When you get into the market of compost, it can be a little overwhelming when you see so many different types of compost. How do you figure out which one is good for your particular plant?
Also, not every compost is the same, different type of compost comes with different properties which affect every plant in a different way. So you should first know your plant and then you should give the plant the compost it needs.
Table of Contents
Here we’ll be seeing what different composts exist in the market and how you can choose the best one for you.
Different types of Compost
Here are a few different types of composts that are available in the market.
Vermicompost or Worm Compost
Vermicompost or worm compost is created when compost material is decomposed by worms in it. It is by far the most common form of compost that is widely available everywhere. Worms like red wigglers eat the organic waste and the waste travels through their body, the end product we get is vermicompost. Check this blog if you wanna know more about Making worm compost at home.
This compost is bio-active and natural and is best for seed germination. Worm compost contains all the nutrients in very balanced quantities so it can be used in any garden and they support all plants very well.
SUITABLE FOR: Majorly for flowering and fruit-giving plants. Just maintain the proper ratio and vermicompost can be used with all kinds of plants.
Seed Compost
Seed compost is compost that is used for the germination of seeds. It supports the initial growth of plants and seedlings. It is peat free and contains nutrients in little lower quantities, also the nitrogen content of this compost is low so that the roots don’t get burnt at the very beginning of a plant’s life. In the market, people also call it germination soil or seeding mix.
SUITABLE FOR: Majorly for seeds till their root structure is strong.
FarmYard Compost
Farmyard compost is made up of farm animals’ poop. Like horses, cows and buffaloes. It is perfect for any plant or tree in the garden or farm growth but be careful with it. Some farmyard compost is very strong which can cause damage to your plants so it’s very important to use it carefully. It’s usually just distributed over the ground and it slowly mixes with the soil so that it provides the plants with nutrients slowly.
SUITABLE FOR: Used in farms and gardens. Can be used with all plants.
Peat Free Compost
As the name suggests, peat-free compost doesn’t contain any peat in it. It is made up of organic material and is a safer option for the environment. Usually, peat-free compost is much more expensive as compared to compost with peat. Also, they have a higher nutrient value as compared to compost with peat and should be used very carefully as too many nutrients can lead to the burning or rotting of roots.
SUITABLE FOR: Seaside plants majorly. It is a more common compost now and can be used for all kinds of plants.
Peat Compost
This compost contains peat in it. It is now being avoided in some places due to less nutrient content and also, and it is harmful to wildlife and the environment. So in the coming times, we’ll probably get completely rid of this compost.
SUITABLE FOR: Can be used with all types of plants which require moisture and is also good for seed growth.
Green Compost
This is usually used by farmers. After harvesting the food from the farm, farmers grow greens on their farm and then later destroy them and mix them in the farmland which in turn converts into compost and restores the nutrients of the soil. This practice is usually followed when farmers want to grow cotton, maize, rice, and sugarcane on their farms.
SUITABLE FOR: Good for plants which require Nitrogen
Ericaceous Compost
These are composts which are highly acidic in nature and are a good option for plants which require acidic soil for their growth. “Ericaceae” is a family of plants which prefer this type of compost.
SUITABLE FOR: Ericaceae plants and acid-loving plants.
Succulent plant compost
The compost of succulent plants is low in nutrients and is made in a way that its water-draining power is high. It contains sand or grit so it can work like normal sand for the plant.
SUITABLE FOR: Succulent plants which have thick leaves and maintain water content in themself. Like cactus, aloe vera and other similar plants.
Loam Based Compost
This compost is prepared by mixing 3 components: soil, clay and sand. Its PH value lies between 5.5-7 and is usually neutral. This compost is sometimes mixed with other organic matter and peat. It can be used in your garden like a normal compost mix.
SUITABLE FOR: Vegetables-based plants and plants which are going to stay in the same place, loam-based compost is the best option for them.
Wood Chippings Compost
Wood chipping compost is made out of wood and is very high in carbon content and low in nitrogen content than most of the composts in the market. Wood compost also helps improve the soil structure and increase the drainage capacity of the soil. This wood compost is very good for the beneficial fungus in your soil. Know how to Prepare Wood Compost, it’s Advantages & Disadvantages in our blog.
SUITABLE FOR: If you’re someone who’s focused on growing Mushrooms, then this compost is perfect for you.
Biochar Compost
Biochar is a substance which is produced when the organic waste from forests and farms is burnt. The process used to burn this waste is called pyrolysis, in this process, the material is burnt in an environment with less Oxygen, which leads to the preservation of a lot of carbon just inside the material. Know everything about Biochar here.
When this material is used to make the compost, the final compost is very high in carbon content.
SUITABLE FOR: Biochar works well with almost all types of plants.
Mushroom Compost
Mushroom Compost is alkaline in nature and is usually made out of Straw, Chicken Manure and Peat. The Carbon Nitrogen ratio of Mushroom compost is 13:1 and it’s PH lies between 6-7 which makes it an excellent compost to grow Mushrooms in it.
SUITABLE FOR: It’s majorly prepared to grow Mushrooms and other fungi-based plants.
Sheep Wool Compost
This can be termed as a replacement for peat. Sheep wool compost when mixed with other organic materials to make compost provides a good compost. It is not very widely used. This compost, cause of having sheep wool in it has nice Nitrogen content and it releases it very slowly making it good for plants which usually require high nitrogen content. Read our Blog on How to Make Wool Compost and its Benefits.
SUITABLE FOR: They eliminate weed growth in the soil and are very good for growing fruit-based plants like strawberries or plants which require more water.
Leaf Mold Compost
As suggested by the name, this compost is made out of fallen leaves and those leaves come in the category of “browns” so they have high carbon content and are good for increasing the carbon content of the soil. If you wanna know more about Leaf Mold check out this blog of ours: What is Leaf Mold Compost? How to make and use it?
SUITABLE FOR: For growing Bonsai plants and succulent plants leaf mold compost is very good.
