We, gardeners, use peat moss either to make growing mediums or to incorporate it into a garden or landscape as a soil conditioner. So buyer beware. Because of its ability to hold water and nutrients well, peat moss is a good choice for hydroponic gardens. Both can be very easy to come by: simply piling up and turning rotting leaves occasionally in your own yard to compost over winter can ensure you have a good supply of a free, sustainable soil improver. Compost is full of nutrients and is an organic source for NPK for plants. If youve spent any time trying to go peat-free, you know how hard it is. Find out what is peat moss, does it hold water, or go bad? It wasnt really until the middle part of the 20th century that the horticultural industry in Britain swapped from similar formulas over to peat, largely because its lower weight made it cheaper to transport, and thus more profitable. There are plenty of other options for improving your soil without contributing to the use of peat moss and the subsequent decline of peat moss bogs. However, sphagnum moss can be a more sustainable soil amendment as it requires far less time to decompose than peat moss. Holly Crossley, our Senior Content Editor (Gardens), explains: 'Harvesting peat moss is very damaging for the environment. I usually use compost and well-rotted cow manure but Ive never tried coconut coir in place of peat. By growing in peat you are essentially growing hydroponically in an inert substrate - with all the drawbacks and none of the benefits. Plants that like peat moss are usually acid-loving, such as azaleas or blueberries, for example. Are they the same? Peat is a very common component in both nursery and greenhouse mixes. If you have your own livestock, or live near a farm and dont mind the distinct aroma, composted manure is one of the best alternatives to peat moss when added to soil or used as mulch. Is there any difference between peat moss and potting, Read More Can you Grow Plants Only In Peat Moss? A very similar situation and concern exists in most of the continental U.S.A. where many wetlands have also disappeared over time. Things like sedges, reeds, mosses, and grasses are some of the common ingredients of peat moss. Green-waste compost contains a lot of nutrients, but they are released more slowly, especially nitrogen, so they may need an initial boost of feed.'. Regarding environmental factors, coco peat has a higher cost in shipping and processing; however, this is offset by the fact that coconuts are already being grown and harvested for consumption. As much as I think in gardening, as in all creative pursuits, a diversity of views is essential, it is an objective reality that the continued use of peat as a growing medium can not be defended from an environmental point of view. By doing so you are not only damaging the moss but are also destroying the natural habitat of plants like sundews, butterwort, and bog rosemary. One thing that is for sure, though, is that local groups resent and resist further mining of peatlands. But also, peatlands absorb carbon dioxide from the air, so destroying them can contribute to global warming. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. It's added used by gardeners to improve soil health. Peat moss is used in some hanging basket liners and as biodegradble pots for seedlings. Now, sourcing a soil conditioner closer to home would be a positive for the environment, but not this carbon nonsense. Why is Using Peat Moss Bad for the Environment? Peat moss has a lightweight and spongy texture. Most of us add compost to improve our soil's nutrient content and drainage as a matter of course, and, of course, it's something keen gardeners can make at home themselves. LECA also helps to aerate the roots and promote healthy growth. Wood-based materials have been added to commercial potting mixes for decades as a way to improve water retention and add organic matter. The difference between the two is visible even at a glance, as sphagnum moss retains its mossy appearance, while broken-down peat moss has a more soil-like texture and appearance. These peat moss-based potting mixes also have perlite, vermiculite, and other added nutrients. Some of these, you can even make without spending a single extra cent. This quality makes them ideal for use as packing material for sending flowers and live plants. It is usually formed in mild climates, such as those found in the northern hemisphere. Like every other plant in the moss family, Sphagnum also contains spores, inhaling which can be dangerous. When we know better, we do better. Wood-based materials are relatively inexpensive. Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens since 1990, working her way around theinteriors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-nineties. However, he points out that the CSPMA does engage in aggressive restoration efforts, including reseeding from nearby bogs to get the sphagnum-to-peat process going again. To get a sense of that, listen to this interview with a scientist about the recent discovery that these peat bogs can break into flame and then smolder problematically for generations. To receive the magazine, become a member now. Peat moss makes soil better able to absorb and hold water, but it isn't required. When choosing your wood-based materials, be sure to use ones that come from untreated wood, Locally sourced is best if you can find it, as this will help ensure the health of your soil. Lets start with talking about one of the best and easiest soil amendments you can use as an alternative to peat moss. However, the difference comes from the way they are harvested. Peatlands are delicate habitats that consume a lot of the world's . Peat moss often makes up 30-80% of potting mixes. You can mix other growing mediums like perlite, vermiculite, etc, to add aeration and adjust the PH of this medium. