Anyone else ever had a bad compost that kills your plants?

[SallyWD]

I went to Homebase just over a week ago and bought lots of bedding plants, a big expensive hydrangea and some organic multipurpose compost. I planted the plants in the ground and in pots and for a few days they all looked healthy and happy. They were in all in a good position (all in different positions but all equally sunny but not too sunny) and I watered them each day just to keep the soil moist. However after about 4 days every plant that I'd planted in the new compost went droopy! I watered them but they contibued to droop and have now all died. I'm certain it's the compost as I used another compost for some plants and they're all thriving.

It's such a shame. I spent over £50 on these plants and compost. It's always my favourite time of year when I start planting up the garden. I will complain to Homebase but I just wondered if anyone had experienced this before? It seems bizarre to me that a compost could actually kill plants. Even if it was poor quality compost you'd only expect the plants not to thrive. Every single plant has dropped dead!

I wonder if you have over watered the plants? Its much better giving them a good soak every 3 or 4 days rather than topping them up every day. Did the plants have much if a root ball on them when you planted them up and do the pots have drainage holes in them?

@bilbodog Thanks for your reply. I'm sure I didn't over water them as I'm really careful not to. I just wanted to keep the soil slightly moist. Some plants were planted in the ground and others in pots with drainage holes. I used an old compost on some plants and they're doing well. Every single plant I used the new compost on has died. I usually have quite green fingers and all my plants thrive so this is very strange.

Yes, compost could've been contaminated with weedkiller. Have you bought your compost recently?? Please talk to the seller.

I haven't had any experience with Homebase compost but Charles Dowding and the RHS have written about compost and manure being contaminated with the weed killer pyralid in the past.

I haven't had it personally, though I've had tomatoes do less well in some random old compost I had to use when I couldn't get any in lockdown.

Hydrangeas like ericaceous compost and/or a more acid and well-drained soil. Also lots of water. I don't have much luck with them as our soil is quite alkaline.

I think its blue hydrangeas that need ericacious compost - mine have always been blue or white and have lived for years in ordinary compost.

Thanks for your comments everyone. It's interesting to hear avout some composts being contaminated. I'll definitely mention it to Homebase. Maybe they've had other reports. It's not just my hydrangea that's died - everything has. Geraniums, snap dragons, salvia, lobelia etc.

Me, unfortunately! 2or 3 years ago, my big compost order was contaminated with aminopyralid. Absolutely gutting.

If you google it, you'll see that there is a tell-tale curling of the leaves. Does this match what you have?

It impacts most plant families, but not grasses so you would be OK using it for that, if you're growing any.

@TheSpottedZebra Yes the leaves are all curling! I think you've solved the mystery. Thank you.

Oh no, that is a shame.
It's devastating to plants-and to growers.