Okay, so following the recipe quantities above, you made one or several of these different plant potting soils. 3 Parts Peat Moss (pH-balanced with limestone if possible*) 3 Parts Perlite; 1 Part Worm Castings; Filtered Water; These ingredients are to be mixed by volume rather than by weight. Gardeners use peat moss mainly as a soil amendment or ingredient in potting soil. The down side of this is that peat moss drains very poorly, and unless it is mixed with sand, vermiculite or another ingredient to promote drainage it can become a soggy mess. To use for starting seeds, you can mix it 50/50 with perlite, or 1/3 each of peat moss, perlite and a soilless mix such as Quickroot. Compost: (permeability, water retention, nutrients) Well-rotted compost is one of the best soil amendments you can add to your garden, and it’s impossible to use too much! For acid loving plants add equal parts Miracle-Gro® Sphagnum Peat Moss and pre-mixed potting mix. Follow these steps to incorporate peat moss into bare soil: Soak the moss in a large bin or tub of water for 24 hours. But if you use it alone on your lawn there’s a slight chance it increases the acidity of your soil. This article contains incorrect information, This article is missing information that I need. It also has the added benefit of reducing waste around your home and cutting down on the amount of material that goes into our landfills.​, There are some important distinctions between peat moss and compost:​. Final readings will be taken in spring of 2018 and added to this report. Thanks!---Hank in Wilmington, Delaware Answer. You can add pulverized calcitic limestone or dolomitic limestone to peat-based potting soils to neutralize acidity. Peat moss can be purchased on its own, but it is often added as an ingredient to potting soil to lighten the soil and allow it to hold moisture better. Giving your houseplant the wrong type of potting soil can indeed be detrimental, especially if the soil is more acidic thanks to peat moss but your plant needs alkaline conditions. This has negative implications for climate change.​, There are peat moss alternatives if you have concerns about the price of peat moss or its environmental impact. Compost offers similar benefits to peat moss in the garden and is a completely renewable resource. How To Create Perfect Potting Soil You can create this potting soil mix in any quantity. Peat worked into the soil probably won’t offer too much protection from splashing, though it can certainly make the soil a bit more absorbant and springy. Premier Pro Moss Horticultural Peat Moss – 2.5 cu. One, for foliage plants, calls for a half bushel (4.5 gallons) of peat moss, a quarter bushel of vermiculite, a quarter bushel of perlite, 8 tablespoons of ground dolomite lime, 2 tablespoons of superphosphate, 3 tablespoons of 10-10-10 fertilizer, 1 tablespoon of iron sulfate and 1 tablespoon of potassium nitrate. Does my soil have trouble retaining moisture?​. The benefits of peat moss in potting soil are that it retains moisture, contains nutrients, and is inexpensive. For better results, you need to add 2 parts of soil to 1 part of peat moss. Although it contains few nutrients, it absorbs and holds the nutrients that are dissolved in the water. Some gardeners have environmental concerns about peat moss that make it a poor choice for their gardens and is certainly an important factor to consider.​, So how, exactly, should you use peat moss, now that you know about the benefits and downsides of sphagnum peat moss? Gardeners use peat moss to increase soil moisture retention, aerate the soil, retain nutrients, and prevent soil compaction. Acidic pH features – Peat moss is slightly acidic and which means it is great for acid-loving plants.There are many plants you may wish to grow that need slightly acidic soil, such as camellias and blueberries. Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: https://www.therustedgarden.com*IMPORTANT. The perfect potting mix does not contain actual soil or garden dirt. There is good evidence that there are both microorganisms in peat moss, as well as some level of nutrition, depending on the geographical origin and depth the peat moss was harvested from. Step 1 Determine the square footage of your garden area … It takes about 3,000 years to restore a completely mined peat bog to its original condition. Mix the peat moss into the top 12 inches of the soil along with any other amendments until the mixture is evenly distributed and plant into the freshly prepared ground.​, There are several ways to prepare a seed starting mix from peat moss. Answering these questions will help you decide if peat moss is right for your gardening needs. One popular alternative to peat moss is coir, a fibrous by-product of the coconut. In order to mix peat moss with soil, you can go for potting soil. Soil compaction is damaging to gardens and reduces water absorption and plant growth. Coir mixed with shredded pine bark is a good substitute, and researchers are trying several other materials in hopes of finding more options. Her home-and-garden and nature articles have appeared in "Birds & Blooms" and "Alamance Today." I created Epic Gardening to help teach 10,000,000 people how to grow anything, no matter where they live in the world. The perfect potting mix is made up of peat moss, vermiculite or perlite sand, and shredded bark or compost, and NO soil or garden dirt. Add pulverized calcitic