#pottingsoil — Public Fediverse posts

Stop buying the wrong dirt: The difference between topsoil and garden soil https://www.allforgardening.com/1735074/stop-buying-the-wrong-dirt-the-difference-between-topsoil-and-garden-soil/ #garden #gardening #PottingSoil #soil #SoilTesting #SoilTypes #TestingSoilPH

How to Create the Best Soil for Raised Beds So Your Vegetables Thrive https://www.allforgardening.com/1660027/how-to-create-the-best-soil-for-raised-beds-so-your-vegetables-thrive/ #AngelaJudd #garden #gardening #MegAustin #PottingSoil #RaisedBeds #SoilFertility #SoilForRaisedVegetableGarden

5 Gorgeous Plants You’ll See in Everyone’s Spring Container Gardens This Year https://www.allforgardening.com/1646594/5-gorgeous-plants-youll-see-in-everyones-spring-container-gardens-this-year/ #CORALBELLS #garden #GardenSoil #gardening #PottingSoil #UsdaHardinessZones

9 Gardening Tasks to Tackle Now for an Easier Spring Planting Season https://www.allforgardening.com/1636156/9-gardening-tasks-to-tackle-now-for-an-easier-spring-planting-season/ #garden #GardenTools #gardening #PottingSoil

Garden Bureau announces Green Thumb Award winners | News https://www.allforgardening.com/1622095/garden-bureau-announces-green-thumb-award-winners-news/ #agriculture #AllAmericaSelections #archaeplastida #botany #flower #garden #gardening #horticulture #houseplant #Kingdoms(biology) #organisms #OrnamentalPlant #OrnamentalPlants #perennial #PlantAgriculture #plants #PlantsAndHumans #PottingSoil

‘You will regret it later’ https://www.allforgardening.com/1599699/you-will-regret-it-later-2/ #CautionaryTale #CompanionPlanting #garden #gardening #LandscapingFabric #PhotoCredit #PlasticSheeting #PottingSoil #reddit #SoilOrganisms

So yeah, #CoarseSand can be used instead of #Perlite and #Vermiculite (and I would sterilize it before using it).

However, I did read that coarse sand can be too sharp for some root systems? It's something to consider...

"Coarse, sharp, or builder sand, often used in construction, is a primary ingredient in potting media. Like peat moss, sand improves drainage and aeration but does not improve water-holding capacity. Too much sand will make containers too heavy to move. Sand should not be mixed with clay-based soil."

From #PennStateCooperativeExtension, Homemade Potting Media:
https://extension.psu.edu/homemade-potting-media

#SolarPunkSunday #PottingSoil #PottingMix #Gardens #Gardening

So, like #Perlite takes a lot of energy to produce, while #Vermiculite is mined! Not sure if there are alternatives to either of those out there. Maybe sterilized #CoarseSand? Hmmmm... Something to ponder...

Learn All About The Differences Between Perlite and Vermiculite

Written By: Robin Sweetser Gardener
January 11, 2026

"How do you know which is best to use in your garden—perlite or vermiculite? Some people think they are the same and used for similar purposes, but that’s not the whole story. Let’s look at the similarities and the differences and help you to pick the best one."

https://www.almanac.com/perlite-and-vermiculite-choosing-the-right-one

#SolarPunkSunday #PottingSoil #Gardens #PottingMix #Sustainability

Here are some different recipes for #PeatFree #PottingSoil blends -- depending on what one needs it for (#SeedStarting, #RaisedBeds, #PottedPlants, etc). The recipes also call for the use of #mycorrhizae to simulate root production. My cannabis farmer friends use that in their soil blends!

How to Make Peat-Free #PottingMix

Easy #DIY Potting Mixes for Potted Plants and Mo

"Going peat-free is one of the most impactful things we can do as gardeners to be better stewards of the earth and our resources. The lack of peat-free potting mixes at the garden center can be discouraging, but I see it as an opportunity to make my own which, frankly, has yielded far better results over the last few years. With a few basic components kept at hand, you can make great mixes for your plants, too!"

Learn more:
https://wildrevivalgardening.com/peatfree-gardening-guide/peatfree-potting-mix-recipes

#Gardening #SeedStartingMix #SeedStarting #SolarPunkSunday #PeatFreeStartingMix

I hadn't considered using #RiceHulls in a #PottingSoil mix. But I am definitely going to incorporate that into a #PeatFree mix, along with #CoconutCoir, #Perlite or #Vermiculite, and aged #Compost!

