Has anyone considered what alternatives may be used in the future should peat moss become a flash point of environmental concern? Alternative to Peat Moss Below Given is the List of the Top Alternatives to Peat Moss 1. We cannot continue to deplete the supply and must, therefore, look for other alternatives. By LEE REICH Associated Press. Neither coir nor the other substitutes for peat moss can necessarily be substituted 1 to 1 for peat; tweaking of potting mixes is needed. It’s an environmentally-friendly option, and it provides much better airflow than peat moss. PitMoss, an environmentally friendly alternative to peat moss, entered the Shark Tank on April 17th. Peat moss doesn't replenish itself as fast as it is collected, and it's importance for ecological balance have come under the microscope. Peat moss is often used by gardeners as a soil conditioner since it helps water and nutrient retention. These alternatives share all great properties of peat moss. I've been reading about organic gardening and using environmentally sound practices and am trying to make the best decisions I can based on what I learn. you say. The London-based Royal Horticultural Society, the largest gardening organization of its kind in the world, has reduced peat use by 97 percent at its four major gardens and urges its members to follow its lead." You can buy coconut fiber as dry crushed brick form which can be stored precisely in the garden shed until you add water to them and mix them with soil for further usage. Peat moss is a PLANT, and just like every plant, it ABSORBS carbon from the air. It is often referred to as the universal soil conditioner for its benefits to the soil. Peat moss makes up the bulk of most potting mixes and is great for working into garden beds. Peat has come to be a very versatile material for use in the garden. 12 years ago. Also, research has shown that coconut coir may retain even more water than peat moss. Peat can be derived from different materials, but the bulk of it sold commercially in North America is from Canadian sphagnum moss. Then again, coconuts do grow a lot faster than peat. With eight pounds of peat moss used by the … We can temper, to some degree, the bleakness of the above scenario. Coir is a natural product extracted from the husk of the coconut leftover from processing. Coir is … A great alternative to peat moss, I’ve used coco coir as a mulch successfully in my garden. However, in many places around the world, these peatlands are … And this study shows poor results for coir as a peat moss alternative in a seed starting mix. 'Coco peat, a great alternative for peat moss' Ecomix Coco Australia, is an Australian-based coco peat supplier. The best alternative I've found for peat moss is coir, which is a by-product of the commercial coconut processing industry -- definitely more sustainable than peat. The acidic pH of peat moss is beneficial to some plants but not beneficial to plants that prefer alkaline soils. For these plants, compost is a better peat moss alternative, as it has a more neutral or even alkaline pH, depending on the compost composition. The peat moss alternative I hear most often suggested is coconut coir. Sphagnum peat moss is a valuable, well-known, natural, organic resource that is predominately harvested for use as a soil conditioner or amendment by farmers, landscapers and gardeners. The cost of peat moss is increasing, however, and I've also wondered about the potential environmental impact of peat mining. Blueberries are fibrous-rooted shrubs requiring acidic soil and ample organic matter for optimum growth. Coconut Coir is a terrific alternative to Peat Moss because it absorbs and stores moisture, while lightening the load of the soil (promoting good drainage!) Although it has little nutrient value, it's a good soil amendment. These units have been advertised as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional septic tanks, but they come with their own set of challenges. Most of the people look for peat moss’ substitutes. Here is a quick breakdown of differences between peat moss and compost: Peat moss septic systems use this natural material as a filter to trap waste products in the septic tank so they can break down. However, like so much else that we use in our daily life, peat is a non-renewable resource. Because peat moss is renewable in geologic time, people assume that it’s a renewable resource for human use. How you Use Peat Moss. "Sacrilege!" Researchers have found ways to reclaim a bog ecosystem if only part of the peat layer has been stripped away. Peat moss is commonly used as a soilless alternative for starting seedlings in a greenhouse setting due to its ability to retain moisture for lengthy periods of time. Depending on the soil or the type of plant, it may even be a necessity for anything to grow. One concern for me right now is about peat moss. It is also a great source of nutrients for your plants. Several decades of research went into perfecting horticultural techniques using composts containing peat, so it will take time for the same thing to happen with the peat … Peat Moss alternative? 2. The government’s environmental agency has said it wanted to phase out peat moss for hobby gardeners by 2020 and commercially by 2030. The fact is that although peat moss is technically renewable, it takes about 1,000 years for one yard to be grown in a peat bog. I just use a commercial peat free mix (not hyponex) and add 1 part each perlite and vermiculite, and 1/2 part of cat litter or aquatic soil for normal plants. It can be used to line hanging baskets, as mulch, and as a soil conditioner. Peat Moss: an organic-rich medium ; Mesh: a fine netting to hold the peat moss; Typically Lime, Ammonium, and fertilizer: to improve chemical properties. Peat alternatives are now being developed using materials such as bark, wood fibre, coir (pictured), biosolids, bracken and green compost. Consider easy, more sustainable alternatives to peat moss Although peat moss is a useful soil amendment, it is not indispensable. Coconut Fiber. Peat moss is also widely used as an alternative for household plants because of the safety of the … I tried my own comparison last summer and came up with the same results as that study. This material is a lot coarser and has larger spaces between their particles, so it is better aerated. Having a green thumb does not always translate to using environmentally green methods. Coconut Coir is composed of the outer fibers of a coconut ground up finely. In geologic time, people assume that it ’ s a renewable resource for human use peat and. 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