Math Challenged - Compressed Peat Moss

Windmere 3/18/2013, 11:45 pm

I am soon going to prepare my Mel's Mix for three 4x4 beds. I need 8 cubic feet of peat moss.

On page 99 of 2nd Edition, my exact situation is given as an example (three 4x4 beds). It mentions that a 3.9 cubic foot bale expands to 8 cubic feet.

I have 3 cubic feet of compressed peat moss (I have no idea of what happened to the other .9 it should have). I also have 2 cubic feet of peat moss that has been "pre-fluffed" (for lack of a better word).

My question is: How much "pre-fluffed" peat moss do I need to equal the .9 missing from my compressed peat moss? I hope I phrased that in a way that can be understood.

I know it's late to be putting on a thinking cap. I just don't want to ruin my Mel's Mix by using the wrong amount of peat moss. The math skill needed to figure this out is well beyond the scope of my poor capabilities. Help!

Embarassed

Triciasgarden 3/18/2013, 11:59 pm

I think you explained it perfectly. I did a guesstimate and thought 1.7 or 1.8. I asked my son to calculate it and he said it is 1.85. He said the 3 cubic feet expands to 6.15 cubic feet. The difference would be 1.85 cubic feet of already fluffed peat moss. He got home at the right time.

yolos 3/19/2013, 12:06 am

Well, if you go by the theory that the compressed peat expands to double when it is fluffed (but from other SFGers testimony, that is not always true) - then your 3 cubic feet would expand to 6 cubic feet and then add your 2 cubic feet of already fluffed peat and you then have your 8 cubic feet.

But if I were doing it, I would not rely on the fact that some say that the compressed peat doubles. I used five gallon buckets to measure each ingredient. My beds are 10" tall. I used five 5 gallon buckets of vermiculite, five 5 gallon buckets of fluffed peat, and one five gallon bucket of five different composts. Then you are assured of getting the exact mix.

Also, I will bet some of your compost has some peat in the compost (such as mushroom compost) so I would not worry about that extra .9 cubic feet.

Windmere 3/19/2013, 1:07 am

Thanks Tricia. Both you and your son is very good with math!!

Thanks to you as well yolos. I like your idea of the 5 gallon buckets. My composts are all pure. That includes my mushroom compost. I learned in this forum that mushroom compost frequently contains peat moss. I checked mine from Lowe's and found it was not pure. It promptly went back. Bought new sacks from Pike's because they had pure.

thanks

Pepper 3/19/2013, 1:50 am

Lol yolos I think you meant 5 5 gal buckets of compost. lol!

yolos 3/19/2013, 7:25 am

Pepper - No I did mean one five gallon bucket of five different composts. That is one 5 gallon bucket of compost type 1, one 5 gallon bucket of compost type 2, one 5 gallon bucket of compost type 3, one 5 gallon bucket of compost type 4, and one 5 gallon bucket of compost type 5. That equals five 5 gallon buckets of compost. A little confusing.

Pepper 3/19/2013, 9:47 am

My mistake yolos. I was reading on my phone waiting on my relay driver. I missed the last phrase; of each type of compost. I stand corrected.

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Math Challenged - Compressed Peat Moss

Math Challenged - Compressed Peat Moss

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Thank you!!

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Re: Math Challenged - Compressed Peat Moss


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