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As a gardener , you ’re belike familiar with the full term “ sphagnum moss ” and “ peat moss ” . While these two term are often used interchangeably , they relate to two separate things . Knowing the difference between sphagnum moss and peat moss will allow you to choose the correct one for your plants , whether you ’re preparing a veggie mend or repotting your flowers . So , when it come to sphagnum moss vs. peat moss , what ’s the difference of opinion ?
Both sphagnum moss and peat moss come from the same plant , which can be found in sphagnum peat peat bog . Sphagnum moss is the living uppermost share of the flora , while peat moss is the decaying bed found beneath the open .
Sphagnum moss
What is sphagnum moss?
Sphagnum moss is a plant that thrive in swamps , bogs , and wetlands . It can be found develop all over the Earth , from Europe to Asia , from Africa to the Americas , and even in the Arctic . Sphagnum moss is highly adaptable and grows just as well in warm climate as it does in cooler regions . Sphagnum moss is a democratic land amendment because it has several central characteristic .
First , sphagnum moss can keep on a ton of pee . This awing footling flora can holdup to 20 clip its weightiness in water system , make it an excellent biodegradable mulch for a kind of plants . secondly , bog moss moss has antimicrobial properties . This makes it a democratic land amendment because not only can it help improve the anatomical structure of the ground , but it can also help plants fight root rot by fending off the various pathogens that give to the infection .
Sphagnum moss is light tan to grey in color , sometimes with a mite of yellow or green . It ’s often used to relax compacted grease , improve moisture retention , and provender plant . This moss plays a essential office in the ecosystems it thrives in , by breaking down old plant matter and producing atomic number 8 via photosynthesis . Sphagnum moss also stack away carbon produced by bogs , offsetting the potentially negative effects of this gas , and improving tune quality all over the Earth .
Sphagnum moss
What is peat moss?
Peat moss come from sphagnum moss . But unlike sphagnum moss , which is the live portion of the plant life , peat moss is the dead , crumble layer of material found underneath the works . Peat moss may also consist of other disintegrate plant life material observe in a wetland area , as those materials become trapped beneath the upmost aliveness layer of sphagnum moss .
Like sphagnum moss , peat moss is a popular choice of mulch for gardens because of its power to retain water . Peat moss go well for remediate sandy soils and stony land that dry out out quickly . Peat moss is dark brown to black in people of color and feels much drier than sphagnum moss by comparison .
Sphagnum moss vs. peat moss: it’s all about the pH
Now that you recognise the difference between sphagnum moss vs. peat moss , it ’s sentence to take a look at how they can both be used . Let ’s go by finding out how pH floor come into caper .
Peat moss is acidic
The biggest difference between sphagnum moss vs. peat moss has to do with their respective pH levels . Peat moss is quite acidic , rove anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5 on average . This makes peat moss ideal for bringing alkaline soils down to a neutral range . Thanks to peat moss ’s acidity , it ’s also an appropriate soil amendment for acid - loving plants , including fruit likeblueberriesandtomatoes , and flowers , likeazaleasand gardenias . Peat moss can be used to modify the colouration ofhydrangeas , too . Low dirt pH turns hydrangea blue . If you want to change your bright pink hydrangea to purple or periwinkle , tot up a healthy back breaker of peat moss to the soil can help the heyday acquire the want color .
Sphagnum moss is pH neutral
Although sphagnum moss is also reasonably acidulent , with a pH of 4.0 to 5.5 on intermediate , it has a neutralizing effect on the pH of the soil that it ’s sundry with . Sphagnum moss is idealistic for amending compacted soils that drain poorly but are at an ideal pH range for the works growing in it . Sphagnum moss is often mixed into soils to make them forgrowing fruit and vegetablessince the vast legal age of plant produce better in neutral soils . A pH scope from 6.0 to 7.0 earmark plants to access more of the vitamin and mineral that they need to endure .
Sphagnum moss vs. peat moss: nutrient content
PH level meet a Brobdingnagian role in how well the plants in your garden are able to absorb mineral . Although both sphagnum moss and peat moss are often used to amend the soil , they tally dissimilar case of nutrient to the soil .
Sphagnum moss is loaded with beneficial vitamins and minerals
Sphagnum moss is harvested while it ’s still unripened and grow . Because the moss has n’t fully broken down , it ’s wedge - full of food that your plants will love . Most notably , sphagnum moss is an first-class source of nitrogen , phosphorous , and potassium , the most crucial food to any plant . These three nutrientsenable plants to produce healthy new foliation , photosynthesize , reproduce , and come through trying office like droughts . However , it ’s worth noting that sphagnum moss contains high amounts of trace mineral , too , including iron , sulfur , manganese , copper , atomic number 30 , and Ca . All of these nutrients puzzle out together to keep plants sizeable so they canproduce food for themselves , establish solid root systems , andfight off insectsand infections . Because sphagnum moss is such a valuable source of nutrients , it ’s large for prepping flower beds and veg patches .
Peat moss is nutritionally deficient
Although sphagnum moss may be an appropriate fertilizer for the plant in your garden and landscape , peat moss really is n’t . Peat moss is dead peat moss moss harvested from bog and other wetland orbit . Because it ’s mostly broken down by the sentence it ’s pulled from the bog , it does n’t have many vitamin or minerals left to bid . Although this means peat moss makes for a piteous constitutive fertilizer , that does n’t mean it should be written off totally . Some plants have low alimental needs . Peace lilies , Epipremnum aureum , spider plants , and cast atomic number 26 plants do n’t require regular fertilization . So they can benefit from being grown in soil that has been amended with peat moss .