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Peat moss is quite dusty, and it can easily get messy. She points out that it actually helps with both of these needs, acting like tiny sponges throughout the soil that hold the water and slowly release it as a plant's roots need it. It is being harvested faster than we could ever grow it, essentially making it non-renewable. Peat is created from organic matter that is submerged in the bogs. Disrupted or desiccated peatlands, which is what happens when we harvest them. Peat moss can become a very useful growing medium for containers when you add a drainage material like perlite to it. Swapping to peat moss alternatives, such as homemade compost, will be your biggest step, but you also need to ensure that the plants you buy from growers aren't in peat. If you have ever watered a parched plant and seen the moisture literally run off the surface and down the sides of the pot, thats whats happening. She was Associate Editor on Ideal Home, and Launch Editor of 4Homes magazine, before moving into digital in 2007, launching Channel 4's flagship website, Channel4.com/4homes. Learn more about why coir is the best peat moss alternative in this article. Even though it retains water, peat moss prevents soil from becoming too water-logged because it releases moisture slowly. In our earlier article, we discussed different soilless growing mediums. Rice hulls also come with a neutral pH, making them an excellent organic way to balance soil. Look no further than coco coir! . Even a small garden has room for a compost can and all you need to make wonderful, crumbly, garden-boosting compost is green kitchen peelings, grass clipping and chopped up woody prunings.'. But its extraction rate far exceeded its re-growth rate. Almost any potted plant you can buy grows in a soil mix that contains peat moss, and most bagged potting soil does as well. 'No producer currently explains on the bag how the consumer needs to use their material compared to how they used peat. Generally, the acidifying effect will last up to 2 years. The processing and shipping of coconut coir make it a less favorable green alternative; however, coconuts are grown and harvested for consumption already, so it is considered an eco-friendlier alternative to peat moss. This soil amendment does not do much visible harm to the soil itselfif it did, it likely would not make it into so many potting and soil mixes! Many gardeners use peat moss to help fertilize plants, but this method can result in soil degradation and nutrient-deficient crops. Based on the moss transfer technique developed through the research program, a sphagnum dominated plant cover is re-established within 3-5 years following restoration, biodiversity and hydrology is approaching pre harvest conditions and carbon sequestration should become a net sink within 15-20 years.. Peat moss is good for plants because it is virtually weed-free, and also is not infested with insects and pathogens. New components increase air-flow for better compost efficiency, odor removal, moisture control, and to save worms. In this regard, why is peat bad for the environment? Here are 3 main reasons why you should not use peat moss as mulch: 1. You can try them as well. Wetlands provide carbon sinks, storing large amounts of carbon and are therefore important in the context of climate change, reducing the impact of global warming and in lessening levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. So there may be some misaligned incentive. Almanac Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved. Find out about our mission, and our team, here. It is typically mixed with white specks of perlite, a. Peat moss is acidic. I appreciate the ethical manner in which the peat industry in Canada is focused on proper management and harvesting practices. Though most of the time people use peat, peat moss, and sphagnum moss to mean the same thing, there is a subtle difference between them. If peat moss is used as a mulch, it can dry out soils by absorbing water from them. 'If this is the case with your container or basket you need to give it a light watering with extra plant food. These woody ingredients naturally help with water retention and keep the soil acidic for those plants that cant get enough of a high acid levelwhich is often a key draw toward peat moss. A very similar situation and concern exists in most of the continental U.S.A. where many wetlands have also disappeared over time. Dont overdo it though. Here decomposition is very slow and peat is formed from . This substance is made from the fibers of the coconut husk. The industry says it harvests less than 2% of the existing supply each year, and that this fairly low amount of collection keeps up with demand. The pH level provided by coco peat is also an ideal, balanced level. It can retain water much better than other types of soils.
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