The ultimate galanthus compost?

[uvularia]

I have only recently been growing Galanthus in pots. I was wondering what people thought was considered to be the best mix? My early attempts were in 9 cm pots with a peat/coir based compost. I soon found that this was not any good. I have moved to aquapots and made an open gritty mix. Things seem to be going ok, but would love to hear what people think is the best mix. Mine is 20% peat 20% coir 30% grit 10% perlite 15% loam 5% bark by volume. I use coir purely to reduce peat. I use slow release Osmocote. Any way things seem good but it is early days.

[Brian Ellis]

It changes, we are all trying to find the ideal compost for our situation!  The latest mix I use is

2 parts john Innes no.3,
1 part sharp sand,
1 part perlite,
0.6 part leafmould
and 0.4 multipurpose compost

with slow release fertiliser

[Hagen Engelmann]

I agree with Brian total and use shreddered beech leaves additional.

[Thomas Seiler]

But the problem for us here when reading English recipes is, that we cannot buy these John Innes mixtures   
What do you take for John Innes no. 3, Hagen? 

[johnralphcarpenter]

John Innes recipes here: http://www.gardeningknowledge.co.uk/JohnInnesIngredients.asp

[Thomas Seiler]

Thank you, johnralphcarpenter 
The main problem here in Germany is that you can't buy a loam based compost and have to mix it ourselves.

[Martin Baxendale]

Pumice grit is great mixed into composts for snowdrops in pots. It is lighter than grit  and it provides both good drainage and good aeration. Moler baked clay granules are also good for the same reasons.

[Alan_b]

We all experience different temperatures and different amounts of rainfall, may or may not use bulb frames and will have different watering regimes.  I think it very unlikely that one single compost recipe will fit all conditions.

[ichristie]

Heavy snow today so no hope to see snowdrops but this will please Santa may he bring you everything you wish for cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[uvularia]

It changes, we are all trying to find the ideal compost for our situation!  The latest mix I use is

2 parts john Innes no.3,
1 part sharp sand,
1 part perlite,
0.6 part leafmould
and 0.4 multipurpose compost

with slow release fertiliser

Thanks Brian. That is really helpful. I have used John Innes before but I find that it gets very compacted after a time. It definitely needs opening out. It was interesting to read that Beech leaf-mould is good. Which begs the question on pH? Different leaf-moulds will bring different a pH to a compost. Has anyone tried other leaf-moulds?

I was also wondering if it was beneficial to add some mycorrhizae. There seems to be a number of different mycorrhizae on the market all claiming benefits.

I mentioned in my first post that I use Osmocote, but I was wondering how beneficial that was given that Galanthus do most of there growing at soil temperatures too low for the slow release to be activated until late March. Maybe there are some other fertilizers that are more readily available to the plants?

[Brian Ellis]

My leafmould is not purely beech, in fact it is a hotchpotch of everything I can lay my hands on...lime, oak, walnut, apple, pear, plum, magnolia....and varies from year to year.

I have also added mycorrhizae with good results. 

[chasw]

Mine too Brian ,any leaves in the garden