About Spaghnum Moss, Peat Pots and Pellets
Peat Moss is heralded by gardeners, as a wonderful soil conditioner. It helps
to loosen and enrich the soil. Peat holds moisture, yet doesn't allow the
soil to be too wet. It's loose nature leaves plenty of room for air, which
is vital to healthy plant roots.
This wonderful gardening material is also what peat pots and pellets are
made of. Peat pots holds seed starting soil, yet is soft enough for the plant
roots to grow right through the walls of the pots. At transplanting time,
the plant and pot are planted in the garden soil. Without having to
remove the plant from the pot, transplanting shock is minimized or avoided
As a rule of thumb - It is time to transplant your seedlings, after
the last frost in your area and when the roots of the plant begin to protrude
from the sides of the peat pots or pellets. If inclement weather is keeping
you from transplanting, and the roots are showing outside of the pot, you
can repot the seedling, pot and all, into a larger one.
Where Peat Comes From
Peat comes from Peatlands. A peatland is an ecosystem that develops in a
bog. A lake or a pond holds rain and ground water. Vegetation, largely spaghnum
moss, grows, slowly filling the bog. As the spaghnum moss dies each year,
it partially decays in the bog, creating spaghnum peat moss.
More information on Peatlands
What Peat is Made of:
Peat is natural and organic. Spaghnum moss is by far the largest component.
Other major components of peat moss are: sedge, grasses, and other mossy
plants. It may also contain a small amount of other plants, trees shrubs,
insects and animal remains.
Dry peat is light-weight, yet holds needed moisture and nutrients. It allows
needed oxygen to reach the roots.
It is composed of 96 to 98% organic matter. Other components include: Carbon,
nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron.
Peat moss is acidic. The average pH is 4.0. Limestone, a natural element,
may be added, to neutralize the pH.
Benefits of Peat Moss:
Adds structure to sandy soil
Loosens and aerates heavy clay soil
Stores fertilizer and nutrient, reducing leaching of nutrients from the soil
Saves and holds water, but not too much in the soil
Uses of Spaghnum Moss:
Spaghnum peat moss has many uses:
Growing medium in the horticulture
A major component of home gardening seed starting soil
Peat pots and pellets
A soil conditioner for flowers, vegetables, and herbs
A soil conditioner for planting trees and shrubs
Conditioning new lawn soil
Rejuvenate established lawns
A soil amendment for your indoor houseplant pots and containers.
Added to compost piles to speed up decomposition, and reduce odors.
Did You Know? Peat moss is used in some beddings for horse and other
animals. For horses, it results in a shinier coat, and helps to keep
their hooves healthier. It also reduces odors.
How much peat to use:
For most applications, use one part peat to 2 parts regular garden soil.
Peat pots are made from peat, compressed into round or square pots
of varying sizes, from 2 -1/2 inches to 5 inches in diameter. The pots are
organic and porous, yet strong enough to hold seed starting soil and your
young seedlings. At planting time, transplant seedling in the pot right into
the garden, minimizing transplant shock. Roots will easily grow through the
Peat pellets - are compressed peat held together in a string-like
mesh sack. Add water and it expands. These pellets are popular for their
ease of use. They also minimize transplant shock.
About Peatlands and Bogs