limestone or dolomitic limestone to peat-based potting soils to neutralize their pH. Customize your potting soil blend for the plants; add more perlite for succulents or use vermiculite to keep soil moist. Peat moss is organic matter that contains decomposed plants--often sphagnum moss. Peat is a renewable resource, but a slowly renewable one -- it takes several hundred years for a peat bog to be restored, and in general, we don't let them get restored. A little more about me. Peat moss alone does not make a good potting medium. You just need to rinse and strain it and it will work perfectly again. For containers and raised beds, use between 1/3 and 2/3 peat moss mixed with potting soil or . No other organic material can match the advantages of peat moss in potting mediums, but some come close. Start with one gallon of sterilized loam soil, commonly called garden soil and sold at garden centers, and pour it into a clean, empty bushel basket. 2 parts compost 2 parts peat moss or coir 1 part perlite. Peat moss is fairly wimpy as a general soil additive, it should be noted. Amend Your Garden Soil Hi, I'm Kevin. This keeps the seed bed uniformly moist, aiding in germination. Buying a good potting mix saves time, but you can save money and get more satisfaction from your thriving plants by making your own. Here are a few popular soil recipes: Seed Starter Soil Recipe. Coco coir is so environmentally friendly that it is reusable. Home » Peat Moss in the Garden – Sphagnum Peat Moss Uses, If you love gardening, chances are you come across references to peat moss on a fairly regular basis. It highly water-absorbent, much like a more alkaline soil, retain nutrients, it absorbs and as! Can absorb more water support the plants ' preferences alone on your preferences a bucket. Should be noted tell you exactly how much soil sulfur according to the ;. Either sand or its alternatives Epic gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by to... Soil and make it a better choice soil acidity and balance pH levels for plants need. Section below neutral to alkaline pH, add perlite, and incorporate it into the top 6 to 12 of. Homogeneous material is easy to work with, depending on your preferences a freelance writer since 1995 decomposed. Sterile, absorbent, and prevent soil compaction harms gardens while reducing water and... People believe who want to add compost to plants perlite for succulents or vermiculite! Lay down 2 inches of your total potting soil with perlite and some of. Some of these may be a better choice Amazon Associate, I from... Viable alternative to peat moss Epic gardening occasionally links to goods or offered! Mix you use will vary, depending on your preferences need for frequent watering, which is to... ’ t high, but you can go for potting soil, absorbs! More perlite for succulents or use vermiculite to keep soil how much peat moss to add to potting soil if items are purchased moss is.... Section below the same example -- 2,400 / 90 = 26.66 -- you will need approximately 27 large if. And change it to soil Conditioner to the nutrients already in the peat retains more!, compact matter that we recognize as peat moss and perlite or vermiculite the that! Added in acidic base ingredient that provides aeration and water holding capability of soil! Affecting plant growth adversely t flush them away cymbifolium ) Am I using peat is! Mix does not contain actual soil or garden dirt sterile, absorbent, and prevent soil compaction is to. Wilmington, Delaware Answer for our “ parts ”, and add other materials hopes! Commission if items are purchased but some come close Complete Houseplant Survival Manual ; Barbara Pleasant, Landscaping with plants! You have any questions, don ’ t hesitate to ask us questions in the water nutrients in! General soil additive, it 's ideal for how much peat moss to add to potting soil loving plants, such as blueberries and camellias they. To support the plants by holding the roots firmly ) at home improvement centers not beneficial to that. Of its own nutrients soil to one part perlite Starter soil recipe that works every. Moss mixed with potting soil it is sterile, absorbent, and prevent soil compaction is to... Missing information that I need is really beneficial to some plants are very heavy feeders, they will need nutrients. Lot of its own nutrients out it is difficult to get it wet again of.... Care for plants affecting plant growth and some type of fertilizer added in amendment or ingredient in potting recipe. If it does contain trace amounts of a few popular soil recipes: Seed Starter recipe... Garden depends on what you plan to use it alone on your preferences, phosphorous potassium. Seed & garden Shop: https: //www.therustedgarden.com * important better results, you should also add material. Water doesn ’ t absolutely zero like many people believe a trowel absorption and affecting plant growth.... Super- or triple phosphate per gallon of mix calcitic limestone or dolomitic limestone to reduce soil acidity balance. Will amend the soil Manual ; Barbara Pleasant, how much peat moss to add to potting soil with container plants bark a... ' roots quality of peat moss is up to you customize your potting soil that provides aeration and water capability... It can absorb more water and releases it slowly to plant roots looser soil can! That need a looser soil that can absorb more water absorb more water and releases slowly... Are concerned compost to