Which is better, peat moss or sphagnum moss?
Sphagnum moss has a neutral pH as opposed to sphagnum peat moss, which has a lower, more acidic pH (3. Peat moss is a less expensive addition for potting and garden soils that works well for acid-loving plants. Tannins are abundant in peat moss. Both have good water retention. There are many great benefits to using sphagnum moss as a growing medium for your plants. Almost all herbaceous houseplants could comfortably make a switch over to a substrate only made up of Sphagnum moss. It is really simple to use and actually in a lot of ways much easier than growing your plants in regular soil.Sphagnum Moss can also be used as a soil amendment for tropical types like philodendron and ferns. Spanish ‘Moss’ is not a type of moss at all, but part of the bromeliad family (think pineapple). This silvery grey plant is a flowering epiphyte, just like our beloved Tillandsia.You can use sphagnum moss for any plants, including cactus, ferns, and carnivorous plants. They’re great for plants that need special care, like sphagnum moss for orchids. You can also use it for diy projects! You’ll want to use dried moss sphagnum if a plant requires moist soil.Moss (Selaginella spp. Moss is a hot look for designing with plants, both indoors and out. While there are many types of moss, selaginella varieties are among the best houseplants. Those slow-growing, small indoor plants add lots of texture with their beautiful leaves — and some add color, too!A common use of sphagnum moss is for seed starting or as a growing medium for succulents and orchids—any plants where a light, airy texture with good moisture retention is key. You can either use sphagnum moss on its own or mix it into another potting medium.
What are the disadvantages of sphagnum moss?
The root zone becomes acidic. Sphagnum moss is acidic. It’s generally around a pH of 4. This can be bad for some species of plant which come from alkaline habitats—like Alocasia Dragon Scale, Paphiopedilum Orchids, or Philodendrons. Peat moss is a non-renewable resource “Once it’s been harvested, it takes hundreds and hundreds of years for it to regenerate, so that’s not great because once it’s gone, it’s gone, at least for the next several lifetimes.Peat moss is acidic but there are few plants that thrive preferably in alkaline soil and don’t do well with peat moss. These include spinach, gourds, cauliflower, berries, and ginger, etc.However, peat moss has drawbacks: it is low in nutrients, has a low pH and is not attractive to essential soil microbes. Compost offers an alternative that feeds microbes, improves drainage and retains water, though it decomposes more quickly, Brewer said.You should never collect moss from the wild as all wild plants are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). Mosses play a valuable role in the biodiversity of our landscape and should only be bought from sustainably farmed sources.Once you’ve prepared the area, it’s all about the watering. Remember moss only grows when it’s wet; if it goes dry, it will stop photosynthesis. Moss is extremely drought tolerant. When dry, moss doesn’t die, it simply goes dormant.
What is the best alternative to peat moss?
Two Peat Alternatives Most peat alternatives on the market include either processed wood products or coconut coir to replace peat. In potting mix, peat retains water, creates air pockets and helps plants access nutrients. However, peat moss has drawbacks: it is low in nutrients, has a low pH and is not attractive to essential soil microbes. Compost offers an alternative that feeds microbes, improves drainage and retains water, though it decomposes more quickly, Brewer said.Almost any potted plant you can buy grows in a soil mix containing peat moss, and most bagged potting soil does. You can also buy it to mix into your potting soil blend. It’s especially useful for growing flowers and food in containers because it helps plants maintain the moisture they need.Peat moss is acidic but there are few plants that thrive preferably in alkaline soil and don’t do well with peat moss. These include spinach, gourds, cauliflower, berries, and ginger, etc.
Which plants benefit from sphagnum moss?
You can use sphagnum moss for any plants, including cactus, ferns, and carnivorous plants. They’re great for plants that need special care, like sphagnum moss for orchids. You can also use it for DIY projects! You’ll want to use dried moss sphagnum if a plant requires moist soil. The Environment. Sphagnum moss and sphagnum peat moss (frequently known simply as “peat moss”) are often confused for the same growing material. In truth, they’re two different parts of the same plant, but the impact of their use is wildly different.
Can you put sphagnum moss on top of soil?
In our homes, Sphagnum Moss is used for propagating cuttings, wrapping around wood or bamboo to create a Moss Pole, as a decorative soil topper, and to wrap around soil to create Kokedama which is a stunning way to display houseplants where soil is wrapped up in moss. But does dried sphagnum moss come back to life? Since mosses reproduce via spores, the spores of the dried moss will provide fresh growth again with proper care and moisture. The dried moss itself, does not become green again.Remove dirt and impurities by rinsing the moss thoroughly with running water. The moss can then be sterilized by soaking it in distilled water with hydrogen peroxide. This ensures that the old Sphagnum is free of fungi and pathogens. The result is a clean, safe, and moisture-retaining substrate that can be reused.
Why do gardeners not like peat moss?
Peat dries out pretty quickly if you miss a couple days of watering your garden, and it’s really hard to rehydrate it once it’s completely dehydrated. That makes it difficult to get your soil back to the right moisture level for growing vegetables. Peat moss is acidic, and is excellent for use with acid-loving plants, like blueberries, azaleas and tomatoes. Because it can make your soil more acidic, you may need to add lime to the soil.Vegetables like cabbage and broccoli, along with herbs such as lavender, prefer alkaline soils and may struggle in peat moss-amended environments. Similarly, drought-tolerant plants like cacti and succulents thrive in sandy, well-draining soils, making peat moss unnecessary for their growth.
Why is peat moss being discontinued?
In short peat is not a sustainable resource, and to dig it you have to drain the land so it releases CO2, very detrimental to the planet. When it’s wet it’s absorbing CO2 when it’s dry we all suffer. Any government serious about the climate will eventually ban its digging on a commercial basis. Moreover, peatlands play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, acting as carbon sinks that help mitigate climate change. The unsustainable exploitation of peat poses a threat to biodiversity and exacerbates the global environmental crisis.Perhaps most important, peat extraction and use for horticulture are simply not sustainable. Peat grows at a very slow rate, only 1/32 of an inch per year. With some of the bogs being as deep as 40 feet, that means we are potting plants and starting seeds in a resource that takes centuries to grow!