#SolarPunkSunday #Gardening #Sustainability #SeedStarting

#SphagnumMoss vs #PeatMoss: Environmental Guide 2026

Home - Comparisons - Sphagnum Moss vs Peat Moss: Environmental Guide 2026

Last Updated, September 11th, 2025

Excerpts: "Here’s what shocked me: peat moss takes thousands of years to form, yet we’re harvesting it faster than nature can replace it. Meanwhile, sphagnum moss can be sustainably harvested in just 5-6 years. That’s a massive difference that directly impacts our planet’s carbon storage and wetland ecosystems."

[...]

"The environmental implications of choosing between sphagnum moss and peat moss extend far beyond your garden. Peatlands cover only 3% of Earth’s land surface but store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined. When we harvest peat moss, we’re not just removing a growing medium – we’re releasing carbon that’s been locked away for millennia.

Research from wetland ecologists cited by Oregon State University Extension confirms that peat is being harvested at non-sustainable rates. The extraction process requires draining bogs, which immediately begins releasing CO2 as the peat oxidizes. A single hectare of drained peatland can emit 15-20 tons of CO2 annually – equivalent to driving a car around 50,000 miles."

[...]

"Sphagnum moss works exceptionally well for #orchids, particularly epiphytic species that naturally grow on trees. Its chunky texture provides the perfect balance of moisture retention and air circulation that orchid roots require. I’ve found that wrapping orchid roots in slightly damp sphagnum moss can revive stressed plants remarkably quickly.

For propagation, sphagnum moss creates an ideal environment for rooting cuttings. Its natural antibacterial properties help prevent rot while maintaining consistent moisture. Air layering, a propagation technique for woody plants, relies almost exclusively on sphagnum moss to encourage root development on branches still attached to the parent plant.

Carnivorous plants, which evolved in nutrient-poor bog environments, thrive in pure sphagnum moss. The moss provides the acidic, nutrient-free medium these specialized plants need while preventing mineral buildup that could damage their sensitive roots."

Alternatives to #PeatMoss are:

- #CoconutCoir
- #RiceHulls
- #Biochar
- #CompostedWood
- #AgedCompost

Learn more:
https://greenwashingindex.com/sphagnum-moss-vs-peat-moss/

#SolarPunkSunday #PeatAlternatives
#PottingSoil #Gardening #GrowYourOwn

#SphagnumMoss vs #PeatMoss: Environmental Guide 2026

Home - Comparisons - Sphagnum Moss vs Peat Moss: Environmental Guide 2026

Last Updated, September 11th, 2025

Excerpts: "Here’s what shocked me: peat moss takes thousands of years to form, yet we’re harvesting it faster than nature can replace it. Meanwhile, sphagnum moss can be sustainably harvested in just 5-6 years. That’s a massive difference that directly impacts our planet’s carbon storage and wetland ecosystems."

[...]

"The environmental implications of choosing between sphagnum moss and peat moss extend far beyond your garden. Peatlands cover only 3% of Earth’s land surface but store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined. When we harvest peat moss, we’re not just removing a growing medium – we’re releasing carbon that’s been locked away for millennia.

Research from wetland ecologists cited by Oregon State University Extension confirms that peat is being harvested at non-sustainable rates. The extraction process requires draining bogs, which immediately begins releasing CO2 as the peat oxidizes. A single hectare of drained peatland can emit 15-20 tons of CO2 annually – equivalent to driving a car around 50,000 miles."

[...]

"Sphagnum moss works exceptionally well for #orchids, particularly epiphytic species that naturally grow on trees. Its chunky texture provides the perfect balance of moisture retention and air circulation that orchid roots require. I’ve found that wrapping orchid roots in slightly damp sphagnum moss can revive stressed plants remarkably quickly.

For propagation, sphagnum moss creates an ideal environment for rooting cuttings. Its natural antibacterial properties help prevent rot while maintaining consistent moisture. Air layering, a propagation technique for woody plants, relies almost exclusively on sphagnum moss to encourage root development on branches still attached to the parent plant.

Carnivorous plants, which evolved in nutrient-poor bog environments, thrive in pure sphagnum moss. The moss provides the acidic, nutrient-free medium these specialized plants need while preventing mineral buildup that could damage their sensitive roots."

Alternatives to #PeatMoss are:

- #CoconutCoir
- #RiceHulls
- #Biochar
- #CompostedWood
- #AgedCompost

Learn more:
https://greenwashingindex.com/sphagnum-moss-vs-peat-moss/

#SolarPunkSunday #PeatAlternatives
#PottingSoil #Gardening #GrowYourOwn

#SphagnumMoss vs #PeatMoss: Environmental Guide 2026

Home - Comparisons - Sphagnum Moss vs Peat Moss: Environmental Guide 2026

Last Updated, September 11th, 2025

Excerpts: "Here’s what shocked me: peat moss takes thousands of years to form, yet we’re harvesting it faster than nature can replace it. Meanwhile, sphagnum moss can be sustainably harvested in just 5-6 years. That’s a massive difference that directly impacts our planet’s carbon storage and wetland ecosystems."

