Melcourt SylvaGrow Houseplant Compost Review

Overview

Melcourt makes several distinct peat-free product lines, and it’s worth being precise about which one this is. Its SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose is a general garden compost. SylvaGrow Houseplant belongs to Melcourt’s separate SylvaGrow Indoor Range: a blend of fine bark and wood fibre — by-products of sustainably managed forests — with coir from sustainable sources in India, sold in a resealable 5-litre bag.

Melcourt pitches it at a wide range of houseplants, naming Monstera, spider plant, Philodendron, and peace lily.

What’s Different From the Multi-Purpose Bag

A multi-purpose compost has to work across garden beds, containers, and general use, so it’s a compromise mix. The Houseplant formulation is built for pots: fine bark and wood fibre, blended with coir for moisture retention. The practical upshot should be structure. Mixes that break down and compact in a pot let water channel straight past the root ball; bark-based particles are designed to hold a crumb structure for longer.

It’s made in the UK, contains no green waste, is vegan-friendly, and Melcourt is a member of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme. The packaging uses at least 30% post-consumer recycled plastic.

Nutrients and Feeding

Melcourt says it contains balanced nutrients for the first 4–6 weeks of growth. After that, it recommends a liquid feed through spring and summer, or slow-release fertiliser granules mixed in. That’s a shorter window than Dalefoot’s, which claims twelve months of feed from its wool and comfrey. It isn’t a flaw so much as a different design: SylvaGrow Houseplant is a structurally sound base you feed on a normal schedule.

Price per Litre vs Price per Bag

Per litre, SylvaGrow Houseplant is the more expensive option: around £6–£11 for 5 litres works out at roughly £1.20–£2.20 a litre, against around 43p a litre for a 30-litre bag of Dalefoot bought direct. But most houseplant keepers don’t need 30 litres. If you’re repotting a handful of plants, a small resealable bag of a purpose-made mix is a lower outlay and less waste than a large sack that sits open in a cupboard.

Where Dalefoot Wins

For a bigger collection, Dalefoot is cheaper per litre and claims far longer feeding, and its wool is designed to hold moisture in a way a bark-and-coir blend isn’t. If you’re repotting a lot of plants at once, it’s the better buy.

The Verdict

SylvaGrow Houseplant is a genuinely different, purpose-built product from Melcourt’s multi-purpose bag — formulated for pots, RHS-endorsed, award-winning, and sold in a size that suits houseplant repotting. It costs more per litre than Dalefoot, so it isn’t the thrift option on a large collection. For a small collection, though, it’s the sensible peat-free default.

Sources

• Melcourt: SylvaGrow Houseplant product page — ingredients, bag size, 4–6 week nutrient claim, feeding advice, suitable plants, RHS endorsement, RSS membership, UK-made, packaging.
• Melcourt: SylvaGrow House Plant wins Glee 2025 New Product award — Growing Materials category; Indoor Range launch.
• UK prices checked October 2026: House Home & Garden, Fargro.
• Dalefoot comparison: Wool Compost for Potting.

Correction, October 2026: an earlier version of this page said SylvaGrow Houseplant cost roughly half Dalefoot’s price per litre. It costs considerably more per litre; its advantage is a smaller bag and lower outlay. See how we review.