Yahoo: The Problem with the Peat Moss in Your Pots (and What to Use Instead) The Problem with the Peat Moss in Your Pots (and What to Use Instead) Peat or coir? That could become one of those defining questions, like "Paper or plastic?" Or (in New Mexico), "Red or green?" Peat is familiar to gardeners, compressed into small melt-in-your-ground ... While bark or coir -based peat-free potting soil mixes are on the rise, particularly in the UK, peat is still used as raw material for horticulture in some other European countries, Canada, as well as parts of the United States.

Understanding the Context

Peat, spongy material formed by the partial decomposition of organic matter, primarily plant material, in wetlands. The formation of peat is the first step in the formation of coal. Peat can be used as a fuel and is only a minor contributor to the world energy supply. The meaning of PEAT is a dark brown fibrous material that is formed primarily by the partial decomposition of organic matter and especially plants (such as sphagnum moss) in wet, oxygen-deficient areas (such as bogs or swamps) and that is harvested especially for use as a fuel for heating or cooking or as a soil amendment —sometimes used ...

Key Insights

What is peat? Put simply, peat is soil – but it’s an extra special type of soil. Peat is dead and partially decomposed organic matter or vegetation. It forms at a very slow rate, taking thousands of years for a fully-formed layer to develop. What is peatland?

Final Thoughts

What exactly is peat – and why is it so important ...