Westland John Innes Peat-Free Multi-Purpose Compost 50L

Westland John Innes Peat-Free Multi-Purpose Compost – 50L

This is Westland's peat-free multi-purpose compost with John Innes loam blended into it, in the largest of four bag sizes at 50 litres. The loam is what separates it from a plain peat-free mix: it holds nutrients and moisture in a way that bark and wood fibre on their own do not, and it gives a pot some weight and body.

Westland also put sand and grit in the blend for drainage, and enrich it with BIO3 to push root and shoot growth. They describe it as suitable for all life stages of a plant — seedlings, potting on, containers and baskets — which is the argument for buying one 50 litre bag rather than several specialist ones.

Performance & Benefits

• 50 litre bag, the largest of four sizes in the range.
• Peat-free, with added John Innes loam to hold nutrients and moisture.
• Sand and grit in the mix for drainage rather than waterlogging.
• Enriched with BIO3 to promote roots and shoots.
• Rated by Westland for all life stages, from seedlings to flowering plants.

Suitable For

• Pots, containers, tubs and hanging baskets.
• Potting on seedlings and young plants.
• Flowers, fruit and vegetables in containers.
• Gardeners who want loam in a peat-free mix rather than bark and fibre alone.
• Not for use with ericaceous, lime-hating plants — those need a dedicated ericaceous compost.

How to Use

• Seedlings: fill the pot, make a hole, and transfer the seedling by a leaf rather than the stem.
• Cuttings: trim the shoot, dip it in rooting gel and insert it firmly into the compost.
• Potting on: water the plant first, ease it out, and set it into the new pot with fresh compost around the root ball.
• Planting out: dig a hole twice the depth and diameter of the root ball, backfill, firm and water well.
• Feed potted seedlings from about four weeks on; Westland's Boost All Purpose Plant Feed is formulated for peat-free composts.
• Reseal the bag and keep it dry and frost-free between jobs.

Specification

• 50 litre bag. Also sold in 10L, 25L and 40L.
• Peat-free multi-purpose compost with added John Innes loam, sand and grit.
• Enriched with BIO3.
• Westland publish no NPK analysis or loam percentage for this compost, so none is stated here.
• Earlier store copy stated that it feeds plants for up to five weeks; Westland publish no feed duration for this compost, and their own advice is to begin feeding potted seedlings after about four weeks.

Care & Caution

• Work in a well-ventilated place and avoid breathing dust off the dry compost.
• Wear gloves and wash your hands after handling it.
• Store the bag away from weedkillers and other chemicals; growing media take up residues and pass them to your plants.