Also, research has shown that coconut coir may retain even more water than peat moss. What is bad for the environment is harvesting (destroying) the peat bogs and using the moss in commercial plant sales. Nowadays, the search for alternative high-quality and low-cost materials as growing media in horticulture is a necessity due to the increasing demand and rising costs for peat, the most widely used substrates component during the last decades, as well as for its uncertain availability in the near future owed to environmental constraints. Peat Moss alternative? Other Alternatives To Peat Moss. "Sacrilege!" Peat moss septic systems use this natural material as a filter to trap waste products in the septic tank so they can break down. But the most popular peat alternative is better for doing precisely that! Coir is … Peat Moss: an organic-rich medium ; Mesh: a fine netting to hold the peat moss; Typically Lime, Ammonium, and fertilizer: to improve chemical properties. Sphagnum peat moss is a valuable, well-known, natural, organic resource that is predominately harvested for use as a soil conditioner or amendment by farmers, landscapers and gardeners. I've used it for years. Peat moss is a PLANT, and just like every plant, it ABSORBS carbon from the air. 12 years ago. During the last several months, demand for Cocopeat has been steadily increasing. Depending on the soil or the type of plant, it may even be a necessity for anything to grow. If you are looking for an alternative to peat moss, there are several choices out there. Peat moss is also widely used as an alternative for household plants because of the safety of the … December 31, … Peat moss: renewable in geologic time, but not human time. We do not harvest anything to make our peat moss alternative product. The peat moss alternative I hear most often suggested is coconut coir. Harvesting peat moss destroys that ecosystem, and the supply will be depleted given the slow regeneration rate. We can temper, to some degree, the bleakness of the above scenario. Peat has come to be a very versatile material for use in the garden. Consider easy, more sustainable alternatives to peat moss Although peat moss is a useful soil amendment, it is not indispensable. However, like so much else that we use in our daily life, peat is a non-renewable resource. Jiffy Pellets are dry compressed discs with the main advantage to be used as both pot and potting mix in one. The best alternative I've found for peat moss is coir, which is a by-product of the commercial coconut processing industry -- definitely more sustainable than peat. Most of the people look for peat moss’ substitutes. The cost of peat moss is increasing, however, and I've also wondered about the potential environmental impact of peat mining. When you look at it that way, peat is closer to a nonrenewable resource — at least in our lifetime (and our grandchildren’s lifetime me and so on). MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES. How you Use Peat Moss. Then again, coconuts do grow a lot faster than peat. It can be used to line hanging baskets, as mulch, and as a soil conditioner. Unlike peat moss, it is free of bacteria, fungal spores, and weeds (SEA SOIL is also weed-free). For these plants, compost is a better peat moss alternative, as it has a more neutral or even alkaline pH, depending on the compost composition. Peat is used at much higher rates than it forms (which is at about .5–1 mm per year)—in other words, it’s renewable in geologic time, but not in human time. Peat moss is commonly used as a soilless alternative for starting seedlings in a greenhouse setting due to its ability to retain moisture for lengthy periods of time. By LEE REICH Associated Press. The London-based Royal Horticultural Society, the largest gardening organization of its kind in the world, has reduced peat use by 97 percent at its four major gardens and urges its members to follow its lead." I just use a commercial peat free mix (not hyponex) and add 1 part each perlite and vermiculite, and 1/2 part of cat litter or aquatic soil for normal plants. 'Coco peat, a great alternative for peat moss' Ecomix Coco Australia, is an Australian-based coco peat supplier. The most common alternative we’ve found, coconut coir, hasn’t proven as inexpensive as peat moss nor does it have the same water holding capacities, nor is it as available or as easy to use. With eight pounds of peat moss used by the … Coconut is often manufactured in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam because it is abundant in these places. I tried my own comparison last summer and came up with the same results as that study. When Peatlands catch fire, a significant amount of carbon is emitted – this happened in Indonesia in 2015. In addition, we found some of the coir, perhaps because of its … Alternatives to Peat Moss for Blueberries. Coconut fiber helps soil to grip and retain moisture. Contrary to the Covid restrictions, Ecomix is busier than usual. However, in many places around the world, these peatlands are … These alternatives share all great properties of peat moss. Here is a quick breakdown of differences between peat moss and compost: These units