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Compost for acid loving plants...

• Message 1. 

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Sunday, 13th November 2011

  Hi, I've two Azalea's in patio containers and a blueberyy plant. I reaslise this probably isn't the right time to pot them up but they are becoming pot bound.
  
  They like ericaceous compost but my Q is can I make up my own mix of compost, I've read adding sulphate of iron makes compost acidy or would I need to buy ericaceous compost. .

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by As_Iff (U13951957) on Monday, 14th November 2011

  If I had to make my own ericaceous compost, I would use a mixture of peat, leafmould, and horticulural sand. I`d mix in a slow-release fertiliser too.
  That way I would be sure the compost was on the acid side, and would have the open, woodland texture that Azaleas like.
  I might even put in some of that muck off the top of a molehill.
  Unless all these ingredients are to hand, it would be easier to buy a commercial bag!

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Tuesday, 15th November 2011

  The thing about compost for ericaceous plants is that it has to be lime free. No reason not to make up your own if you can guarantee that.
  
  It' snot exactly expensive so I'd buy the specially formulated stuff for the acid lovers and keep everything else for cuttings and divisions from or for the garden.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Friday, 18th November 2011

  I have the plants in ericaceous bought compost but they aren't growing which is why I was thinking of potting them up and making my own compost.
  
  The blueberry bush is in a chimney stack and has not grown much since it was bought a couple of years ago. This plant produces about a bowl full of fruit, soon gets red leaves and is now dormant. It hasn't grown since it was bought.
  
  The azalea's have been in the front garden, back garden and when I realised needed ericaceous soil were potted into pots. These plants must be well over 5 yrs old but no bigger than the day they were bought about 12 inches high yet produce masses of blooms each year and are a ball of flowers.
  
  I was wanting o grow them taller.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Saturday, 19th November 2011

  Hi Zoomer
  
  The azaleas may be just a dwarf variety-I have 2 in pots both bloom ok. one is a spreading type and is I suppose about a ft high the other grows upright and is about 3 ft
  
  As regards the blueberry I am surprised it hasn't put on any growth-if is is now dormant I would remove in from the pot and see if roots have moved away from original root ball-could perhaps need teasing out and a bigger pot?

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Saturday, 19th November 2011

  I wouldn't try growing a blueberry in anything smaller than a 60cms wide pot and at least that deep. They lik eto be moist but not sodden. A chimney stack sounds too cramped and dry to me.

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Saturday, 19th November 2011

  I'll try potting up both the azaleas and blueberry bush, the pots, are some what on the small size.
  
  As for the blueberyy bush will plant that up again in the spring aiming for a bigger pot eventually. Several months ago a poster posted a picture of their blueberry bush and it was like a tree, my blueberry bush has a long way to go.
  
  Al, I do have some silphate of iron and a ericaceous liquid feed hence my reasoning to make up my own compost but buying a bag of ericaceous compost is probably going to be the easiest solution.
  
  TDC, hadn't considered the azaleas might be of a dwarf variety.

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