Last Updated on April 8, 2024 by Real Men Sow

Best Multi-Purpose Compost Reviews For Indoor and Outdoor Gardening (UK)

Sometimes all your plant needs is a little boost in its nutrition to perk up and kickstart healthy growth and development. There sure are different ways to do that. But, giving your plants a multi-purpose compost is definitely an excellent option to consider.

Multi-purpose compost is a mixture of organic materials including peat, coir, leaves, bark, loam, and other types of solid wastes. They are specially blended to undergo the process of decomposition to produce a natural soil conditioner.

The compost contains tons of beneficial nutrients and microorganisms. They work hand in hand to help improve the fertility of the soil and provide it with a better structure. Thus, giving the plants the most conducive medium to grow into.

If you want the best compost for your plants too, then you’ve come to the right page. We have gathered and reviewed the top 7 multi-purpose composts in the market today. We will tell you what makes them awesome and why are they perfect for you and your garden. Moreover, we will also give a good list of helpful buying tips for gardeners like you who are on the hunt for the best multi-purpose compost.

Best Multi Purpose Compost Product List

• 
  Westland Multi-Purpose Compost W/ Added John Innes
  
• 
  J. Arthur Bower’s Multi-Purpose Compost
  
• 
  Miracle-Gro All-Purpose Enriched Compost
  
• 
  Jamieson Brothers Multi-Purpose Compost w/ Added John Innes
  
• 
  Westland New Horizon All-Plant Compost
  
• 
  Flower Power Peat-Free Multi-Purpose Premium Compost
  
• 
  Coco & Coir Coco Boost Multi-Purpose Compost
  

The Best Multi-Purpose Compost Product Reviews

Westland Multi-Purpose Compost W/ Added John Innes

Product Description

This premium multi-purpose compost is formulated with added John Innes base fertilizer. It is suitable to feed plants across all life stages for up to 5 weeks. This well includes sowing seeds and mature plants in both indoor and outdoor settings.

The product contains a peat alternative called BIO3. This helps to improve the mixture’s moisture retention and drainage capabilities. Aside from boosting plant growth and promoting healthy roots, this compost also encourages sustainability. It holds moisture and nutrients longer and only releases them as needed by the plant.

Miracle-Gro All-Purpose Enriched Compost

Product Description

This all-purpose compost is enriched with 50% more nutrients formulated in Smart Release granules. The unique coating enables the product to continuously disperse nutrients longer for up to 6 months. It tends to release nutrients best during the active growing phase where the environment is warm and moist.

It also features Fibersmart technology. It is made with 100% natural and peat-free hollow wood fibers. Hence, providing excellent aeration and up to 25% more moisture absorption. By setting a conducive environment along with the extra amount of nutrients, this compost promises to deliver twice as fast healthy plant growth.

Arthur-Bowers-Multi-purpose-Compost

Product Description

This compost is formulated with a good proportion of nitrogen, phosphates, and potassium. Thus, promising to promote healthy growth, stronger roots, and encouraged flower and fruit development. In addition, it also contains trace elements to improve plant health and increase resistance against diseases.

This multi-purpose compost is designed to be safely used for almost any type of plant. From sowing seeds to taking cuttings, you can sure use this to support your plant’s nutrition. It also has a slightly coarse texture that is perfect for preventing soil compaction. A 50-L product is enough to feed your plants for 6 good weeks.

Jamieson Brothers Multi-Purpose Compost w/ Added John Innes

Product Description

This premium blend of multi-purpose compost is added with John Innes. The incorporation of loam into the mixture enables the compost to retain nutrients longer. Thus, protecting your plant from under and over-feeding. A 60-liter bag is enough to feed any garden for up to 6 months.

The compost is made with moss peat of the finest quality. It helps to provide acidity to balance out the soil environment. Moreover, it also holds water very well. Thus, keeping your growing medium moist and easy to re-wet.

Westland New Horizon All-Plant Compost

Product Description

This all-plant garden compost is made with 100% natural peat-free components. Recently, peat-based composts are frowned upon because of the possible impact they can contribute on the environment. So, this compost rather uses BIO3 formulation with biofiber as its primary material. It supports plant health by locking into the roots to ensure a more efficient transfer of moisture and nutrients.

Meanwhile, the Coir+ component serves like a sponge that absorbs, stores, and disperses water and essential nutrients longer than the usual composts. The West+ component, on the other hand, creates an excellent structure for plant growth. The air spaces it provides give the roots good aeration and enough space for growth.

