In case you’re investigating making your personal soil or questioning what your bagged soil consists of, you’ve most likely seen peat moss and coco coir on the ingredient listing. These are frequent soil substances, however they’re not one and the identical! Listed here are the principle variations and similarities between peat moss vs coco coir.
On this article, we’ll cowl:
What’s Peat Moss?
Peat moss is without doubt one of the hottest substances for making your personal potting combine for container gardens. It’s light-weight, sterile, extremely absorbent and porous sufficient for airflow whereas retaining water.
Whereas very simple to make use of, it does have a number of drawbacks. It’s naturally acidic, so it wants lime to neutralize it for crops that don’t like acidic soil. It is also onerous to rehydrate when dried out. You’ll discover this whenever you overlook to water your crops, and your soil turns right into a stable brick.
The most important disadvantage, nonetheless, is the sustainability points surrounding peat moss.
Sphagnum peat moss comes from bogs. Bogs are house to wildlife and uncommon crops and retailer carbon, which is critical for the struggle towards local weather change. Even when harvested responsibly, changing the misplaced peat moss takes a few years.
You may study extra in regards to the sustainability points with peat moss right here.
What’s Coconut Coir?
Coconut coir is created from the waste merchandise of coconut husks. It has distinctive water-holding means, is light-weight, and is commonly marketed as a sustainable various to peat moss. It has a impartial pH however doesn’t maintain on to vitamins as properly.
There may be a variety of horticultural coconut coir merchandise; some manufacturers might not carry out properly in potting soil, whereas others could also be precious addition. Earlier than making a big funding in buying any coconut coir, take a look at a number of manufacturers to search out one which works for you.
Peat Moss vs Coco Coir
So, which of the 2 is healthier for the backyard? Right here’s a breakdown of the great and unfavourable options of peat moss vs coco coir.
Coco Coir at a Look
Peat Moss at a Look
The decision? You may actually use each, however I are inclined to keep away from sphagnum peat moss as a result of its sustainability points. Coco coir tends to work simply in addition to peat moss (if not higher) when blended with compost, rice hulls, or perlite.
FAQ About Peat Moss and Coco Coir
Coconut coir is promoted as a peat moss various, usually marketed as a ‘peat’ product. There may be some debate on whether or not it’s really extra sustainable because the coir must be processed, which makes use of sources and might have an effect on employees’ well being, to not point out the lengthy distances it would journey when shipped to temperate climates.
Most undoubtedly! To make a peat moss various, I combine collectively 1 half coconut coir with 1 half compost and 1 half rice hulls or perlite. Collectively, the three act like peat moss, besides it doesn’t dry out and is pH impartial.
Normally, coco coir is cheaper than peat moss. Since coco coir is a by-product, there’s greater than sufficient to be bought cheaply at backyard centres.
Peat moss must be particularly harvested. In Canada, peat moss harvesting is extremely regulated, making the method a bit extra intensive, which provides as much as the next value level.
Each coco coir and peat moss are in style substances in DIY potting soil recipes and will be blended collectively.
When discovering the very best soil substances and recipes, know the place your merchandise come from. The extra native, natural, and sustainable it’s, the higher. Relying in your present soil and site, what works finest for one individual might differ from one other!
