Best Soil Compost Reviewed

Most of us have a houseplant or two, and one of the best ways to keep them strong and healthy is to use a potting compost mix. One of the very best composts for this is Westland’s houseplant potting compost mix, which has been designed specifically to promote growth and the sustained well-being of your indoor plants. I have to admit that after reading a few negative comments about this product having plant damaging insects inside, I was a bit trepid, but I’m happy to say that there was nothing wrong with the compost we received, and not a bug in sight. I did notice that most of these comments were from over two years ago, so it might have just been a bad batch to have got sent out.

This potting compost is available in either 4 lite or 8 litre bags, and will fill either one or two 14cm pots; respectively.  It contains all the nutrients that your houseplants need, wood fibre for improved drainage and air circulation, and perlite. All of these promote strong root development and this helps the plants to thrive.

Westland’s houseplant potting compost also contains ‘SERAMIS’ granules. These granules are a type of clay, and their purpose is to absorb water and then release it at a slower rate so that your plants get a steady stream of moisture and nutrients.

This is a good product, and I like the fact you can buy it in smaller bags and don’t end up with a load leftover if you only have a couple of houseplants to repot. You do have to be careful not to overwater your plants when using this potting compost as it retains water well, but this is a good thing rather than a negative.

Multi-purpose soil composts are extremely popular due to their versatility. You can use them for containers, beds, and borders, and for a wide range of different plants; from shrubs to crops. Of course, if you are using this compost with multiple plants, you need a lot of it and this product definitely ticks that box with a bag containing a 100 litre bale. This makes it quite heavy, so it’s a good thing you can get it delivered right to your door.

J Arthur Bowers multi-purpose compost has a light and airy feel to it, which I’ve always taken as a good sign for such products, and the vast majority of customers are giving it very positive feedback.

For environmentally friendly purposes, this product has been formulated with reduced peat, which is good news for the planet and all the species of creatures that are affected by peat mining. The big three: nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate are included in the J Arthur Bowers compost, providing your plants and crops with the main sources of nutrition that they need. These three nutrients are what make up the majority of fertilisers (in differing ratios), so you can rest assured that this compost is only doing good things for your garden.

Mixing this compost into your soil will provide your plants with food for up to six weeks, as well as helping with moisture retention, and strengthening roots. A good all-rounder, the J Arthur Bowers Multi-purpose soil compost is a good pick for gardens with a lot of variety when it comes to plant selection.

More and more people are becoming environmentally aware, and due to this are only interested in using organic composts like this one from green Brokers. A multi-purpose soil compost that can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications, this compact brick will expand to give you 10 lites worth of top-notch potting compost once water is added to it, but for larger gardens you can also buy this product in larger sizes such as 20, 40, and 75 litres.

The dehydrated state that it arrives in keeps the size and weight of the product to a minimum and this is a handy thing when it comes to storage. As already mentioned, this is an organic product, but it has also been enriched with extra nutrients to ensure your pants are getting what they need to thrive. It is peat free too, so you can pat yourself on the back knowing that you have contributed a little to helping the planet.

Because it is organic, and therefore there are no chemicals that could harm pets, it makes this product a good choice for putting in a rabbit run, so you can scoop it back up later with the ‘extra ingredients’ provided with by your rabbit’s dirty doings. Rabbit droppings make an excellent addition to this already great compost, adding even more nutritional value for your plants to feed on. 

I did notice that this soil compost dried out faster than some other products if used outside, so I would keep an eye on that if you decide to use this product. Indoors it wasn’t the case though, and it needed watering about as often as normal.  

I would say this particular product is perfect for growing seedlings and cuttings, and does a great job of helping them get established. The fact that it is all organic and peat free is just a bonus.

If you’re not an experienced gardener, you might be surprised by the term ‘added John Innes’, but not to worry, it doesn’t mean there are anyone’s remains in there. John Innes refers to a specific formula that was developed in the 1930s, and combines peat, sterilised loam, and sometimes other materials. There are actually a number of different formulas that share the name John Innes, and these are often numbered, such as John Innes No.1, etc.

So, now we know what has been added to Westland’s all purpose compost, what we need to know is- is it any good? The answer is definitely yes. This compost works really well on most things, but for certain crops such as tomatoes and chilies, it doesn’t seem to produce the same positive results. For the vast majority of plants, vegetables, and fruit though, it serves its purpose very well.

This compost retains water well, and along with; nutrients for the plants to feed on. It is particularly good for seedlings, and really helps them to get established well in the soil. This 50 litre pack costs just under 10 pounds online, which is a little more expensive than some of the other products we reviewed, but Westland is a well-known brand, so that is to be expected to some degree.

Westland says that this mix of their Westland+ formula and John Innes formula will feed your plants well for up to five weeks, and then you can just treat them again with fertiliser every 2-3 weeks after that. 

You can use this compost for both indoor and outdoor applications, and it works as well in pots as it does mixed with soil and laid in your beds and borders. Basically, it’s another good all-round product for multiple purposes.

Miracle-Gro are well known for producing some of the best gardening products available and are frequently featured in ‘best of’ lists. Their all purpose compost is yet another fantastic product that is well worth a closer look if you are in the market for a growing medium that can be applied to a wide range of plants, both in the garden, and in the house.

One thing I’ve always liked about Miracle-Gro is that they are always trying to innovate, with new patents for formulas and technologies. This product alone features three of these patents; their smart release system, fibre smart technology, and water lock technology.

The smart release system is very clever, and uses temperature and humidity levels to postpone the releasing of stored moisture and nutrients until the time is right. This system is said to be able to feed your plants for up to 6 whole months!

In addition to this, the fibre smart technology refers to small pieces of hollow wood that is there to promote air circulation in the soil and to create the right balance of air and water in order for the plants to grow to their full potential. Then there is their waterlock technology, that allows Miracle-Gro’s compost to retain 25% more water than standard composts. All this, plus an excellent selection 14 different, vital minerals, adds up to an excellent product that is aiming to be one step ahead of the competition. 

Miracle-Gro are selling this product in bag sizes of 20, 40, or 50 litres, and again it is a little more expensive than some other, less known brands, but I wouldn’t say it is overpriced and you do get a quality product for your money.

Another fully natural compost option that is pleasing gardeners by the bucketload is this product from Baltic Worm. This worm casting based compost can be used on just about anything, and also anywhere. You can use it on your veggies, flower beds, in your hanging baskets, repot your houseplants with it, and use it as a soil enhancer.

This compost goes through an interesting process while being made. First cow manure is collected and then turned into natural compost, before compost worms are used to turn it into vermicompost. The resulting product is a product that your plants and crops will love.
This stuff really works. Producing results that many other all-purpose composts just can’t match, and keeping your garden looking as healthy as can be.

What’s more, this product has a very long shelf life and can be stored for literally years while still remaining usable. You can use Baltic Worm vermicompost for your houseplants, just as you can with your flower beds. It has a pleasant smell that is not too strong and this makes it ideal for indoors.

This is extremely versatile and can be used in all manner of ways. You want to mix it with your soil? Go ahead. Prefer to sprinkle some on top and water it? Be my guest. Use it as a potting mix? Of course you can!  This really is an excellent product and one you should really give a try. I’m sure you’ll be happy with the results, as so many other gardeners are.