Most importantly, Sphagnum mosses are keystone species that shape their habitat via unique biochemical and morphological adaptations. Sometimes, the moss is mixed in with the soil, for hanging baskets and in the garden, to aerate the soil and/or add acidity. So while it is an ideal soil amendment for. But the sphagnum moss used for this purpose was a plant growing in nature not that long ago. It is usually sold in its natural stringy texture, but is also sold chopped up. Lawn improvement: another use for peat moss is as a soil mix for your lawn. The high-acid content of the water slows down or halts the decay process, … Sphagnum moss can be an essential tool when planting succulents. Interesting fact: Up to 80% of the peat moss used in the US comes from Canada. data-mce-type=bookmark style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class=mce_SELRES_start>. Peat moss, often listed as Sphagnum peat moss, is water-logged, decayed, sphagnum moss that has sunk to the bottom of the bog. Peat moss, often listed as Sphagnum peat moss, is water-logged, decayed, sphagnum moss that has sunk to the bottom of the bog. Put it in a bag and soak it in water for 3-4 days to remove the brown color and to balance the pH. Most common is peat from the sphagnum moss plant. But what is peat moss? Sphagnum moss also … You may have seen bags of peat moss meant to be used as a soil conditioner. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. It is used to line baskets, as a seed-starter medium, as a medium that most big-box store Phalaenopsis orchids are growing in, and as an amendment in potting soils. However, these two things are not the same. Consider adding compost to the soil along with the peat moss to add the nutrients the plant needs. You may have seen bags of peat moss meant to be used as a soil conditioner. Perhaps the most common use for sphagnum peat moss is as a soil amendment. The finest grade of sphagnum moss from our bogs in Canada is the starting point for SPHAG SORB.The peat fibers are separated from all inorganic hard material, and then activated into a high-grade product with a remarkable ability to absorb and encapsulate oils, solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and all other organic chemicals. Most of the peat moss used in crop production comes from Canada and is composed mainly of mosses from the genus Sphagnum (of which there are 160 species of sphagnum found globally). Peat moss was the most common mulch used when I was a kid back in the late seventies and eighties. The finest grade of sphagnum moss from our bogs in Canada is the starting point for SPHAG SORB. Sphagnum moss is a garden product commonly used for its ability to retain water. Both fibrous and powdered form of dry sphagnum moss are used in gardening. It is soft, pliable, and very water-retentive. There are approximately 12,000 species of moss, but it’s only the 380 species of sphagnum moss that create peat. The material helps loosen hard, compacted soils while improving drainage around plant roots. Coir is a by-product of coconut fiber and is, therefore, renewable. Harvested primarily in Canada and North America, sphagnum peat moss (Sphagnum andersonianum) is an all-purpose soil amendment that can also be used alone in certain horticultural operations. Another one of sphagnum moss's many uses is … Regular soil can also harbor pathogens that could easily kill the young plants. Peat moss is the dark brown fibrous product of sphagnum moss and other organic materials that decompose in peat bogs over thousands of years. Hi! Don't confuse the peat from dead plants with the actual sphagnum moss from living plants. Peat moss is the partially decomposed remains of formerly living sphagnum moss from bogs. Sphagnum moss is used differently to sphagnum peat moss as they are very different in appearance and function. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Eventually, live moss grows over the layer of dead moss; and the dead moss contributes to the formation of peat used as a gardening medium. It is a delicate balance, and peat moss, with its ability to also retain water, will help you achieve that balance. It consists of shades of green, gray or brown. Generally, the pH of sphagnum moss is neutral. Make sure it is organic and not treated with fertilizers. There is also another organic matter, like insects, animals, and other plants, that have sunk to the bottom of the bog and mixed in with the old sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss is simple to use and beneficial for potted plants as a liner, as it acts like a sponge absorbing and retaining moisture while keeping its natural acidity. That is why, increasingly, coir is being used as an alternative to peat moss in soilless potting mixes. Peat moss and sphagnum moss are two types of mosses used as soil amendments in gardening. The dry sphagnum moss or peat moss has mass of light fibers which is extremely useful in horticulture and gardening for various purposes. Sphagnum moss is native to many countries across the globe, but it is especially prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere. An ideal soil will retain enough moisture to keep your plants irrigated. It