Ericaceous

[LINCARE]

Hi , I asked my support worker to get me 2 bags of compost which I need to plant roses . He came back with 3 bags of ericaceous compost . I don't know much about gardening but I do know what plants this is intended for . Can anyone please tell me if I can safely use this for my roses ?

[woofgang]

oh dear....I have done a quick google and it looks like you should be fine.....does it say the Ph on the bag?

[Togo]

Ericaceous compost is for acidic soil loving, plants and shrubs. Roses can only tolerate mildly acidic soil. If your soil is already acidic it may be that this compost could have a negative effect on them. Neutral soil has a ph of about 7 and 6.5 is deemed to be mildly acidic. Roses will not thrive in a low ph soil and 5ph is about the lowest they will tolerate and thrive in. You would ideally need to lime the soil to increase the ph.

[Togo]

//Bone meal provides roses with rapidly available phosphorus to promote root and bloom growth.
•Cottonseed meal, fish meal, and blood meal provide high doses of nitrogen for full foliage growth.
•Epsom salts contain no nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium, but they do contain magnesium sulfate, making it a good additive to use on top of another fertilizer.//

http://www.wikihow.com/Fertilize-Roses

This may help LINCARE.

[roopower]

Ericaceous compost is very good for blueberry bushes!

[maggiebee]

I use ericaceous compost for my camellia and miniature rhododendrons which like acid soil.

[hammerman]

Blimey.....a thread that chipchopper has taken over.