Flower Power Peat-Free Multi-Purpose Premium Compost

Product Description

It is a peat-free premium-quality compost that uses four types of peat-substitutes with each serving a specific purpose. It uses wood fiber to encourage strong root growth. A coir material is also incorporated to provide a viable structure. Meanwhile, the naturally rich substrate and clay both promote water and nutrient absorption.

This compost is also enriched with Richard Jackson’s proprietary flower power nutrients. It contains special root boosters, seaweed extracts, and wetting agents. This plant food mix is formulated for the lusher growth of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other plants.

Coco & Coir Coco Boost Multi-Purpose Compost

Product Description

This peat-free compost is made with 100% natural coconut material. It is very eco-friendly and sustainable as it essentially uses the coconut’s waste product called the coir. This material is packed with vital nutrients and trace elements to keep the plant well-fed.

Moreover, the coarse yet lightweight texture of the coir is perfect for promoting good aeration and drainage. Thus, encouraging stronger root growth and well-balanced moisture, pH, and nutrient levels. The coco boost coir compost is very economical too as it can last 3x longer than regular peat composts.

Buyer’s Guide On How To Pick
The Best Multi Purpose Compost

We’ve collected the best multi-purpose composts on the market, but which ones are the best for your plants and garden? Before you can decide which product you should go for, consider these important factors to choose your best multi purpose compost.

Nutrient

Composts are meant to support healthy growth and development. It should essentially contain vital nutrients, trace elements, and other components that help boost plant nutrition. It should be well-balanced so that it can address key targets. That can include strong root growth, development of flowers and fruits, improve plant vigor, and resistance against diseases.

Soil Structure

Look for compost that can provide a good structure to your growing medium. A slightly coarse medium texture is most ideal. It is perfect for promoting aeration and drainage. Thus, preventing compaction and waterlog issues.

pH Level

Plants have different pH requirements. Hence, you must be able to choose a compost that will provide it accordingly. Take note that most multi-purpose composts are formulated to be pH neutral. That means they usually fall within the level of 6 to 8. If your plant requires an acidic environment, then it is best to choose ericaceous compost rather than a multi-purpose variety.

Compost Material

Multi-purpose composts generally are suitable to use in all parts of your garden. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they are compatible already for all types of plants and across all plant stages. There are specific compost materials that work best for certain instances.

For example, the addition of John Innes or loam makes the compost more suitable to use on sowing seeds. They are also recommended for germination and growing of small roots and shoots. These are conditions that might not work to your advantage when you use just regular multi-purpose compost.

Feeding Period

Multi-purpose composts contain components that encourage longer retention but with continuous release of moisture and nutrition. The feeding in this type of compost can usually last between 6 weeks up to as long as 6 months.

What Is The Best Multi-Purpose Compost For Containers?

The multi-purpose compost can be used as seed compost and potting compost at the same time. It is formulated to encourage good aeration and drainage with the addition of essential nutrients. Hence, this makes it a suitable choice to use for growing plants in containers, planters, and hanging baskets.

Nevertheless, multi-purpose composts that are particularly added with loam or John Innes are most ideal for sowing seeds and cultivating young plants. The loam content provides good insulation that helps to protect the seeds and seedlings from fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Is Peat-Free Compost Better?

In the environmental sense, YES! Peat-free compost is a better choice. Peat is derived from peat bogs made out of both living and decaying Sphagnum moss. Peat bogs are known to absorb and store large amounts of carbon. Hence, significantly helping to mitigate climate change.

They also play an important role in absorbing great amounts of precipitation. And so, the continuous mining of peat can compromise our defense against flooding as well.

Apparently, peat is a limited resource. The depletion of it can eventually cause a significant impact on our environment in general. Thus, choosing peat-free alternatives for compost is a wiser and more eco-conscious choice for us gardeners.

What Is The Best Multi-Purpose Compost?

The best multi-purpose compost should have a well-balanced composition both in nutrients and structure. It should be able to provide your plants with proper aeration and drainage while continuously feeding them with sufficient nutrition. Moreover, it should contain organic materials that can create an optimum environment for plants to grow in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Products like the Westland Multi-Purpose Compost can deliver all that and more. Its versatility makes it ideal for almost any type of plant from seed to maturity. Not to mention, it is highly sustainable thus perfect for you, your plants, and the environment too.