Peat is a natural substance formed of plants (often mosses) which have partially decomposed under waterlogged, anaerobic conditions but still retain their distinctive spongy structure. Peat-free compost has become increasingly available over the last decade, but historically it has been criticised for not being as good – with some replacements accused of being dry, inconsistent or low in nutrients.īut as awareness of the carbon impact of peat has grown, companies and researchers on both sides of the Atlantic are stepping up efforts to find alternative solutions in the quest to replace this extraordinary material. It's prized for its spongy texture, which allows it to hold onto both water and air – both of which are essential for developing roots. They use it for fertilising and improving the soil, and as a key ingredient in potting mixes for growing new plants. One group that's been particularly resistant to giving it up is gardeners. There are finite reserves and peat takes thousands of years to form. Natural peatlands store twice as much carbon as all the world's forests, but they are rapidly disappearing due to widespread extraction. But, sparked by environmental concerns over the use of peat in horticulture and a looming limit on this use in the UK, BeadaMoss is now investigating the best way to grow sphagnum moss as a replacement for the bags of peat-based growing media found widely in garden centres across the world. Wright's company, BeadaMoss, is growing sphagnum moss – the main component of natural peat extracted from northern peatlands for use in gardens across the US and Europe.īeadaMoss has been growing sphagnum for around 15 years, initially to plant this on degraded peatlands as a fast-track to peatland restoration. Sphagnum moss is sold commercially in smaller bags.In a greenhouse in Nottinghamshire, Barbara Wright is growing peat. In crafts it is used for a variety of projects that require a natural flair. It consists of shades of green, gray, or brown. It is usually sold in its natural stringy texture but is also sold chopped up. For plants, it is used to line baskets and help retain soil moisture. Sphagnum moss is sold in craft stores or garden centers. Peat moss is also lightweight, easy to work with, and inexpensive. Due to a naturally low pH of about 4.0, it is also an excellent soil amendment for acid-loving plants or highly alkaline areas. It is a very popular soil amendment because of its ability to help sandy soil hold moisture and helps clay soil loosen up and drain better. Sphagnum peat moss is usually sold in compressed bales or bags. ![]() It is a light brown color and has a fine, dry texture. Sphagnum peat moss is usually dried and sterilized after harvest. Usually, the living sphagnum moss is harvested, then the bog is drained and the dead/decayed peat moss beneath is harvested. It is harvested while it is alive and then dried for commercial use. Sphagnum moss is the living plant that grows on top of the bog. Is sphagnum moss the same as peat moss? Well, kind of. However, peat moss or sphagnum peat moss is dead and decayed when harvested. It may contain organic matter from other plants, animals, or insects. Since these are natural bogs, the decayed matter known as peat moss is usually not purely sphagnum moss. Many of the sphagnum bogs that are harvested for commercially sold sphagnum peat moss have built up in the bottom of bogs for thousands of years. ![]() So, what is sphagnum peat moss? It is actually the dead, decayed plant matter of sphagnum moss that settles at the bottom of the sphagnum bogs. These varieties grow in bogs, which are sometimes drained to make harvesting the sphagnum peat moss (sometimes called peat moss) easier. Commercial sphagnum peat moss is also harvested in New Zealand and Peru. There are over 350 species of sphagnum moss, but most of the varieties harvested for sphagnum moss products grow in wetlands of the northern hemisphere – mainly Canada, Michigan, Ireland, and Scotland. The products known as sphagnum moss and sphagnum peat moss come from the same plant, which is also known as sphagnum moss. Are Sphagnum Moss and Peat Moss the Same? Continue reading to learn the difference between sphagnum moss and sphagnum peat. This major price and quantity difference may have you wondering if sphagnum moss and peat moss are the same. However, when perusing a craft store, you may see small bags labeled sphagnum moss selling for just as much, or more, than you paid for a compressed bag of sphagnum peat moss. This popular soil amendment is lightweight and inexpensive. In spring, when it’s time to plant the garden, bales or bags of sphagnum peat moss fly off the shelves of garden centers. In one form or another, most plant owners have dealt with sphagnum moss at some point.
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