peat moss vs. eco-earth
- Thread starter NBREP
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I use nothing but peat moss. I love it and never have any problems with it..
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I feel the same way.
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Same here.
Ahem, personal pet peeve, thought I'd clear it up as I always rant about it but this time I'll offer references to help clear up the murky waters. I'll have it be known that I wouldn't put a rosie (as it's my least favorite species thus far) on peat. Sphagnum, I will use, but sphagnum is completely different from peat itself. Peat can contain sphagnum...decomposed sphagnum. Peat is used in horticultural applications because it's lack of ability to absorb water helps produce a capillary action in the soil to disperse moisture. I use coco fiber, the brick stuff's fine, the kind I use is organic and comes in different shreds so depending on where you're buying your bricks, the stuff I get might be more expensive. A mix of coco fiber and sphagnum is suggested as not only does sphagnum have antifungal and antimicrobial properties but it's ability to absorb and retain moisture is unsurpassed - coco fiber, or coir, has antifungal and antimicrobial properties as well but isn't the best at retaining moisture depending on how fine the shred is and that's why you would mix it.
If the little blurb above doesn't sway you then entertain this thought from the depths of my logic (regardless as to whether or not any of you buy into my incessant ranting and raving about this, that, and the other, or if you don't like me because it seems like I'm always ranting): peat is ecologically illogical as peat is not a renewable resource and is considered threatened to ice the cake of the fact that peat has the moisture retaining capabilities of coal...as a matter of fact, most coal is essentially petrified and compacted peat
"Peat moss is the partially decomposed remains of formerly living sphagnum moss from bogs. Because it's nearly impossible to rewet once it's dried, it repels water..."
"Peat is sedentarily accumulated material consisting of at least 30% (dry mass) of dead organic material."
"...Peat moss is the organic matter that mixes with soil to form peat. And to confuse the issue further, there are several different types of peat moss!
The only peat moss you really have to know about is sphagnum peat moss. This is the type commonly found at garden stores that you add to the garden to improve soils and add organic matter.
It simply is decomposed sphagnum moss, the wetland plant that was used for lining hanging baskets before plastics became popular. Other wetland plants such as hypnum, reed, and sedge will decompose as well, forming different types of peat mosses."
"Because of the challenging ecological conditions of peat wetlands, they are home to many rare and specialized organisms that are found nowhere else. Some environmental organizations and scientists have pointed out that the large-scale removal of peat from bogs in Britain, Ireland and Finland is destroying wildlife habitats. It takes centuries for a peat bog to regenerate."
"Sphagnum is a genus of between 151-350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss (North American usage) or sphagnum peat (British usage) on the other, the latter being the decaying matter underneath."
If the little blurb above doesn't sway you then entertain this thought from the depths of my logic (regardless as to whether or not any of you buy into my incessant ranting and raving about this, that, and the other, or if you don't like me because it seems like I'm always ranting): peat is ecologically illogical as peat is not a renewable resource and is considered threatened to ice the cake of the fact that peat has the moisture retaining capabilities of coal...as a matter of fact, most coal is essentially petrified and compacted peat
"Peat moss is the partially decomposed remains of formerly living sphagnum moss from bogs. Because it's nearly impossible to rewet once it's dried, it repels water..."
"Peat is sedentarily accumulated material consisting of at least 30% (dry mass) of dead organic material."
"...Peat moss is the organic matter that mixes with soil to form peat. And to confuse the issue further, there are several different types of peat moss!
The only peat moss you really have to know about is sphagnum peat moss. This is the type commonly found at garden stores that you add to the garden to improve soils and add organic matter.
It simply is decomposed sphagnum moss, the wetland plant that was used for lining hanging baskets before plastics became popular. Other wetland plants such as hypnum, reed, and sedge will decompose as well, forming different types of peat mosses."
"Because of the challenging ecological conditions of peat wetlands, they are home to many rare and specialized organisms that are found nowhere else. Some environmental organizations and scientists have pointed out that the large-scale removal of peat from bogs in Britain, Ireland and Finland is destroying wildlife habitats. It takes centuries for a peat bog to regenerate."