is majorly used for planting seedlings, potting soil, transplanting plants and composting to fertilize the plants. After cleaning the wound, apply the moss as a bandage. Peat and sphagnum moss are harvested by mining either by machinery or, traditionally, by hand. Peat moss consists of decomposed organic materials, typically decomposed sphagnum moss coupled with other organic materials. This common moss is fast growing and spreads quickly, making it a renewable resource that many use for moisture retention in planters. Sometimes, the moss is mixed in with the soil, for hanging baskets and in the garden, to aerate the soil and/or add acidity. The water was then removed, leaving behind moist peat moss. There is also another organic matter, like insects, animals, and other plants, that have sunk to the bottom of the bog and mixed in with the old sphagnum moss. The History of Peat Moss. Since the 1950s, sphagnum peat moss has been a common ingredient in potting soils sold in the United States. Canadian peatlands formed over 10,000 years ago in very moist and poorly drained low spots such as old river beds, lakes or ponds. They are the remains of the dead materials of wild mosses that have been piled up in a peat bog over a thousand years. The decomposition process happens without the presence of air, which slows the development rate. There are many uses of peat moss, such as improving soil, starting seeds, adding it as an amendment, and more. Networks of ditches are dug so that water drains out. "Peat moss" and "sphagnum moss" are closely related, but the two terms are not synonymous. Sphagnum is a type of moss that’s most notable for its amazing absorption ability, capable of taking in 20 times as much water by weight as the moss’s dry weight. Bogs and fens form where sphagnum grows because both living and dead moss absorb and store water. Sphagnum moss is comprised of long, fibrous strands of plant material, and is often used by florists to line the insides of wire baskets, or as a decorative filler for potted plant compositions. They are used as soil conditioners. It is sterile, absorbent, and the homogeneous material is easy to work with. What are the uses and Benefits of peat moss in your garden. Peat Moss or Sphagnum Moss Uses: 1. Peat moss or sphagnum peat are dead, decayed moss. The "moss" in "peat moss" refers specifically to sphagnum moss (for example, Sphagnum cymbifolium). The process of decomposition in peat moss is very slow and it occurs anaerobically (without air). This is used as a soil conditioner which increases the soil's capacity to hold water and nutrients by increasing capillary forces and cation exchange capacity – uses that are particularly useful in gardening. The peat fibers are separated from all inorganic hard material, and then activated into a high-grade product with a remarkable ability to absorb and encapsulate oils, solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and all other organic chemicals. The peat moss belongs to the genus Sphagnum with hundreds of known species. To enjoy the benefits of peat moss in your garden, mix it evenly into the soil about 12 inches deep. Since the 1950s, sphagnum peat moss has been a common ingredient in potting soils sold in the United States. Although sometimes referred to as "peat" for short, peat moss and peat are not, technically, the same thing. It doesn't really decompose because peat moss is so anaerobic and this process takes very slowly. So if you have started plants indoors from seed, then you have very likely already dealt with peat moss. For new turf and lawn maintenance: Premier Horticulture Pro Moss eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'gardeningdream_com-box-4','ezslot_9',124,'0','0'])); For lining hanging baskets and as a decorative soil covering: Sun Bulb Company Inc Better-Gro Sphagnum Moss. Sphagnum moss, also known as bog or peat moss, grows naturally in standing water, forming bogs. Peat moss or sphagnum peat are dead, decayed moss. So here is the summary of what peat moss is: Gardeningdream.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Sphagnum is not only used for potting, but also for dressing up of wounds. The stuff we are interested in for our succulent plants is long fiber sphagnum moss. So if you have started plants indoors from seed, then you have very likely already dealt with peat moss. Let’s discuss some facts about peat moss and how to use it in your garden. Sphagnum peat moss is widely used in soilless potting mixes. By using The Spruce, you accept our, How Peat Moss Is Different from Sphagnum Moss, Why Peat Moss Is an Effective Soil Amendment, Vermiculite: What It Is and How to Use It, How to Grow and Care for Chinese Money Plant, How to Make a Kokedama—The Japanese Art of the Moss Ball, How to Grow and Care for Black Huckleberries, The Difference Between Potting Soil and Potting Mix, How to Improve Garden Soil With Amendments, 10 Weird but Pretty Carnivorous Plants that Eat Bugs. It is the dead part and is found in the lower portions of the bog. Dont confuse sphagnum peat moss with sphagnum moss, which is made up of long, fibrous strands of plant material. 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