Suggestions for Home-made Compost for Pots Please

Gardening
21

Just asked the man shape and it was from Brico Cash - can’t get a link as their website is absolutely terrible!

Bricomarche €19 for 100L (my bag is that too)
https://www.bricomarche.com/p/isolant-plancher-vermiculite-sac-100l/3434550266819

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22

Thanks for that @toryroo It would never have occurred to me to look in BricoCash but I shall next time I can go. The Bricomarche link is probably more reliable :smiley:

23

Our local BM and B cash don’t stock it…but lots of building stuff

24

Would composting grandma into a flower pot be ok…?

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25

This would solve the problem OH thought of yesterday when I said I was happy to go on the bonfire - no bonfires between May and November!

26

Hi all,

Two thoughts…

First I am sooo disappointed that Calitom has decided not to provide compost to individuals, instead it’s all given to the farmers (as of last year).

Secondly, just checking to make sure that no horticultural grit is available in France…

Can anyone update?

Cheers

27

I wasn’t aware that HGrit was not available… :wink:
It’s not always easy to find/recognise what one is looking for… as I know only too well… :rofl:

If your local Jardiland/Gamm Vert or Horticulturist don’t have what you want, you might look for “billes d’argiles” …
and some folk simply add (well washed) builders sand.

Are you thinking of Planters or the Garden itself ???

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28

The nearest thing to true horticultural grit is the stuff local councils use to re-surface roads and chemins. Many communes have a stash of materials, so enquiring at the Mairie might produce results if you only need a 25kg bag or two, especially if you’re known to be a resident. Not sure whether that approach would work in bigger towns, but equally, some have a depot where materials can be purchased.
It’s also worth checking the quality/cleanliness of the grit before availing yourself of it, in case it’s recycled and contains nasties such as tar and calcaire.

29

@MaryW
Grit-type mediums may be good for drainage & decorative features but don’t add nutrients. Compost would provide better drainage & nutrients, easy to make & apply, I imagine you want grit for a flower garden even so I’d go the compost route, putting grit in a veg garden is a big no no.
Putting clay pellets or broken bits of terracotta pots in the bottom of planters for drainage is a myth, if the soil / compost doesn’t drain well the pellets / broken bits of terracotta pots won’t help much.

30

Thanks but I have no idea what you are talking about.

31

Thanks, for mixing in w in the soil/compost. I have heavy clay soil, so I hoped to get the plants to make a better stronger root system before subjecting them to the clay soil.

32

Explain what you want to do better than you have.
What are you trying to achieve?
Type of plants you would like to grow?
The soil you have now, the ph etc?

33

Ah… I’d ask advice at a local plant nursery. They will possibly be contending with clay too… but will certainly know what’s best… :+1:

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34

If it’s individual pots the garden centres all sell perlite that will give you free draining pots.

If it’s the actual clay soil - manure (any organic matter works) in large quantities will break the clay down. I also added builders sand in London - just left it outside for a month in winter before adding it.

I miss clay soil.

35

I’ll send you some of mine. :slight_smile: There seems to be about one day a year when ours is either not too wet or not too dry, then it’s perfect. And it’s true that roses love it.

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