have been advertised as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional septic tanks, but they come with their own set of challenges. The first standard use of peat moss is … Therefore, it does seem redundant to add a product that is not sustainable. Peat moss doesn't replenish itself as fast as it is collected, and it's importance for ecological balance have come under the microscope. The acidic pH of peat moss is beneficial to some plants but not beneficial to plants that prefer alkaline soils. A great alternative to peat moss, I’ve used coco coir as a mulch successfully in my garden. Several decades of research went into perfecting horticultural techniques using composts containing peat, so it will take time for the same thing to happen with the peat … Coconut coir is nothing more than the waste-product that comes from coconut processing. And it is a definitely another excellent alternative for peat moss for over 20 years. Peat moss makes up the bulk of most potting mixes and is great for working into garden beds. It is often referred to as the universal soil conditioner for its benefits to the soil. Coconut Coir is a terrific alternative to Peat Moss because it absorbs and stores moisture, while lightening the load of the soil (promoting good drainage!) Peat can be derived from different materials, but the bulk of it sold commercially in North America is from Canadian sphagnum moss. Many potting mixes have Coconut Coir included in their mixture, but you can buy it by itself through Amazon. Peat moss is often used by gardeners as a soil conditioner since it helps water and nutrient retention. Has anyone considered what alternatives may be used in the future should peat moss become a flash point of environmental concern? Peat alternatives are now being developed using materials such as bark, wood fibre, coir (pictured), biosolids, bracken and green compost. The fact is that although peat moss is technically renewable, it takes about 1,000 years for one yard to be grown in a peat bog. We cannot continue to deplete the supply and must, therefore, look for other alternatives. My location also makes shipping certain ingredients prohibitive due to shipping costs. It’s not! Coir is a natural product extracted from the husk of the coconut leftover from processing. Peat moss is nonrenewable by nature, and its mining is a sort of fear for environmentalists as it is related to greenhouse gas emission. get your peat moss replaced properly at the best possible price. you say. The government’s environmental agency has said it wanted to phase out peat moss for hobby gardeners by 2020 and commercially by 2030. You can buy coconut fiber as dry crushed brick form which can be stored precisely in the garden shed until you add water to them and mix them with soil for further usage. Because peat moss is renewable in geologic time, people assume that it’s a renewable resource for human use. Alternative to Peat Moss Below Given is the List of the Top Alternatives to Peat Moss 1. One concern for me right now is about peat moss. Leaf Mold Coir is sustainable alternative to peat moss in the garden CORVALLIS, Ore. – Generations of gardeners have recognized the benefits of adding peat moss to garden and potting soil. And this study shows poor results for coir as a peat moss alternative in a seed starting mix. In this guide you will read about the 13 steps of a peat replacement, 4 common rip-offs/shortcuts you should avoid, pricing guide, 3 simple things to extend the life of your peat systems, 7 questions you should ask your contractor, and frequently asked Although it has little nutrient value, it's a good soil amendment. It’s an environmentally-friendly option, and it provides much better airflow than peat moss. It is also a great source of nutrients for your plants. Having a green thumb does not always translate to using environmentally green methods. This is so because of the environmental concerns, grower preference, and affordability. Coconut Fiber. Because peat moss doesn’t offer much nutrition, be sure to use an appropriate fertilizer to keep your plants healthy. Compact offers numerous advantages you can get with peat moss, so it makes a good alternative to peat moss. Peat for gardening purposes has not been available for a very long time, I believe for 20-odd years, with composted pine bark the most popular replacement in widely available commercial mixes. Coconut Coir is composed of the outer fibers of a coconut ground up finely. Researchers have found ways to reclaim a bog ecosystem if only part of the peat layer has been stripped away. It’s also an excellent moisture retainer and makes a good surface mulch, unlike peat. Compost can improve the soil’s water holding capacity and it’s a great material for making your plants thrive. But I’ve heard an equally contradictory argument on the ethics of coir. As an alternative to standard watering methods, you can soak container plants growing in peat moss in lukewarm water until they stop producing air bubbles for a deep watering. Blueberries are fibrous-rooted shrubs requiring acidic soil and ample organic matter for optimum growth. 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