Sorghum Peat Moss

Peat moss is used by professionals and consumers to make growing media or to incorporate into a garden or landscape as soil conditioner. The most common use for peat moss is for producing professional and consumer growing media to grow plants. This is a field of sphagnum peat that is in the process of being harvested.

What is the difference between sphagnum moss and peat moss?

Peat moss can retain up to 70% water. Sphagnum moss has discernable plant parts, is very pliable, long-fibered, and has a soft spongy texture while the sphagnum peat moss is more decomposed with no recognizable plant parts, has short fibers, and finer texture.

What plants is peat moss good for?

Great for plants that need acidic soil: Gardeners often use peat moss to manage soil pH. When planting species that thrive in acidic soil—such as blueberries or azaleas—mix peat moss into your potting soil to achieve an acidic pH. Peat moss can also help neutralize alkaline soil by bringing down the overall pH.

Why gardeners should stop using peat moss?

The loudest argument, though, in the call for “bogs not bags” — as in, don't harvest it from the bog to bag it for sale — is the critical role of peatlands as vast carbon sinks. Peat extraction releases substantial CO2, a greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change.

Which one is the disadvantage of using sphagnum peat moss?

✗ Too acidic for some plants There's a downside to that, too. Peat moss can make the soil too acidic for plants that need an alkaline or neutral soil pH. Before using peat moss in your garden, find out if your plants can tolerate acidic soil. Otherwise, you might end up killing them.

Should I mix peat moss with soil?

Since peat moss is acidic, it has the effect of reducing pH levels in alkaline soils. If a soil test indicates that your soil is too alkaline, mixing in some peat moss will help bring it down.

What is the highest quality peat moss?

Peat Moss is abundant and environmentally sustainable, it grows many times faster than it is harvested (in Latvia). Sphagnum species—the source of the highest quality peat for horticultural purposes.

Does peat moss attract bugs?

Any organic mulch, whether it's derived from leaves, grass clippings, compost, wheat straw, or peat moss, has the most tendency to attract bugs and unwanted pests.

What is a good substitute for peat moss?

Peat Moss Alternatives

• Coconut Coir. Coconut coir, also known as coco peat or coir peat, is rapidly gaining popularity and is the best-known alternative to peat moss.
• Wood-Based Materials. ...
• Compost. ...
• Pine Needles. ...
• Rice Hulls. ...
• Leaf Mold. ...
• Composted Manure.

Can you grow plants in just peat moss?

Unlike other organic materials such as manure compost, peat moss is very poor in nutrients. It also doesn't contain any helpful microbes. So that means you can use peat moss as an amendment to the soil and other materials, but you cannot use it alone and expect the plants will grow strongly and properly.

Which is better compost or peat moss?

For plants that like a more alkaline soil, compost is a much better option. As peat moss doesn't break down readily or compact, just one application can last for several years before needing to be replaced. Peat also doesn't contain harmful microorganisms or pesky weed seeds that may be present in poorly made compost.

What are the disadvantages of peat?

Peat soil is a non-renewable resource. The most significant downside to peat soil is that it is an unsustainable, non-renewable resource. Harvesting peat soil can contribute to climate change by releasing greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide and methane into the air.

What is a major problem with peat moss?

It breaks down too fast, compressing and squeezing air out of the soil, creating an unhealthy condition for plant roots. Peat moss can be a useful growing medium for containers, however, when lightened with a drainage material like perlite. The biggest problem with peat moss is that it's environmentally bankrupt.

What is the controversy with peat moss?

But using peat moss is controversial, as it's considered a non-renewable resource: it's harvested from vast carbon sinks called peat bogs, which help us in the fight against climate change.

How long does peat moss take to decompose?

Peat moss protects soil from hardening and adds organic material. Make Better Compost. Peat moss speeds the composting process, reduces odours and controls air and water in the compost pile. Peat moss decomposes slowly over several years compared to compost which typically decomposes within one year.

How long does peat moss last in soil?

Since it doesn't compact or break down readily, one application of peat moss lasts for several years. Peat moss doesn't contain harmful microorganisms or weed seeds that you may find in poorly processed compost. Peat moss is an important component of most potting soils and seed starting mediums.

Is coconut coir the same as peat moss?

Unlike peat moss, coco coir peat needs less water to achieve the same level of hydration. In addition, coco peat is not spoiled after use – it's possible to wash and reuse coco peat once a gardening project has come to an end and the soil is no longer needed.

Can you mix sphagnum moss with soil?

Mixing it with sandy soil will help hold onto needed moisture that may otherwise drain away. Mixing it into clay soil will help loosen the soil and allow it to drain better. In addition, keep in mind that peat moss has a very acidic pH level while sphagnum moss has a neutral pH level.

Do you water after peat moss?

Peat's porous micro-structure enables it to hold many times its own weight in water. It is dehydrated for sale but should be re-moistened before use. Ironically, when peat moss is dry it is hydrophobic – it repels water! Moisture beads up and rolls off, instead of quickly soaking in.

Can you add too much peat moss?

Is Too Much Peat Moss Bad For Plants? Like any soil amendment, too much peat moss can cause trouble for specific plants. Adding this material to a given potting mix will lower its overall pH, which isn't always beneficial. As we stated earlier, delicate plants, especially flowers, don't always need acidity.