Should I add a wetting agent to peat?

JamesO 6/7/2022, 12:14 pm

I'll be making a batch of Mel's to fill a few beds. I have my vermiculite and compost, but I never thought peat vs. coir vs. PittMoss would be my hang up. Very Happy

I'm sensitive to environmental issues, but my primary concern with using peat is the possibility of it repelling water if it dries out. I don't know that I'll be a four season gardener, and I'm worried that it might dry out during the months I don't have the beds planted.

Have any of you run into that issue with peat, or is it an unnecessary concern? I'm wondering if I should add a wetting agent like yucca extract. I'm also wondering if I'm making it more complicated than it needs to be.

OhioGardener 6/7/2022, 12:20 pm

JamesO wrote:I'm wondering if I should add a wetting agent like yucca extract.

No.

I'm also wondering if I'm making it more complicated than it needs to be.

Yes.

This is not much of a problem. When you make the MM for the beds, it is necessary to fully moisten it in batches so that the peat is fully hydrated. Once that is done, it is easy to keep it moistened. Here in the snow belt we don't have any problem as the winter rain and snow keeps the soil well moistened, sometimes more than we'd like. But, during the gardening season if the soil is kept moist enough for the plants to flourish there will be no concern about the peat drying out.

JamesO 6/7/2022, 12:24 pm

Thank you. It's easy to go into paralysis by analysis!

**sanderson** 6/7/2022, 2:12 pm

No wetting agent. SFG is supposed to be "gardening for dummies" and overthinking is human nature. You are welcome to see my Fresno SFG garden.

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