Sphagnum moss vs. peat moss: antimicrobial properties
As name before , sphagnum moss possesses antimicrobial belongings which make it a suitable substratum for plants that are prostrate to root rot . But how do the antimicrobic benefits of sphagnum moss measure out up against those of peat moss ?
Peat moss is less sterile than sphagnum moss
The break up level of sphagnum known as peat may serve improve the social system of your native soil . This , in turn of events , can help your plants keep the water they need to turn and remain sizable . Unfortunately , though , peat moss is n’t as infertile as sphagnum moss , so it ca n’t really help your plants fend off root hogwash and other detrimental pathogen . If you ’ve had trouble growing works likelavender , salvia , begonias , or other flora with sensitive roots in the yesteryear , amending your dirt with peat moss may not be enough to help the situation .
Sphagnum moss is more sterile
If you demand some help keeping root rot at bay , you ’re much good off using sphagnum moss vs. peat moss . Sphagnum moss has such strong antimicrobial place that it was oftenused to dress wounds in World War I. For this reason , it ’s an first-class dirt amendment for plant that are prone to developing bacterial and fungous infections . If you ’ve struggled with these types of infection before and lost plants to these disease , seek remediate the soil with sphagnum moss before buying new ace . It may just be the affair that turns your ovolo green !
Sphagnum moss vs. peat moss: which is better for moisture retention?
bog moss moss and peat moss are usually used to help the grease keep back wet . But are their wet - hold attribute the same ? Let ’s find out .
Sphagnum moss holds more water
If you were to take sphagnum moss in one mitt and peat moss in the other , you would immediately notice that sphagnum moss is stringier and much more fibrous than peat moss . Remember , sphagnum moss is harvested while it ’s still growing . Although it ’s dry before it ’s packaged and sold , it has n’t begun to break down full . Because the sphagnum moss you purchase for your garden has retain much of its construction , it ’s able to soak up much more water supply than peat moss . If you ’re looking to remediate sandy grime or fulfil pots for body of water - loving plants , sphagnum moss is the much good selection of the two .
Peat moss stays drier
decease back to our textural comparison between sphagnum moss vs. peat moss , the latter feels much light and fluffy by comparison . Peat moss has had years to break down , which means the fibrous materials that once comprise the living plant have lost some of their urine - retaining capability . While this think peat moss may not be the best soil amendment for water - bonk plants likeelephant ears , it does mean that it ’s unambiguously suitable to relax up compact soils for drought - liberal flora , includingrosemaryandsage .
Sphagnum moss vs. peat moss: which one is more sustainable?
Both sphagnum moss and peat moss play an integral role in the wellness of wetland ecosystems . Bogs , swamps , and other lowland environment rely on this of import plant to plow decaying material into useable nutrients and to contain gas emissions . Neither sphagnum moss nor peat moss is very sustainable . But one is a bit more sustainable than the other .
Peat moss is not renewable
Peat moss is done produce — obviously , right ? Because it ’s utter . But what that means is there is a very finite amount within a give peat bog . It takes year for living sphagnum moss to die , wear down , and accumulate into a layer quick to be harvest . So if all of the peat moss is take from a bog , it make a wrench in the whole surgical process . all of a sudden , the tree and plants in the bog do n’t have as many nutrients as they ask to grow at a comfortable pace . The bog has lesspeat to sequester carbon , leading to higher emissions and less oxygen — a scenario that can haveglobal entailment . Overall , peat moss is not sustainable , at least not when it ’s being harvested in such big quantities . You ’re far well off using ground - friendly alternative , like coconut coir , rice hulls , and compost .
Sphagnum moss is more renewable
When comparing sphagnum moss vs. peat moss , the former is considered renewable , but with an asterisk . Sphagnum moss is growing and can be harvest with fewer prejudicious side consequence to a bog than peat moss can . However , sphagnum moss is comparatively slow - farm . Over - harvesting of sphagnum moss can be just as big for a wetland area as over - harvesting of peat moss . If you have to take between the two , sphagnum moss is the more renewable option . But if you ’re environmentally witting and need to support prosper ecosystems all over the world , homemade compost , vermiculture , wood chip , and pine bark are respectable backup man .
Sphagnum moss vs. peat moss: the final verdict
To recapitulation : sphagnum moss is dried moss harvested from the living bog moss moss plant life , while peat moss is the decennium - old decomposing layer found beneath the living sphagnum plant . Neither sphagnum moss nor peat moss is adept than the other . Both can be used to amend the soil , it just bet on your garden ’s needs and your plant ’s need . Sphagnum moss offers plants more nutrients and better moisture retention , but peat moss is the clear winner if you need to lower your soil ’s pH scale and ameliorate drain .
Of course , if being green is at the top of your leaning as a nurseryman , then there are certainly more renewable choices than sphagnum moss and peat moss . If you ’re not certain what your garden ’s soil needs , do asoil testto decide the pH level and nourishing content . Do n’t bury to read up on the arise requisite of the plants you intend to develop , too . eff more about your territory and the plants in your garden allows you to choose the proper dirt amendment so you may turn the tastiest fruit and vegetables and the pretty flowers around .
Peat moss
Sphagnum moss is more nutritionally dense.
Sphagnum moss is helpful for preventing fungal infections in plants that are prone to them, like lavender.
Sphagnum moss holds more moisture, but peat moss is better for drought-tolerant plants.
