Peat Vs CoCo

[itchybromusic]

some info & opinion on the use of both from kisorganics.com

https://www.kisorganics.com/blogs/news/99806785-peat-vs-coco

 

This can be a hotly debated topic among growers as to what's the best media for growing plants. In this article, I'll weigh in with my opinion on the subject as there are Pros and Cons to both.

"Sphagnum" is a genus of approximately 120 different species of mosses known as "peat moss." Sphagnum and the peat formed from it do not decay readily because of the phenolic compounds 

embedded in the moss's cell walls. Peat moss can also acidify its surroundings by taking up cations, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, and releasing hydrogen ions. Under the right conditions,

peat can accumulate to a depth of many yards. These bogs are slowly building and 80% of the peat moss used in the United States comes from Canada. Approximately .02 percent of the 270 million

acres (422,000 square miles) of Canadian peat bog are used for peat moss mining. There are some efforts made to restore peat bogs after peat mining. It is debated as to whether the peat bogs can be

restored to their pre-mining condition and how long the process takes. Many peat companies claim this to be a sustainable practice, but that is hotly debated topic depending on where you source your

information on the subject.

Pros of Peat Moss:

• Free of weed seeds, pests and pathogens.
• Can absorb up to 20 times its weight in water.
• Contains beneficial microorganisms.
• Acidic pH (a "pro" in my opinion because you can add highly alkaline amendments to it).
• Contains a variety of elements, especially sulfur, which helps with proper terpene expression.
• Excellent habitat for beneficial microorganisms.
• Harvested in North America, which reduces the fossil fuel impact to get it to the United States.
• Holds 10x to 20x its dry weight in water.
• Better C:N ratio than coco coir.
• Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 100-200.

Cons of Peat Moss:

• Depletes peat bogs, which requires them to be re-built or sustainably harvested.
• Naturally hydrophobic, meaning if allowed to dry out it will be slow to accept water.
• Needs to be kept evenly moist for optimal plant growth and health.
• Requires hydrating before use.

Coco coir is the natural fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. It is treated before use as a growth medium for plants or fungi by soaking in a calcium

buffering solution; most coir sold for growing purposes is pre-treated. Once any remaining salts have been leached out of the coir pith, it and the coir bark become suitable substrates for growing plants.

Pros of Coco Coir:

• Coir pH usually runs 6 – 6.7.
• "Renewable" resource - byproduct of the coconut industry.
• Easier to rewet than peat moss, is not hydrophobic.
• Usually cheaper than peat moss.
• Different reports list coco as having a water capacity ranging from 8x to 30x it's own weight.
• Excellent habitat for microorganisms.
• Free of weed seeds, pests, and pathogens.
• Breaks down slower than peat due to high lignin content.
• Cation Exchange Capacity of 40-60.

Cons of Coco Coir:

• High salinity unless properly washed.
• Quality can vary depending on batch and source of material.
• Higher fossil fuel cost to get the coir to the United States from tropical regions.
• Does not contain many trace elements.
• Does not contain microorganisms.
• Traditionally high in sodium and potassium which can lead to calcium or magnesium deficiencies unless properly treated.
• Requires hydrating before use.
• Increased incidence of nasobronchial allergy among workers in this industry due to the high amount of dust created.

As you can see, it's not a black and white decision as to which growing media is superior. Personally, I prefer sphagnum peat moss because of the existing microbiology and the fact the pH is acidic,

allowing for highly alkaline amendments like biochar and calcium in the form of ag lime and oyster shell flour. I've also had issues in the past with quality control on coco coir and heard horror stories

of variability between batches from the same manufacturer containing high salinity. Regardless of what you choose, I hope this article helped you form a more educated opinion on the subject. Happy growing!

Resources:

The Truth About Peat Moss

Does Peat Moss Have A Place In The Ecological Garden?

The Peat Moss Association in Canada

A Comparison of Coconut Coir and Sphagnum Peat as Soil-less Media Components for Plant Growth

Getting to the Coir of the matter

How Coir Is Made

What Your Substrate Is Trying To Tell You

The Importance of Buffering Coco Coir

Nasobronchial Allergy and Pulmonary Function Abnormalities Among Coir Workers of Alappuzha  

 

[Faith]

Cheers itchy Interesting.  I have been thinking about peat since having started to read the buildasoil stuff an what-not and was wondering how a blend would go?  Peat seems dear and any carbon miles the yanks may save don't apply down here? One of my very first grows I was making dirt and stuff and used probably 20-30 % peat moss and yes it got drenched and then i freaked and let it dry right out and then she wouldn't wet...scared me off the stuff for a couple of years.   Hmm, maybe a blend 

Faith

[itchybromusic]

Cheers itchy Interesting.  I have been thinking about peat since having started to read the buildasoil stuff an what-not and was wondering how a blend would go?  Peat seems dear and any carbon miles the yanks may save don't apply down here? One of my very first grows I was making dirt and stuff and used probably 20-30 % peat moss and yes it got drenched and then i freaked and let it dry right out and then she wouldn't wet...scared me off the stuff for a couple of years.   Hmm, maybe a blend 

Faith

 

yeah i've done the same with peat Faith , in a fabric geopot it can dry even faster than in plastic pots

but in many ways that's a good thing cos you get to water/feed more , a little like running coco doing regular

small amounts , no run off just keeping the pot evenly moist 24/7 ,

for keeping life in the soil / pot , bigger is much better than smaller , 40 to 60 liter pots will do better than 20 to 30 liter

 

you can always put more than one plant in a large pot BTW , i have 3 5gal geopots about to be sitting in a under bed 

storage container , a little tight but with fabric pots the roots will grow though the sides of each pot effectively making

it a 15gal / 75 liter bed in stead of 3 individual 5gal pots , in theory anyway , i'm about to find out 

 

yes it's hard to keep peat hydrated in small pots , a tip from Crowsange if they dry out or you think they might be drying out

place the pot in a drip tray , spray the top down & bottom feed , let the pot sit in water to re-hydrate the peat , & keep in eye

on pot weight & consider a few sprays with a spray bottle on your mulch layer might be all that's needed to keep the pot evenly moist 

bigger is better & you don't throw the soil away when cycles finished , you cut the stump out just enough to fit the next seedling in

& go again , continuing "feeding the pot life" via top dressing