Peat moss vs. coco coir. How do these two soil amendments compare? Many gardeners were told by their parents and grandparents that adding peat moss to garden and potting soil improves the soil structure. But today ecologists tell us that peat moss is being harvested for this use at non-sustainable rates. Coco coir, (aka coco dust, coco fiber, or coconut coir mulch) is proposed as an alternative.

So let’s look at coco fiber vs. peat moss. Will coco coir actually do the job? The simple answer is yes, but read on for the details.

Peat Moss vs. Coco Coir

The question of coco coir vs. peat moss is more than an issue of which is more effective as a soil amendment. There are bigger things at play here.

Let’s start by looking at these two materials and where they come from. That’s critical because the main advantage of coco coir is that it is not endangered. Peat takes hundreds of years to form and plays a vital role in a wetland's ecosystem. Coco coir is often tossed as detritus.

Peat Moss Pros and Cons

We all are aware of the value of wetlands as ecosystems. They support a multitude of plant and animal life. Peat comes from peat bogs, which are a special kind of wetlands. Occupied by peat mosses, peat bogs acidify the wet soil to the point that only acid-loving plants can thrive there, including unique, carnivorous plants like pitcher plants and Venus fly-traps.

Bacterial decomposition is slowed by the acidity, so as the centuries pass, layers of peat moss are squeezed and compressed into the substance called peat. But there is a limited amount of peat, and more of it is being extracted and used commercially than is being produced.

When peat is extracted from the bog and added to garden soil, it improves the structure of the soil. However, take note: peat does not act as a fertilizer or add any nutrients. Rather, it amends the soil, making it lighter so that air can enter, and the soil can be moist without getting soggy. This helps plants to grow.

Peat moss aerates soil well and is easy to buy in commerce, since it comes from Canada. On the other hand, it is extremely acidic, and once it is wet, it is hard to wet again.

Coco Coir Pros and Cons

So where does coco coir come from? It may not surprise you that it comes from coconut palm trees. Coconuts are harvested and husked before being sold commercially. During this process, the longer fibers are sold for use in upholstery stuffing, rope, and brushes. What about the short fibers? This substance used to be considered detritus and tossed, but today is used in gardening as coconut coir or coco peat. Coir, then, is a renewable resource and its new role in gardening makes constructive use out of a waste product.

Coir holds moisture well and rehydrates easily. Like peat, it is low in nutrients, but works well as a soil amendment. It is less acidic, closer to neutral in pH value. On the down side, it is shipped from overseas and is more difficult to buy in bulk.

Which One Is Better?

Comparing coco coir vs peat moss in terms of practicality for horticulture, both products work well. Coir wets more easily than peat, drains well, and withstands compression better than peat. In addition, it has none of the peat bog detritus that peat has.

But given the differences in ecological impact, there can be no question that in the peat moss vs. coco peat balance, it is far better to buy coco coir than peat.

One of the ways peat moss is used in the veggie garden is to lower the pH of the soil which benefits acid loving plants but how about crops that like a more alkaline soil; what vegetables do not like peat moss? For that matter, what vegetables like peat moss? Since there will be a mix of crops in most veggie gardens, a gardener may want to inquire, “Can I use peat moss in my vegetable garden?” It isn’t as confusing as it sounds. We’ll discuss in this article whether using peat moss in the garden is a good idea for some vegetables, and why.

Is Peat Moss Good for Vegetable Gardens?

Peat moss is used for a variety of reasons in vegetable gardens. For one thing, peat moss helps improve soil structure. It helps lighten compacted soil, improves drainage and fertility and improves soil texture and tilth.

Peat moss helps retain moisture so it is often included in potting mixes but it can also improve moisture retention in garden soils.

Some plants like acidic soil, others prefer alkaline and still others thrive in neutral soil pH. Peat moss can lower the pH of soil making it more acidic, which can be beneficial to some crops.

Peat Moss and Soil pH

Peat moss has a natural pH of 3.0-4.0. It is sometimes used to lower the pH of alkaline soils when a more acid loving crop is desired. Acid loving plants, like blueberries, prefer a soil pH of around 5.5. Most plants grow best in a soil pH of 6.0-6.8.

What Vegetables Don’t Like Peat Moss?

There are quite a few crops that don’t do well with the inclusion of peat moss into the soil. These include:

• asparagus
• beet
• cabbage
• cantaloupe
• carrot
• cauliflower
• celery
• eggplant
• ginger
• gourds
• lettuce
• okra
• onion
• parsnip
• rutabaga
• spinach

What Vegetables Like Peat Moss?

Plants that prefer a pH of 5.6-6.8 and can tolerate a lower pH include:

• beans
• broccoli
• chives
• corn
• cucumber
• grape
• melon
• pea
• pepper
• peach
• pumpkin
• radish
• squash
• tomato

Alternatives to Peat Moss

As well as being bad for many vegetables, peat moss is an unsustainable resource that is best avoided. Some good peat moss alternatives are coco coir, compost, sawdust, and composted bark mulch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peat moss is a common soil amendment used by gardeners for decades. Although it provides very little nutrients, peat is beneficial because it lightens the soil while improving air circulation and soil structure. However, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that peat is unsustainable, and that harvesting peat in such huge amounts threatens the environment in many ways.