[...]

"The environmental implications of choosing between sphagnum moss and peat moss extend far beyond your garden. Peatlands cover only 3% of Earth’s land surface but store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined. When we harvest peat moss, we’re not just removing a growing medium – we’re releasing carbon that’s been locked away for millennia.

Research from wetland ecologists cited by Oregon State University Extension confirms that peat is being harvested at non-sustainable rates. The extraction process requires draining bogs, which immediately begins releasing CO2 as the peat oxidizes. A single hectare of drained peatland can emit 15-20 tons of CO2 annually – equivalent to driving a car around 50,000 miles."

[...]

"Sphagnum moss works exceptionally well for #orchids, particularly epiphytic species that naturally grow on trees. Its chunky texture provides the perfect balance of moisture retention and air circulation that orchid roots require. I’ve found that wrapping orchid roots in slightly damp sphagnum moss can revive stressed plants remarkably quickly.

For propagation, sphagnum moss creates an ideal environment for rooting cuttings. Its natural antibacterial properties help prevent rot while maintaining consistent moisture. Air layering, a propagation technique for woody plants, relies almost exclusively on sphagnum moss to encourage root development on branches still attached to the parent plant.

Carnivorous plants, which evolved in nutrient-poor bog environments, thrive in pure sphagnum moss. The moss provides the acidic, nutrient-free medium these specialized plants need while preventing mineral buildup that could damage their sensitive roots."

Alternatives to #PeatMoss are:

- #CoconutCoir
- #RiceHulls
- #Biochar
- #CompostedWood
- #AgedCompost

Learn more:
https://greenwashingindex.com/sphagnum-moss-vs-peat-moss/

#SolarPunkSunday #PeatAlternatives
#PottingSoil #Gardening #GrowYourOwn

#SphagnumMoss vs #PeatMoss: Environmental Guide 2026

Home - Comparisons - Sphagnum Moss vs Peat Moss: Environmental Guide 2026

Last Updated, September 11th, 2025

Excerpts: "Here’s what shocked me: peat moss takes thousands of years to form, yet we’re harvesting it faster than nature can replace it. Meanwhile, sphagnum moss can be sustainably harvested in just 5-6 years. That’s a massive difference that directly impacts our planet’s carbon storage and wetland ecosystems."

[...]

"The environmental implications of choosing between sphagnum moss and peat moss extend far beyond your garden. Peatlands cover only 3% of Earth’s land surface but store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined. When we harvest peat moss, we’re not just removing a growing medium – we’re releasing carbon that’s been locked away for millennia.

Research from wetland ecologists cited by Oregon State University Extension confirms that peat is being harvested at non-sustainable rates. The extraction process requires draining bogs, which immediately begins releasing CO2 as the peat oxidizes. A single hectare of drained peatland can emit 15-20 tons of CO2 annually – equivalent to driving a car around 50,000 miles."

[...]

"Sphagnum moss works exceptionally well for #orchids, particularly epiphytic species that naturally grow on trees. Its chunky texture provides the perfect balance of moisture retention and air circulation that orchid roots require. I’ve found that wrapping orchid roots in slightly damp sphagnum moss can revive stressed plants remarkably quickly.

For propagation, sphagnum moss creates an ideal environment for rooting cuttings. Its natural antibacterial properties help prevent rot while maintaining consistent moisture. Air layering, a propagation technique for woody plants, relies almost exclusively on sphagnum moss to encourage root development on branches still attached to the parent plant.

Carnivorous plants, which evolved in nutrient-poor bog environments, thrive in pure sphagnum moss. The moss provides the acidic, nutrient-free medium these specialized plants need while preventing mineral buildup that could damage their sensitive roots."

Alternatives to #PeatMoss are:

- #CoconutCoir
- #RiceHulls
- #Biochar
- #CompostedWood
- #AgedCompost

Learn more:
https://greenwashingindex.com/sphagnum-moss-vs-peat-moss/

#SolarPunkSunday #PeatAlternatives
#PottingSoil #Gardening #GrowYourOwn

#SphagnumMoss vs #PeatMoss: Environmental Guide 2026

Home - Comparisons - Sphagnum Moss vs Peat Moss: Environmental Guide 2026

Last Updated, September 11th, 2025

Excerpts: "Here’s what shocked me: peat moss takes thousands of years to form, yet we’re harvesting it faster than nature can replace it. Meanwhile, sphagnum moss can be sustainably harvested in just 5-6 years. That’s a massive difference that directly impacts our planet’s carbon storage and wetland ecosystems."

[...]

