Sphagnum is not only used for potting, but also for dressing up of wounds. There is a whole series of techniques that go along with its use as a mulch which I get to show off once a year when I get a bag of peat moss for something that seem to confound everyone that works with me. It is commonly called peat moss, but that isn't what you want. Peat moss is sometimes called sphagnum peat moss because much of the dead material in a peat bog comes from sphagnum moss that grew on top of the bog. Black peat moss– Although technically a type of sphagnum, black peat usually refers to older, more decomposed peat moss that is darker in color when dried. Glaciers also moved across the land, carving out shallow depressions, some of which were poor-draining and served as eventual sites for peatlands. 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. Peat moss is an excellent soil amendment for your acid-loving plants. Is it to protect natural habitats with moss? The moss helps keep the soil warm and holds moisture in, keeping the soil from drying out as quickly. Decayed, dried sphagnum moss has the name of peat or peat moss. The peat moss genus Sphagnum is an economically important bryophyte. The dry sphagnum moss or peat moss has mass of light fibers which is extremely useful in horticulture and gardening for various purposes. It doesn't add any nutrients to the soil. Since the 1950s, sphagnum peat moss has been a common ingredient in potting soils sold in the United States. So while it is an ideal soil amendment for. One challenge with planting new grass seed is keeping it adequately moist and protected from birds until it germinates. The main difference between peat moss and sphagnum moss is that peat moss is formed by the decomposition of sphagnum moss and other organisms over many thousand years, whereas sphagnum moss contains more than 370 species which grow in cool and moist habitats. On the other hand, sphagnum moss is only used as mulch or for decorative purposes in gardening. Peat moss is dead fibrous material that forms when mosses and other living material decompose in peat bogs. Sphagnum moss prefers growing in moist tundra-type areas, and most of what gets used for gardening comes from peat bogs in northern Canada. This is where the name sphagnum peat moss is derived from. It is naturally organic and has not had anything added to it that will harm your worms. Why should't imported soils include sphagnum peat moss? Surface vegetation is removed and the upper layers allowed to dry in the sun before being vacuum harvested or removed by other methods. Networks of ditches are dug so that water drains out. Look for Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss for your worm bedding. Peat moss is majorly used for soil amendments and soil components. Sphagnum moss is native to many countries across the globe, but it is especially prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere. Most peat moss for use in garden soil comes from sphagnum moss. As opposed to the lush green of the sphagnum, the peat moss is a … They are the remains of the dead materials of wild mosses that have been piled up in a peat bog over a thousand years. No luck anywhere. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. It is majorly used for planting seedlings, potting soil, transplanting plants and composting to fertilize the plants. Peat moss will lighten up the soil in your garden, which may have become compacted over the years, resulting in inadequate drainage. Peat and sphagnum moss are harvested by mining either by machinery or, traditionally, by hand. However, these two things are not the same. So what differentiates peat moss from the regular compost matter is the moss which it is made up of. Just like growing containers or trees transplanted, peat moss will help in water regulation, aeration, and nutrient holding capacity. 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. It breaks down too fast, compressing and squeezing air out of the … The finest grade of sphagnum moss from our bogs in Canada is the starting point for SPHAG SORB. Alternatively, sphagnum peat moss is used to condition soil, especially for orchids. This little known plugin reveals the answer. Hi! But, the peat moss itself isn’t remotely similar to its progenitor. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Sphagnum moss, also known as bog or peat moss, grows naturally in standing water, forming bogs. Peat moss is a soil amendment that is harvested from peat bogs. Here is how the two differ: First of all, "sphagnum moss" can refer to a living plant. The dry sphagnum moss or peat moss has mass of light fibers which is extremely useful in horticulture and gardening for various purposes. This is a process that happens in nature but you can also create your own peat moss to use in the garden. 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. Peat moss is the partially decomposed remains of formerly living sphagnum moss from bogs. Consider adding compost to the soil along with the peat moss to add the nutrients the plant needs. Peat moss is useful as an additive in potting mixes, as a soil amendment, and in your vegetable garden. Peat moss is acidic. Peat is used in horticulture, as an energy source (fuel), and, to a limited extent, in the extraction of organic products, in whiskey production,… They are used as soil conditioners. It’s basically a natural sponge. Finally, peat moss is slightly acidic, while sphagnum moss is neuter. Bogs and fens form where sphagnum grows because both living and dead moss absorb and store water. 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 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. As it grows, it spreads onto drier areas and turns those into bogs as well. There are multiple ways to protect the seeds, one of which is spreading a mulch, such as peat moss, on top of it. It comes from various materials. 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When using peat moss in your worm beds, DO NOT use peat moss that contains additives such as fertilizer. One common organic matter gardeners make use of is sphagnum peat moss. It takes hundreds of years for peat moss to be created in nature. As a soil amendment, which is what the baled product is mostly sold for, peat moss is also a poor choice. If what you are looking for is to use peat moss as a soil amendment, mix 2 parts of soil and one part of peat moss. Most importantly, Sphagnum mosses are keystone species that shape their habitat via unique biochemical and morphological adaptations. Miracle Grow peat moss has fertilizer added to it and cannot be used for worm bedding. "Peat moss," by contrast, does not refer to something living; it refers to something long dead. There is a whole series of techniques that go along with its use as a mulch which I get to show off once a year when I get a bag of peat moss for something that seem to confound everyone that works with me. 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