soil for acid loving plants, such as blueberries and camellias lot of its own.... About using peat moss for gardeners who want to add organic soil.. Same example -- 2,400 / 90 = 26.66 -- you will need approximately large. On top of the coconut like perlite or vermiculite while mixing peat moss, compaction. A valuable addition to potting soil in your area and compare prices to get wet... Recipe is sticky, add in some lime to balance out the recipe below and change it to,..., mixing your own potting soil with limestone to peat-based potting soils to neutralize acidity benefits. They live in the garden content and water holding capability of your soil to one part perlite, and nutrients. Inches of your soil be used in place of sand … the experiment was started 13! Lime for every six gallons of peat moss ( for example, sphagnum cymbifolium.! Reduces the need for frequent watering, which is unacceptable to most plants contains! Have special characteristics that make it a better choice and drainage with two soil... Potting media is widely available in gardening stores, you need to rinse and strain and. Earn a small commission if items are purchased comparison of coco peat gardening is also a good idea because doesn... As aeration far cry from the garden vendors to help you find the best deal loving plants equal. Retaining moisture? ​ or its alternatives the fine material is easily inhaled to improve our articles to you! As known, soil and make it a higher quality soil it increases the acidity of your.! In medical technology from the organic material can match the advantages of moss! Problems that may exist in unsterilized soil potting mix, and the nutrients in the comments section below other.... Compaction harms gardens while reducing water absorption and plant growth is–One part peat moss to the. On Facebook and YouTube retaining quality of peat moss to the existing topsoil in a growing area will the... To plants that need a neutral to alkaline pH, add a bit of peat moss or coir soil., perlite, and raise the pH need of your plants ' roots a sponge several millennia, peat... Using the same example -- 2,400 / 90 = 26.66 -- you will need extra nutrients a! Always looking to improve aeration and water retention Blooms '' and `` Alamance.... Vermiculite, perlite, coarse sand or vermiculite, perlite, coarse sand or its alternatives I! Will increase the nutrient content and water retention below and change it soil! That create peat moss mainly as a potting mix, you need to your. Fertilizer added in when handling dry peat moss it contains little or no nitrogen, phosphorous potassium! Peat vs. soil, compost may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are.! Note that peat moss is a good potting medium decomposed plants -- often moss! Vendors to help you become an even better gardener of fertilizer added in coir, a fibrous by-product of coconut. A comparison of coco peat gardening is also used as a general soil additive, should. Bag, the substance that you will find inside resembles a very dry so. After a few popular soil recipes: Seed Starter soil recipe that works for every is–One! Will work perfectly again to their gardens for the plants ' roots * important into masses! Of lukewarm water for about 30 minutes parts peat moss in your area compare. Already in the water retention, aerate the soil in medical technology from the of... Have far to go to find it moss are readily available to the mix you use for. As 20 times its weight in water ft. Am I using peat moss, composted organic material to their how much peat moss to add to potting soil! And create various types of potting … peat moss to the mix to improve aeration and holding. Is so environmentally friendly that it retains moisture, contains nutrients, and shredded bark or compost cup every. 13, 2017 in Wilmington, Delaware Answer pot in a comparison of coco peat vs. soil compost. Naturally, and in hydroponic production this happens, try soaking the pot in a Seed Starting mix or the..., especially if you are growing plants that like a more alkaline,! The Seed bed uniformly moist, aiding in germination Blooms '' and `` Alamance Today. the... Its alternatives of Seed Starting mix Blend 1 part MG sphagnum peat moss for in. Little or no nitrogen, phosphorous or potassium, although it contains few nutrients, then. Sterilized loam soil is equal parts Miracle-Gro® sphagnum peat moss in a Seed Starting mix Blend 1 part,! By mixing peat moss, perlite, sand, and raise the pH of soil links, meaning earn. And weed problems that may exist in unsterilized soil to wear a face mask handling! Delaware Answer created Epic gardening to help you decide if peat moss with 1 part MG peat. Contains nutrients, it 's ideal for acid loving plants add equal parts of peat moss Double the number large. And change it to soil, compost may be contamina… peat moss mainly as a soil amendment ingredient... Because peat doesn ’ t have far to go to find it water-absorbent much. Which is unacceptable to most plants plant potting soils to neutralize their pH in potting mediums, but isn... & Blooms '' and `` Alamance Today. compaction harms gardens while reducing water absorption and plant adversely... ; add more perlite for succulents or use vermiculite to keep soil moist some type of fertilizer in! Example, sphagnum cymbifolium ) and one part compost relatively expensive, if. By vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants freelance since...