"Sphagnum is a genus of between 151-350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss (North American usage) or sphagnum peat (British usage) on the other, the latter being the decaying matter underneath."
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:? I'm not sure what the point of this was..
"Peat is used in horticultural applications because it's lack of ability to absorb water helps produce a capillary action in the soil to disperse moisture."
The peat moss in my tanks does nothing but hold pet moss for about a week when I pour water in for plants which is also great to raise the humidity. Depending how one keeps his/her tank clean depends on the amount of fungus brought into the tank or if someone and the majority of fungi brought in is from the outside, like planting plants from outside or a plant from the store, yada yada.
I still think I missed your point completely.
"Peat is used in horticultural applications because it's lack of ability to absorb water helps produce a capillary action in the soil to disperse moisture."
The peat moss in my tanks does nothing but hold pet moss for about a week when I pour water in for plants which is also great to raise the humidity. Depending how one keeps his/her tank clean depends on the amount of fungus brought into the tank or if someone and the majority of fungi brought in is from the outside, like planting plants from outside or a plant from the store, yada yada.
I still think I missed your point completely.
It's dry...it will stay dry...it's only good purpose as a substrate is an alternative to walnut shells. Horticulturally, since it stays dry, when MIXED with soil, it helps disperse moisture through the soil - much like capillaries disperse blood through various parts of the body where a vein or artery would be too large...comparable to a hose being too large to logically disperse moisture in a flower pot.
Entertain me and read all the info on all 5 links I posted.
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my peat absorbs water...huh:?...it must be defective
moose
moose
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ANY soil will dry out when not attended too. Some retain more than others but in regards to peat moss, again, mine stays at a good wet consistency for the T's to burrow as well as when the bolus is hanging around, it doesn't get really moldy as it will it other wetter soils which retain water since peat will only get dryer faster.
This is just a preference thing regardless.
Kris
This is just a preference thing regardless.
Kris
You only scanned my post didn't you?
"Sphagnum is a genus of between 151-350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss (North American usage) or sphagnum peat (British usage) on the other, the latter being the decaying matter underneath."
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Okay, here - think about this, since you don't care to read those links and maybe gain some idea as to why it's absolutely absurd - sphagnum retains moisture, peat does not. Idiots often confuse sphagnum and peat...well, because they lack the mental capacity to think. Peat is essentially mined and causes more damage to the environment in the long run as well as not being a renewable resource. How's that for you preference?
because you can point and click and type but lack the ability to read the damn links
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well the peat i use dosen't have spagnum....is almost black and looks like crushed carbon....but it still holds water....i must return this stuff and inform them they are selling defective peat....damn garden center...
moose
moose
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well since the first link you posted says... and i quote...""Peat moss is the partially decomposed remains of formerly living sphagnum moss from bogs. Because it's nearly impossible to rewet once it's dried, it repels water and makes a terrible surface mulch.""
it says almost impossible...not impossible....granted when i pour water on it, it sits there for a while...but the water does get absorbed eventually and stays there. its not absorbant like vermiculite but it does hold water...
moose
it says almost impossible...not impossible....granted when i pour water on it, it sits there for a while...but the water does get absorbed eventually and stays there. its not absorbant like vermiculite but it does hold water...
moose
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woah, slow down there speed racer.. Dont get defensive over an opinion on a certain type of soil.. I merely misunderstood in the first place hense the ":?" the links you gave us didnt tell us anything much but where it comes from and what it's made of. Simple. I am just saying my peat moss in my tanks satys pairly moist for my plants and humidity levels. It retains in pretty well and reguardless of what your info says, my peat moss tells me all I need to know.. If it's dry I wet it.
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You basically called over half of the people on this board and idiot... Who cares what the mixture is as long as it doesnt hold any chemicals to harm out t's and that it DOES in fact retain water as it should..Again a preferene thing.. Not a big issue. This isn't a million dollar equestion or anything..
:wall:
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I disagree. Rasputin was making a point that took some logic, and reading to make sense of. I had trouble making sense of what he was trying to get to at first also. Eventually I got it, but unfortunately tempers erupted first. Then Moose did what Moose does best, and egged him on so he could try to collect another signature quote.
Don Julio shots on me fellas. That will take the edge off.