Peat Moss and Peat Humus

JBK 1/11/2012, 12:02 pm

What is the difference between peat moss and peat humus? Would peat humus be like a compost? Can I use it as part of my compost blend?

**camprn** 1/11/2012, 12:28 pm

Peat humus would not be considered compost.
A little bit about peat moss:
Sphagnum and peat are often 'common' terms. Most of the horticultural moss sold in the USA is actually sphagnum and is perfectly fine to use. Most sphagnum in North America is grown, harvested and processed in Canada; it is renewable resource as it is a recently grown plant. The peat is the layer underneath, the decaying moss and takes years to become so. There is a lot of info on the web, but here is a starter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphagnum

http://www.peatmoss.com/index.php <~~~ lots of things to read here

Terms and Definitions

JBK 1/11/2012, 12:44 pm

Well, I bought a bale of sphagnum peat moss at Lowes to be my 1/3 peat moss. I noticed right beside it was a bag of peat humus. Later that day while looking through the SFG book, I noticed that there was a bag of humus pictured to be 1/5 of the compost blend. That's why I ask. It seems that getting five different composts is going to be most difficult for me.

So what kind of humus is pictured to be part of the compost blend?

BackyardBirdGardner 1/11/2012, 12:53 pm

@JBK wrote:It seems that getting five different composts is going to be most difficult for me.

Try not to get too frustrated, if you are. This is the most difficult for EVERYbody.

JBK 1/11/2012, 1:00 pm

Don't worry, I'll stick with it until I get it accomplished.

On the same subject, can cow manure compost be used? I saw a video on YouTube that said it would burn the roots.

**Furbalsmom** 1/11/2012, 1:20 pm

Raw or fresh cow manure can burn the roots of your plants.

Composted cow manure is a great source of nutrients for your plants and will not burn the roots.

I had to go to multiple stores when buying my compost in order to get a good mix of FIVE.

Try any farm and tractor type stores, nurseries, big box stores, county co-op stores, even grocery stores. Do yourself a favor and call them first to see if they even have their bagged compost available yet. Some stores wait until March or April to stock compost. Mad

martha 1/11/2012, 5:13 pm

@JBK wrote:Don't worry, I'll stick with it until I get it accomplished.

I nominate you Rookie of the Week!

(Okay, so we have never had a rookie of the week, but why let that stop me?)

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