at W1lk0s
Sulphur is elemental sulphur or Flowers of Sulphur - Garden centres often have this or ebay
Loam - basically good soil.

[Scarlet]

^^^brain box!

[Baldy]

Yes but he's a geordie.. most likely making it up IMHO

[Jay-ell]

Currently looking at building a couple of blueberry/cranberry beds so have been looking at what to use to drop the pH

Sulphur and other chemical are used to drop the pH (sulfur is better but takes a while for the bacteria to break it down)

Ammonium Sulphate and Iron Sulphate give a quicker hit, but the iron sulphate can mess up the availability of phosphates if used in large enough amounts.

Superphosphates also have an acidifying effect but also counteract the effect of iron phosphate.

I'll probably treat the beds with the Iron Sulphate/Ammonium Sulphate but plant the bushes in planting holes filled with bought in ericaceous compost. Need to get some superphosphate and another cranberry bush.

[Bigmallly]

When I had my lottie, I never bothered buying ericaceous compost but instead mulched with coffee grounds & pine needles. Had some lovely Blueberry bushes.

[Jay-ell]

No conifers and an instant drinker I'm afraid.

[Baldy]

BM is clearly a southerner

I'll get my coat...