Alternative to peat for John Innes mixes

I'm going to mix my own John Innes compost again this year and I'm again looking for an alternative to peat. I need something to replace the water and nutrient retention properties of peat. I've used composted garden waste and well-rotted horse manure in the past but these throw out the carefully formulated John Innes nutrient formula.

The RHS mention wood fibre, Coir and biosolids from sewage treatment. Wood fibre and Coir will have a fairly low nutrient value but I suspect biosolids will be much richer.

Has anyone tried other things as a peat replacement? Maybe the composted waste from the local recycling centre? I guess this stuff, as a soil conditioner, is fairly nutrient high?

Any thoughts for a peat substitute my John Innes mixes would be great.

 

I believe Irish Moss Peat is still available. I use a mixture of multi purpose compost, sometimes sifted for a finer grade. I add to this about the same amount by volume coir. Sometimes I add conifer needles (leaves) that are well browned. If the compost is intended for pots and containers, a few handfulls of Perlite are added. Plus a few handfulls of course grit. I am of the old school and so my mixing is partly by volume and the rest by what looks good to me.

My friend Richard Hyde, H W Hyde & Son. Lilies. He has trialed a compost made from Bracken supplied by, Dalefoot Composts. The results are for all to see. Check out Gold Medal winners at the Chelsea Show.

As a PS. For lily lovers. Remember,Oriental lilies prefer an acid compost. Asiatics prefer mainly an alkaline compost but some will tolerate acid. Hope this helps.

 

Sorry, but there are no alternatives to @pete