Well drained soil

Is there a generic recipe for well drained soil? Last year I bought four small globe thistle plants , when they needed potting on I looked online to see their requirements which was "Well-drained, Moist but well-drained" so with this in mind i mixed some perlite in with a multi purpose compost, outcome 2 dead plants and 2 just about hung on, don't want to make the same mistake again so a tried and tested mixture would be really helpful.
Thanks

 

Main thing for echinops, is this what you are referring to mazambo?, is sunshine.

Did you grow them in containers? I find they are more suitable for growing in the open ground. Did you plant them out as too small specimens?
My feeling is that maybe your compost was too DRY? Mpc dries out fast and is difficult to rehydrate

Generic recipe for well drained soil?? No, not really because it depends on the plants you are growing. Echeverias, for example, need very sharp drainage...plenty of grit for example and a dry collar of it around the crowns; similarly with lavendar.

Research every plant's individual needs and mix compost accordingly I think. It's what I do.

I use john innes instead of mpc in pots. It holds moisture and nutrients more evenly.

 

I think the thing to bear in mind is that well drained does not mean dry.

Last summer was pretty hot and most container plants needed watering once if not twice a day.

Personally I hate perlite, its rubbish, better off using grit, and I also prefer JI type compost, but usually add some MP compost to take away that muddy feel when wet, it can get a bit heavy on its own.

 

@Verdun, @pete, thanks,
To be honest, I lost the plants after the hot sunny spell, we had rain and the plants seemed waterlogged and I think the roots rotted off, I assume the perlite held the water? I'm sowing a lot of agastache, verbena and echinops seeds so I need a good free draining mix. Think I'll go with grit, don't suppose you'd be interested in a very large bag of perlite pete

 

Ah! Agastaches are a favourite of mine mazambo....they are usually hardy down here. There are some tasty varieties esp the kudos varieties. Easy from cuttings too
The secret is not to water them unless during a really dry spell. Treat em mean and they will flower all summer long.
Actually I use perlite but mainly for propagation....seed composts and cuttings ...so dont throw it away