Fortunately, there are several suitable alternatives to peat moss. Read on to learn more about peat moss substitutes.

Why Do We Need Peat Moss Alternatives?

Peat moss is harvested from ancient bogs, and most peat used in the U.S. comes from Canada. Peat takes many centuries to develop, and it’s being removed much faster than it ever can be replaced.

Peat serves many functions in its natural environment. It purifies water, prevents flooding, and absorbs carbon dioxide, but once harvested, peat contributes to the release of harmful carbon dioxide into the environment. Harvesting peat bogs also destroys unique ecosystems that support various species of insects, birds, and plants.

What to Use Instead of Peat Moss

Here are some suitable peat moss alternatives you can use instead:

Woody materials

Wood-based materials such as wood fiber, sawdust, or composted bark aren’t perfect peat moss alternatives, but they offer certain benefits, particularly when they’re made from byproducts of locally sourced wood.

The pH level of wood products tends to be low, thus making the soil more acidic. This may benefit acid-loving plants like rhododendrons and azaleas but isn’t as good for plants that prefer a more alkaline environment. The pH levels are easily determined with a pH testing kit and can be adjusted.

It’s important to note that some wood products aren’t byproducts but are harvested from trees specifically for horticultural uses, which isn’t positive from an environmental point of view. Some wood-based materials may be chemically processed.

Compost

Compost, a good substitute for peat moss, is rich in microorganisms that benefit the soil in numerous ways. Sometimes known as “black gold,” compost also improves drainage, attracts earthworms, and provides nutritional value.

There are no major drawbacks to using compost as a substitute for peat moss, but it’s important to replenish compost regularly as it eventually becomes compacted and loses nutritional value.

Coconut coir

Coconut coir, also known as coco peat, is one of the best alternatives to peat moss. When coconuts are harvested, the long fibers of the husks are used for things such as doormats, brushes, upholstery stuffing, and rope.

Until recently, the waste, consisting mostly of shorter fibers remaining after the long fibers are extracted, was stored in enormous piles because nobody could figure out what to do with it. Using the substance as a substitute for peat solves this problem, and others too.

Coconut coir can be used just like peat moss. It has excellent water-holding capabilities. It has a pH level of 6.0, which is close to perfect for most garden plants, although some may prefer soil to be slightly more acidic, or slightly more alkaline.

In one form or another, most plant owners have dealt with sphagnum moss at some point. In spring, when it’s time to plant the garden, bales or bags of sphagnum peat moss fly off the shelves of garden centers. This popular soil amendment is lightweight and inexpensive. However, when perusing a craft store, you may see small bags labeled sphagnum moss selling for just as much, or more, than you paid for a compressed bag of sphagnum peat moss. This major price and quantity difference may have you wondering if sphagnum moss and peat moss are the same. Continue reading to learn the difference between sphagnum moss and sphagnum peat.

Are Sphagnum Moss and Peat Moss the Same?

The products known as sphagnum moss and sphagnum peat moss come from the same plant, which is also known as sphagnum moss. There are over 350 species of sphagnum moss, but most of the varieties harvested for sphagnum moss products grow in wetlands of the northern hemisphere – mainly Canada, Michigan, Ireland, and Scotland. Commercial sphagnum peat moss is also harvested in New Zealand and Peru. These varieties grow in bogs, which are sometimes drained to make harvesting the sphagnum peat moss (sometimes called peat moss) easier. So, what is sphagnum peat moss? It is actually the dead, decayed plant matter of sphagnum moss that settles at the bottom of the sphagnum bogs. Many of the sphagnum bogs that are harvested for commercially sold sphagnum peat moss have built up in the bottom of bogs for thousands of years. Since these are natural bogs, the decayed matter known as peat moss is usually not purely sphagnum moss. It may contain organic matter from other plants, animals, or insects. However, peat moss or sphagnum peat moss is dead and decayed when harvested. Is sphagnum moss the same as peat moss? Well, kind of. Sphagnum moss is the living plant that grows on top of the bog. It is harvested while it is alive and then dried for commercial use. Usually, the living sphagnum moss is harvested, then the bog is drained and the dead/decayed peat moss beneath is harvested.

Sphagnum Moss vs. Sphagnum Peat Moss

Sphagnum peat moss is usually dried and sterilized after harvest. It is a light brown color and has a fine, dry texture. Sphagnum peat moss is usually sold in compressed bales or bags. It is a very popular soil amendment because of its ability to help sandy soil hold moisture and helps clay soil loosen up and drain better. Due to a naturally low pH of about 4.0, it is also an excellent soil amendment for acid-loving plants or highly alkaline areas. Peat moss is also lightweight, easy to work with, and inexpensive. Sphagnum moss is sold in craft stores or garden centers. For plants, it is used to line baskets and help retain soil moisture. It is usually sold in its natural stringy texture but is also sold chopped up. It consists of shades of green, gray, or brown. In crafts it is used for a variety of projects that require a natural flair. Sphagnum moss is sold commercially in smaller bags.