"The environmental implications of choosing between sphagnum moss and peat moss extend far beyond your garden. Peatlands cover only 3% of Earth’s land surface but store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined. When we harvest peat moss, we’re not just removing a growing medium – we’re releasing carbon that’s been locked away for millennia.

Research from wetland ecologists cited by Oregon State University Extension confirms that peat is being harvested at non-sustainable rates. The extraction process requires draining bogs, which immediately begins releasing CO2 as the peat oxidizes. A single hectare of drained peatland can emit 15-20 tons of CO2 annually – equivalent to driving a car around 50,000 miles."

[...]

"Sphagnum moss works exceptionally well for #orchids, particularly epiphytic species that naturally grow on trees. Its chunky texture provides the perfect balance of moisture retention and air circulation that orchid roots require. I’ve found that wrapping orchid roots in slightly damp sphagnum moss can revive stressed plants remarkably quickly.

For propagation, sphagnum moss creates an ideal environment for rooting cuttings. Its natural antibacterial properties help prevent rot while maintaining consistent moisture. Air layering, a propagation technique for woody plants, relies almost exclusively on sphagnum moss to encourage root development on branches still attached to the parent plant.

Carnivorous plants, which evolved in nutrient-poor bog environments, thrive in pure sphagnum moss. The moss provides the acidic, nutrient-free medium these specialized plants need while preventing mineral buildup that could damage their sensitive roots."

Alternatives to #PeatMoss are:

- #CoconutCoir
- #RiceHulls
- #Biochar
- #CompostedWood
- #AgedCompost

Learn more:
https://greenwashingindex.com/sphagnum-moss-vs-peat-moss/

#SolarPunkSunday #PeatAlternatives
#PottingSoil #Gardening #GrowYourOwn

So, even if some peat (Canadian peat) is allegedly harvested *sustainably*, I'm thinking this article lays out the problems with using #Peat succinctly and without the hype!

#CornellCooperativeExtension - #PeatMoss and #Sustainability

Excerpt: "Besides #overharvesting, #PeatBogs, #Fens and #PeatSwamps are threatened by climate change, habitat and nearby developments that can change the nature of surrounding areas. They are sensitive to disturbance. There is research that suggests that harvesting of peat bogs adds to climate change by releasing carbon stored in these bogs.

"Peat bogs and fens in America are where #CarnivorousPlants, like #sundews, #bladderworts and #PitcherPlants, and #BogOrchids live side-by-side. The acidic nature of bogs/fens and humidity create the perfect environment for peat moss, orchids and carnivorous plants. #Peatlands are also home to other species that rely on their composition. #Turtles, birds such as #PalmWarblers and #EasternTowhees, #snakes and #grouse, to name a few.

"There are alternatives to peat moss that are more sustainable. #CocoCoir is a material made from the fibers of the coconut husk. When dried, it is packaged into bricks. Once re-hydrated, it can be used in garden containers to both absorb water and keep the soil from drying out. It can be used in the potting mix or on top of the soil instead of mulch. #RiceHulls can be used for drainage in container plant pots. Both coco coir and rice hulls are sustainable. Additionally, #compost can be used in place of peat moss. Coco coir, rice hulls and compost can all be used alone or mixed in with a commercial potting mix to make using peat moss more sustainable."

Learn more:
https://cce.cornell.edu/orleans/peat-moss-and-sustainability

#SolarPunkSunday #PeatAlternatives #PottingSoil #Sustainability #Gardening #GrowYourOwn #CoconutCoir

As I suspected, the article is BS! I would read the next article in the thread for the truth about using peat!

Hmmmm... I found an article about #Canadian #PeatMoss being produced more #sustainably, but I'm not 100% convinced of that... Anyone care to chime in?

Peat Moss in the Garden: Is it Sustainable?

https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/4358/Peat-Moss-in-the-Garden-Is-it-Sustainable/

#SolarPunkSunday #PottingSoil #Peat

How to Grow Peas Indoors for a Thriving Harvest All Year Long https://www.allforgardening.com/1576433/how-to-grow-peas-indoors-for-a-thriving-harvest-all-year-long/ ##peaVarieties #FaithCalan #garden #gardening #GrowingPeas #IndoorGardening #PeaPlants #PeaSeeds #PlantingPeas #PottingSoil

Gardener warns against common advice for potted plants: ‘Don’t do this’ https://www.allforgardening.com/1569962/gardener-warns-against-common-advice-for-potted-plants-dont-do-this-2/ #garden #gardening #Jessica #PottedPlants #PottingSoil #WateringPlants

Don’t Let Your Container Garden Soil Go To Waste. How To Store It For Winter https://www.allforgardening.com/1535118/dont-let-your-container-garden-soil-go-to-waste-how-to-store-it-for-winter/ #garden #GardenSoil #PottingSoil #SoilQuality