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John Innes Composts

This website provides an overview of John Innes Composts, explaining the history and the story and idea behind the original John Innes Composts developed by the John Innes Centre (previously the John Innes Horticultural Institution) and explaining the new Genie™ range of composts developed in association with and endorsed by the John Innes Foundation.

In the 1930's the original John Innes Composts were developed at the John Innes Horticultural Institution in order to provide reliable and fit for purpose high quality growing media ('composts'). These composts were formulated into different grades and they were based on loam, peat and sand as the main ingredients.

The use of ingredients such as loam and peat does in today's world represent an environmental problem (see Environmental challenges). The John Innes Foundation has therefore been involved during 2005 and 2006 in the development of a new type of plant growing medium, called the Genie™ range of composts.

The Genie™ composts are based only on environmentally sustainable materials, all of which are UK sourced, unlike many other commercially available types of compost. The main ingredient of the Genie™ compost is composted recycled plant material which is produced by a unique in-vessel process.

Thorough testing has demonstrated the reliability of these composts; the Genie™ composts therefore provide a reliable and environment friendly alternative to the original John Innes Composts recipes. They are available in three purpose-specific grades designed, respectively for sowing & cutting, potting and final potting. There is also general use Multi-Purpose Genie™ compost.

©2006 PBL
Genie™ and The Evolution of Compost™ are trademarks of PBL.
The John Innes Foundation logo is a trademark of the John Innes Foundation.