UK compost
What compost for lady of the night in the UK?
Brassavola nodosa
More about lady of the night in the UK
Which compost lady of the night needs
For lady of the night the mix to buy is peat-free multipurpose compost cut roughly half-and-half with horticultural grit or perlite. Grows well in a small pot of coarse bark and charcoal, or mounted on cork or a wood slab to mimic its epiphytic habit. Sharp drainage and fast drying at the roots are essential.In British garden centres the bagged growing medium is sold simply as “compost” (multipurpose, ericaceous, or loam-based John Innes), which is a different thing from the rotted garden “compost” you make in a heap — for a pot you want the bagged kind.
Peat-free compost
Buy peat-free. The sale of peat compost to home gardeners is being phased out across the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free on environmental grounds. A good peat-free multipurpose grows lady of the night perfectly well; the one habit to change is watering — peat-free dries faster at the surface while still moist below, so check by feel a knuckle deep rather than trusting the look of the top.
Ericaceous or multipurpose?
Lady of the Night does not want a rich, water-holding compost — it wants sharp drainage. Cut peat-free multipurpose roughly half-and-half with horticultural grit, sharp sand or perlite, and always pot into a container with drainage holes. A "cactus and succulent" bagged mix is a ready-made shortcut.
For the full recipe, pH and drainage detail (US wording), see the lady of the night soil & potting-mix guide.
Compost for Lady of the Night in the UK — frequently asked questions
What compost should I use for lady of the night in the UK?
Use peat-free multipurpose compost cut roughly half-and-half with horticultural grit or perlite. Grows well in a small pot of coarse bark and charcoal, or mounted on cork or a wood slab to mimic its epiphytic habit. Sharp drainage and fast drying at the roots are essential. In UK garden centres this is sold simply as "compost" — the bagged growing medium, not garden-made leaf-mould — so match the description above rather than a brand.
Can I use ordinary multipurpose compost for lady of the night?
Not on its own — multipurpose compost holds too much water for lady of the night and will rot the roots. Cut it roughly 50:50 with horticultural grit, sharp sand or perlite so it drains fast.
Should the compost be peat-free?
Yes. Sales of peat compost to home gardeners are being phased out in the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free for environmental reasons. Modern peat-free multipurpose composts grow lady of the night perfectly well — they dry a little faster at the surface, so check moisture by feel rather than by the look of the top.
Does lady of the night need grit or perlite added?
Yes — lady of the night must have sharp drainage. Add about one part horticultural grit or perlite to one part compost, and always use a pot with drainage holes.
What pot and drainage does lady of the night need?
Always a pot with drainage holes. Very free-draining bark, or mounted. Stand it on a saucer, empty any water that collects after watering, and never leave the pot sitting in a full outer cover — waterlogged compost in a cool UK room is the commonest cause of root rot.
More lady of the night care
See the full lady of the night care guide, its UK watering and UK hardiness.