Yellow ball shaped bits in potting compost

Hi, probably a stupid question but what are the yellow ball shaped bits in my potting compost? The compost is a non peat based one and looks mainly like coconut husks. I buy it made up by my local garden center but I'm just worried in case these are insect eggs or weeds etc.

 

My guess is they are slow release fertilister balls.

 

Very likely, Dave - they've caused many worried gardeners problems in the past, and will no doubt continue to do so!

 

Thanks for that. When you see something that sticks out like a sore thumb in your compost you get a bit worried about what you are bringing into your garden. I imagine as the non peat composts are not as good yet as the peat based ones they probably do add fertiliser balls to boost the nutritional value.

 

These slow release capsules also come in a rather unpleasant green too.
Almost all insect eggs are either clear or too small to see with the naked eye.
Peat has no nutritional value. It is used because it holds on to moisture and thus dissolved plant food. Non-peat based composts are not always as good at holding on to water, so they need more watering and thus more food, hence the capsules.

 

Thanks for that Palustris.

 

Non peat-based composts such as coir are not as good as peat at retaining nutrients and leach out so extra fertiliser is sometimes needed.
I have been told many times by the public about our compost having vine weevil eggs only to be corrected that it is simply a harmless slow release fertiliser. :rolleyes:

 

Just picked one of the yellow balls up and burst in my hand with no pressure at all. Seemed almost dry and I imagine eggs to be much firmer and not dry inside. These are either some sort of seeds but more probably fertiliser pellets. Looked at a picture of the weevil eggs and they were much more vividly coloured, the ones in my soil and plain egg yolk yellow. Thanks for the reference though as I can imagine how people may jump to that conclusion after seeing a picture like this.

 

Trouble is they do not give any indication of the scale of the eggs shown. How is one supposed to be able to recognise them when you have no idea of the real size of them?

 

Went to one of my garden centres today to buy a Cornus kousa and it had the yellow pellets in and they are indeed fertiliser pellets. Thank heavens.

 

Now this topic has answered my question! You learn something new every day....!