Peatmoss ?

I bought a bag labled compressed peat moss from Ace for my MM and I have never used it before. Mine looked like fine black compost with some twigs and grass mixed in. I double checked to make sure it did not say composted peat moss and it did not. Is that what it normaly looks like? I expected something more mossy :scratch: .

It sounds like the real deal. It should be black and may be a little moist, it will have some brown/black twiggy bits in it and fibre and a few harder woody lumps. It will fluff up nice when you break it up though and the little twiggy bits will help to keep it open instead of compressing up and becoming airless. If it is moist and you are storing it a while do keep it like that because it is a devil of a job to get wet again if it dries out. Sorry if it's disappointing but it is not green and mossy at all.

That is just what it is like but dry now I feel better thanks Barkly.

shannon1 wrote: Barkly.

Oh ok well as long as you don't call me worse than that.

Barkie

It should be super fluffy when you mix it around, too. I was surprised it wasn't mossy when I opened my first bag a few years back, too. The fluffiness is what you are after, and it's pretty much the same stuff once you've double checked the bag's label.

Happy Gardening!

I have never seen black peat moss...mine is always medium brown.

shannon1 wrote: I expected something more mossy :scratch: .

The spaghnum moss that they sell for orchids & pot a lot of stuff with in the South (in our neck of the woods) is probably what your thinking of ....

I've only ever seen brown peat moss, too. I guess it has some variability that I didn't know about.

Composted peatmoss is black. I have some of the same brand as the bag Mel has pictured in the book. That and every other sphagnum peatmoss I have seen is the color of most cardboard boxes. In many years of use all that I have seen comes from Canada or Ma. The fact yours is black puzzles me.

Did the bag happen to say peat humus? I have had similar product in the past but it worked well in the garden!!!

Thanks for all your imput.
@ Barkie sorry
@ Middlemoma and Westie it is more of a dark brown now that I look again.
@ Acara That was just what confused me.
@ Camprin nope not humus

I ran out of sphagnum peat moss a couple days ago and had to buy more. What I found was the first dark brown stuff I have ever seen. So curiosity killed the cat and I did some looking around for information. Here are some sample excerpts of the information found.

"The size and depth of a Sphagnum peat bog determines the number of years peat moss can be harvested. The upper layers of the peat bog possess blonde fibrous peat, which is the youngest peat, geologically speaking. As bog layers are harvested, the degree of decomposition and humification increases, as does the age of the peat moss. Older peats are darker in color and possess shorter fiber. Shallow bogs are harvested for up to 7-10 years. Some deep bogs may be in production for over 50 years. In most cases, the upper layers of fibrous peat moss are harvested for horticultural purposes leaving behind the short fiber, dark brown layers."

"Light, dark, and black peats typically describe the same substance in various stages of decomposition; dark peats are more advanced in decomposition than lighter ones. There are also some differences in the base or original vegetation that decomposes to make peat.
Younger, lighter-colored peat moss does a better job of providing air space than do older, darker peats that have few large pores."

"Organic growers are urged to be cautious when purchasing peat moss. Many commercial sources are treated with wetting agents. Since all but a very few of the commercial wetting agents are prohibited in organic production, the buyer should assume that any product with an unspecified wetting agent is probably prohibited and avoid making a purchase."

There is a lot more of interesting information to be found.

Very interesting. Since I am strickly organic I did read the lable and it stated certifide for use in organic gardens .

westie42 wrote:I ran out of sphagnum peat moss a couple days ago and curiosity killed the cat. Here are some sample excerpts of information -
"The size and depth of a Sphagnum peat bog determines the number of years peat moss can be harvested. The upper layers of the peat bog possess blonde fibrous peat, which is the youngest peat, geologically speaking. As bog layers are harvested, the degree of decomposition and humification increases, as does the age of the peat moss. Older peats are darker in color and possess shorter fiber. Shallow bogs are harvested for up to 7-10 years. Some deep bogs may be in production for over 50 years. In most cases, the upper layers of fibrous peat moss are harvested for horticultural purposes leaving behind the short fiber, dark brown layers."

"Light, dark, and black peats typically describe the same substance in various stages of decomposition; dark peats are more advanced in decomposition than lighter ones. There are also some differences in the base or original vegetation that decomposes to make peat.
Younger, lighter-colored peat moss does a better job of providing air space than do older, darker peats that have few large pores."

"Organic growers are urged to be cautious when purchasing peat moss. Many commercial sources are treated with wetting agents. Since all but a very few of the commercial wetting agents are prohibited in organic production, the buyer should assume that any product with an unspecified wetting agent is probably prohibited and avoid making a purchase."

There is a lot more of interesting information to be found.

Thank you for sharing this.