Saxifragas growing mixture

[John85]

What do you think of the mixture recommended on tv program gardener's world:half compost,half grit.
Is that not too water retentive?
I thought that they needed a much leaner mixture .
Planting a strong grower like sedum acre next to them seems also a bit strange.

[Maggi Young]

That sounds too rich to me- we use at least twice as much grit to soil in any mix we would use for Saxifrages.

TV gardening programmes are a law unto themselves though, John, so it is no surprise to see such strange advice - they are seldom very accurate- mostly repeating  old "canards" without proper attention or experience. 

[Helen Johnstone]

Oh good I'm glad you thought it was rich.  I sat there tutting and then told myself I knew nothing as I was new to alpines but I know that I used lots of grit, JI No 3 as well as gritty sand which I cant remember the name of.  He also said it didnt matter what compost you used which I also tutted at and he crammed far to many in the pan.  The sedums alone will fill the pan in a year.