What can I add to compost to help drainage 3 July at 8:02PM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 4 replies 136 views

Welsh_and_proud

I bought Bulrush Professional John Innes No.3 compost to repot a bamboo plant and a gooseberry plant but the soil doesn't drain water so what can I use to help drainage.

-taff

Are there holes in your planter? If there are, don't worry, they'll be fine.

Welsh_and_proud

-taff said:

Are there holes in your planter? If there are, don't worry, they'll be fine.

Yes the pot has holes. The leave on the bamboo plant are turning yellow so I don't want to use the same soil for the gooseberry plant. When the soil gets wet it seems to clump together and doesn't drain.

DiggerUK

Unpot  everything, examine the compost. It sounds like a case of overwatering, diseased roots or drainage holes that are too small. A few crocks or sizeable stones in the bottom will sort the drainage.

I suspect you may need ericaceous compost, both plants can tolerate acidic soil..._

Welsh_and_proud

DiggerUK said:

Unpot  everything, examine the compost. It sounds like a case of overwatering, diseased roots or drainage holes that are too small. A few crocks or sizeable stones in the bottom will sort the drainage.

I suspect you may need ericaceous compost, both plants can tolerate acidic soil..._

I was told to use john innes 3 for the bamboo so I got  2 pots the same but I planted one bamboo in westlands john innes 3 without stones in the bottom and I don't have a problem with drainage but using the same method with bulrush professional john innes 3 the soil doesn't drain. Adding stones might help but I think it's the soil as if you wet the soil and dig a spade in the soil it sounds like you are digging in wet sand.