In the event you’re investigating making your personal soil or questioning what your bagged soil consists of, you’ve in all probability seen peat moss and coco coir on the ingredient listing. These are frequent soil elements, 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 likely one of the hottest elements 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 couple of drawbacks. It’s naturally acidic, so it wants lime to neutralize it for vegetation that don’t like acidic soil. It additionally is difficult to rehydrate when dried out. You’ll discover this whenever you overlook to water your vegetation, and your soil turns right into a strong brick.

The most important disadvantage, nevertheless, is the sustainability points surrounding peat moss.

Sphagnum peat moss comes from bogs. Bogs are residence to wildlife and uncommon vegetation and retailer carbon, which is important for the struggle towards local weather change. Even when harvested responsibly, changing the misplaced peat moss takes a few years.

You possibly can be taught extra concerning the sustainability points with peat moss right here.

What’s Coconut Coir?

Coconut coir is constructed from the waste merchandise of coconut husks. It has distinctive water-holding capacity, is light-weight, and is usually marketed as a sustainable various to peat moss. It has a impartial pH however doesn’t maintain on to vitamins as nicely.

There’s a variety of horticultural coconut coir merchandise; some manufacturers could not carry out nicely in potting soil, whereas others could also be invaluable addition. Earlier than making a big funding in buying any coconut coir, take a look at a couple of manufacturers to seek out one which works for you.

Peat Moss vs Coco Coir

So, which of the 2 is best 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

By product (finds a use for what usually would possibly go to waste)

Nice water retention

A lot of airflow

Impartial pH

Fully sterile and incorporates no soil microbes

Wide selection of efficiency relying on manufacturers (good and dangerous)

Peat Moss at a Look

Nice water retention

A lot of aeration

Sterile from microbes, seeds, salts, and metals

Reduces soil leaching

Acidic pH

Large sustainability difficulty

Wants rehydration and makes soil stiff when dry

The decision? You possibly can definitely use each, however I are likely to keep away from sphagnum peat moss as a consequence of its sustainability points. Coco coir tends to work simply in addition to peat moss (if not higher) when combined with compost, rice hulls, or perlite.

FAQ About Peat Moss and Coco Coir

Is peat moss higher than coco coir?

Coconut coir is promoted as a peat moss various, usually marketed as a ‘peat’ product. There’s some debate on whether or not it’s actually extra sustainable because the coir must be processed, which makes use of sources and may have an effect on employees’ well being, to not point out the lengthy distances it can journey when shipped to temperate climates.

Can coco coir be used instead of peat moss?

Most positively! 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.

What’s cheaper: coco coir or peat moss?

Typically, coco coir is cheaper than peat moss. Since coco coir is a by-product, there’s greater than sufficient to be offered cheaply at backyard centres.

Peat moss must be particularly harvested. In Canada, peat moss harvesting is extremely regulated, making the method a bit of extra intensive, which provides as much as the next value level.

Can I combine coco and peat moss?

Each coco coir and peat moss are well-liked elements in DIY potting soil recipes and may be combined collectively.

When discovering the very best soil elements 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 particular person could differ from one other!