Peat vs. Peat Moss

jjphoto 3/22/2010, 10:43 am

I think I may have messed up. When I put together my Mel's Mix, I used bags of "peat" which were black and soily and not "peat moss". I asked for peat moss for my beds and that's what they sold me.

Did I make a big mistake? Do I need to find that sphagnum peat moss and go try to work some into my beds?

bullfrogbabe 3/22/2010, 10:36 pm

What you bought is the same thing but it is wetter and more decomposed than the redder/dryer/fluffy stuff sold in compacted/plastic wrapped cubes labeled peat moss.

My Grandfather used to sell peat moss that sounds like what you bought...it is more like a heavy, moist, peaty soil. It works the same way but also provides some peat-based compost at the same time. 2/3 peat soil may cover the 1/3 peat moss and the 1/3 compost at the same time once mixed in with the 1/3 vermicullite -- if it is too heavy you can add some regular fluffy peat moss to lighten it up and some other types of compost for nutiritional variety.

My mom grew great roses in my Grandfathers peat moss "soil", I am sure it will work well in your SFG with some minor mixing adjustments if it is too heavy -- it does become lighter/dryer when mixed with vermiculite.

SirTravers 3/22/2010, 10:40 pm

I have to agree. It sounds like you got some of the more decomposed peat. I bought a bad of "organic hummus" at Lowes that was mostly decomposed peat and it was solid black. Good smelling stuff! I'll bet you could grow some really great blueberry bushes in that stuff due to the lower ph it has.

jjphoto 3/22/2010, 10:42 pm

I went and visited with my nursery today about it. They said basically the same thing you did. They said that it was basically the same stuff, but had decomposed to be more of a "soil" than just the fluffy sphagnum moss.

They said with our heat and wind that what I used will probably work out better.

LupinFarm 3/22/2010, 11:34 pm

Oh cool, I'm pretty sure Lowes sells this here, I'll have to look into it tomorrow. I need to find something else to use as compost, so I'll check the bags and see if this is what it is!

beagle love 3/22/2010, 11:56 pm

This is what I put in my boxes too. It has the texture of soil. I used it as part of my 1/3 peat moss mix. I think you should be fine my stuff is growing just fine. I did find that my boxes were not quite full and I measured everything just right. I have 12 inch deep boxes so the fact that they are not filled to the top is fine.

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