Westland John Innes No.1 Young Plant Compost 10 Litre (Enriched with Zinc Compound)

Product Information

John Innes compost is a set of four soil-based formulae for growing media, developed at the former John Innes Horticultural Institution (JIHI), now the John Innes Centre, in the 1930s and released into the public domain. The coarse sand or grit is used as a physical conditioner to allow excess water to drain from the compost and thus prevent water-logging. John Innes is not a manufacturer of compost, they are a range of composts developed at the John Innes Institute, named after

For compost incorporation,however,peat free alternatives have produced unreliable results.A compromise in the form of reduced peat compost has shown encouraging signs,the peat element being reduced by fifty percent of other organic material. The traditional mix for sowing almost any type of seed, with sufficient nutrient for early development. MayUnlike many potting mixes which are either peat based or contain peat substitutes, John Innes composts are soil based. John Innes composts originated in the 1930s and were developed at the John Innes Horticultural Institute. Modern John Innes composts may differ from the original formulations, and there is some variability in the mixes offered by different producers. There are several different John Innes composts, each designed for a specific horticultural purpose: as required. Loam also contains essential micro-elements and some organic matter which provides a slow release of nitrogen to the

Products produced from collected garden waste by local authorities make a good alternative and have to meet the national standard BSI PAS 100.This means that they have been produced to a high quality. Multi-purpose compost was traditionally peat-based but for a number of years there has been a desire to reduce the use of these composts due to the devastating environmental effects of peat extraction. A number of different peat-free composts are now available, involving different base materials such as coir, wood-fibre or composted bark. Since these composts may differ significantly in their structure and composition, their effect on plant growth and flowering may also vary. Loam is the most important ingredient in the compost as it provides the main "body" of the compost. It also forms the base of Loam is currently in short supply and the soil-based material used appears to be highly variable and not necessarily consistent with what is commonly understood to be a medium loam. There is no legally binding standards for John Innes potting media ingredients. Typical orchid composts, suitable for popular orchid species such as Phalaenopsis or Cymbidium, contain a mix of bark chips, peat moss and perlite. The organic compounds in these composts gradually decay so it is recommended that you re-pot orchids with fresh compost every one or two years, depending on the growth of the plant. Carnivorous plants compostThis is the ‘richest’ John Innes potting mix, with three times the level of nutrients as No. 1. This potting mix is intended for houseplants that will remain in their pots for some considerable time, as well as established shrubs or trees including fruit bushes and vines. It is also good for strong growing, heavy feeders such as tomatoes and chrysanthemums. After hundreds of trials, Lawrence and Newell arrived at their two standardised composts. These formulae were published in 1938, and they became known as "John Innes composts" in the horticultural trade. [2] A. John Innes No 2 Potting On Compost does not contain any organic elements so shouldn’t be attractive to animals. Loam is the most important ingredient as it provides a natural reservoir of plant foods, trace elements and contains some organic matter which releases nitrogen slowly to the plant. The loam in J. Arthur Bower’s John Innes is screened and sterilised to avoid any soil-borne diseases and insects.

The compound fertiliser in John Innes Compost provides a wide spectrum of plant nutrients needed for balanced growth, including This mix contains double the amount of nutrient in John Innes No 1 to suit established plants. It is suitablefor most houseplants and vegetable plants in containers. Orchids appreciate a free-draining compost which is open in structure, providing good aeration around the roots. If orchids are grown in normal houseplant compost which may become compacted or soggy, it is high likely that they will suffer from root rot and fungal diseases. The scientists who developed the formulae were William Lawrence and John Newell. The pair started to investigate the procedure of making seed and potting composts following heavy losses of Primula sinensis seedlings in the 1933-34 season, which were an important experimental plant for JIHI geneticists. [2] A. John Innes Composts are designed to be a life partner for plants. John Innes Seed Sowing Compost has a small amount of nutrients to encourage germination. John Innes No1 has a little more nutrients, perfect for transplanting seedlings. John Innes No2 is used for potting on young plants and John Innes No3, which has the most nutrients, is best used for final potting up of plants. John Innes Ericaceous is suitable for all acid loving (lime-hating) plants.Container herbs are very easy to look after - they don't need fertiliser, and actually benefit from being planted in quite poor soil. Many varieties also do not need much watering, particularly Mediterannean herbs such as sage, rosemary and thyme. Read our guide to growing Mediterranean herbs. Making your herb container attractive These are the basic requirements of any houseplant compost, but different types of houseplant will require subtly different compost mixes for optimum results. Types of houseplant compost Standard houseplant compost Always research the correct compost before growing new types of carnivorous plants – the wrong potting mix is probably the main reason that people experience failures when they start growing carnivorous plants. Bonsai compost Lime-free grit sand is included to allow excess water to drain from the compost and so prevent water-logging. It also adds weight and provides stability for pot grown plants Cuttings • Ensure that the mother plant is well-watered before taking cuttings. • Fill a deep seed tray or pot with SylvaGrow John Innes No.1 and make a suitable hole with a dibber or pencil. • Prepare the stem or root cuttings according to type, ensuring that they are not allowed to dry out between cutting and inserting. Dip in hormone rooting powder/liquid if using. • Insert the cutting and gently firm the medium around it. • Stem cuttings need to be in a moist environment out of direct sunlight until they have rooted so either place in a cold frame, a covered propagator or cover with polythene, using supports to prevent the polythene from touching the cuttings. Root cuttings can be placed in a cold frame or sheltered spot out of direct sunlight and can benefit from a thin layer of grit on the growing medium surface. • Once the cuttings are well-rooted they can be potted on according to the instructions above.