Take Seven – Potting Composts

Some knowledge of Latin goes a long way if you are a gardener, allowing you to read plant names and describe the various attributes of unusual plants. However you need more than a smidgeon of Latin to read the reverse side of a bag of potting compost. How’s your German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Croatian or Flemish? And how good is your Greek?

On the back of one bag of compost selected for this trial I found it easier to read the instructions in German rather than struggle through the English. Unfortunately my favourite compost, MIKSKAAR from Estonia, is not available at this time of year. I thoroughly recommend this one and use it mixed with garden soil and Perlite for most things. Many composts have enough nutrients in their make up to bring on seedlings and plants and see them through the first four to six weeks but after that you must give extra feed to your plants when you water in the evenings.

Not all composts were available in every garden centre so you will have to search around your area to find what you are looking for.

Shamrock Multipurpose Compost
This nutritious compost in a recyclable bag comes with only English instructions on how to take cuttings and pot on and even how many pots you can fill from this handy bag size.

What you get: a 10litre pack from Co. Kildare, Ireland.
How much: 75 cent
Available from: Solomou Garden Centre Nisou. Tel 22 524833

Schultz Cactus And Succulent Mix
This is a specially-formulated compost for this group of plants, which like a drier, grittier compost. The bag is zipper sealed so that the compost can be kept in good condition once opened and there are easy directions on planting and taking good care of cacti and succulents.
What you get: Small packets of 4 dry quarts equating to 4.4 litres. From the US
How much: £2.30
Available from: Nevada Nurseries at Alambra. Tel 22 523434

Potgrond Substrate Universal Blumenerde
With good instructions in English, German, Dutch, French and Spanish this compost is good for moving on plants and for digging in to improve your garden soil.
What you get: 20 litre bags from Holland
How much: £1.15
Available from: Most places or London Home and Garden Centre, Mesogi Avenue, Paphos. Tel 26 247466

Favorit Potting Compost
With a PH of 4.5 and NPK of 14-16-28, this compost is specially formulated for acid loving plants such as magnolias, gardenias, azaleas and rhododendrons. Good planting instructions in English on the back although the front is in Greek!
What you get: Recyclable 20 litre bags from Germany
How much: £2.30
Available from: Nevada Nurseries at Alambra. Tel 22 523434
Floragard Orchid Potting Compost
Orchids prefer compost with lots of bark included and even pieces of charcoal. They also need to be misted frequently as they prefer a humid atmosphere similar to the rain forest from where they originally came. This mix is 60% decomposed bog peat and 40% bark with an NPK of 50-80-80 so not much nitrogen for leaves but plenty of other nutrients for the flowers and roots. Instructions are in French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian and English.
What you get: 5 litre recyclable bags from Germany
How much: £2.30
Available from: Home Centre Nicosia. Tel 22 570100

Capriflor Blumenerde
This is highly recommendable for pots (indoors or outdoors) and for big veranda planters as it contains wood fibres, which help to keep the compost moist for longer. Dug into the garden it adds bulk to flower beds especially if you do not have any ‘homemade’ compost to improve the soil. The instructions are in German, Spanish, Czech, Bosnian, Slovenian, French, Italian and English. NPK is 12.12.17.
What you get: another compost from Germany in 20 litre bags
How much: £2.20
Available from: Four Seasons Garden Centre, Larnaca. Tel 24 626266

Green Paradise Flower Soil
The front of the bag is in Greek but the useful instructions on the reverse are in both Greek and English. This compost is for trees, shrubs, lawns, vegetables and outdoor potting. It claims to be 51% organic and has a PH of 6.8, which is average garden soil.
What you get: a local compost made up in Nicosia available in 20 litre bags
How much: £1.40
Available from: Most places or Davalia Gardens, Larnaca. Tel 24 635166

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