UK compost
What compost for olympic st. john's wort in the UK?
Hypericum olympicum
More about olympic st. john's wort in the UK
Which compost olympic st. john's wort needs
For olympic st. john's wort the mix to buy is peat-free multipurpose compost cut roughly half-and-half with horticultural grit or perlite. Thrives in poor to moderately fertile, fast-draining rocky or gritty soil. Excellent in scree mixes (50% grit: 50% loam) or raised beds. Tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline pH. Rich, moist soils cause lax, floppy growth and susceptibility to root rot — especially in wet winters.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 olympic st. john's wort 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?
Olympic St. John's Wort 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 olympic st. john's wort soil & potting-mix guide.
Compost for Olympic St. John's Wort in the UK — frequently asked questions
What compost should I use for olympic st. john's wort in the UK?
Use peat-free multipurpose compost cut roughly half-and-half with horticultural grit or perlite. Thrives in poor to moderately fertile, fast-draining rocky or gritty soil. Excellent in scree mixes (50% grit: 50% loam) or raised beds. Tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline pH. Rich, moist soils cause lax, floppy growth and susceptibility to root rot — especially in wet winters. 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 olympic st. john's wort?
Not on its own — multipurpose compost holds too much water for olympic st. john's wort 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 olympic st. john's wort perfectly well — they dry a little faster at the surface, so check moisture by feel rather than by the look of the top.
Does olympic st. john's wort need grit or perlite added?
Yes — olympic st. john's wort 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 olympic st. john's wort need?
Always a pot with drainage holes. Sharply drained, gritty or sandy loam, pH 6.0–7.5. 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 olympic st. john's wort care
See the full olympic st. john's wort care guide, its UK watering and UK hardiness.