Peat moss is a type of soil that has been used in gardening for many years. It’s often seen as the perfect plant starter because it provides an excellent balance between moisture and oxygen to help plants grow. But, what about peat moss and succulents? Is it good or bad for them? Today we will discuss whether or not peat moss is good for succulents and whether or not it is something you want to use when planting.
What is Peat Moss?
Peat moss is a type of soil that has been harvested from bogs and wetlands for many years. When dried, it becomes an excellent starter plant material because it provides the perfect balance between moisture and oxygen to help plants grow.
If you’ve ever seen peat moss in stores, then you may have noticed that there are different grades of peat moss. In general, the better quality grades are more expensive because they have less organic content and can be reused for a longer period of time before needing to repurchase it again.
In other words, when you purchase this type of plant starter material, make sure that you’re comparing apples to apples so as not to end up with a cheap product that you’ll need to repurchase in the future.
What’s so good about peat moss?
Peat moss is an incredibly common plant starter material because it provides such excellent results for new plants. But, what are some of the benefits and drawbacks? First off, if your succulents or cactus grow in a garden bed with peat moss, then you’ll be able to grow them for years without needing any extra fertilizer.
On the other hand, if your succulents or cactus are growing in pots and containers that do not have peat moss added as one of their ingredients, they will need more frequent watering because this type of soil does not drain as well.
Is Peat moss Good for Succulents?
Because peat moss provides such excellent moisture and oxygen balance, it’s often the best starter plant material for succulents – especially if you’re growing them in pots. If they are grown in garden beds or other types of containers with soil that does not contain this same ratio, then the plants will need extra watering because their roots may dry out more quickly.
Keep in mind that not all succulents or cacti will grow well with this type of plant starter material because it can be quite acidic for some plants (specifically, those who prefer a neutral pH).
What does Peat Moss do to the Soil?
Since this type of soil is harvested from bogs or wetlands, it will come in contact with some level of organic material. This can be a good thing and a bad thing depending on the specific plants you’re growing.
For instance, if you are going to plant succulents or cactus into your garden beds that contain peat moss, then the organic content will be beneficial. This is because peat moss can help to enrich and soften the soil around your plants so they don’t experience as much damage from sharp blades of grass or other hard objects in their environment.
Which type of Plants are well suited to grow in Peat Moss?
In general, succulents and cacti are the best plants to grow in peat moss because they appreciate this type of soil. They don’t need any extra watering or fertilizer, just a healthy dose of moisture thanks to this quality plant starter material.
Peat moss is good for:
- Succulents
- Cacti
- Rooting cuttings in water or soil
Peat moss is not good for:
- On their own (in pots), plants that prefer a neutral to acidic pH. These types of plants would grow better with other types of starter material, such as soil or peat-free potting mix.
- Plants that prefer cooler temperatures, such as the hens and chicks succulent. These types of plants would grow best with other plant starter materials because this type of soil helps to heat up the environment around them.
So, Can you plant Succulents & other potted plants in Peat Moss?
One way is to mix in some organic material with the soil and then add your succulents inside. But this type of mixture will need more frequent watering because it does not drain as well.
Another way is to use a pot without any peat moss in its ingredients and then add your cacti. This will need less frequent watering because it has better drainage, but the plant starter material may not have the same level of nutrients that you would get from using other types of seeds.
Benefits of Peat Moss
- It helps to enrich the soil around your plants so they don’t experience as much damage from sharp blades of grass or hard objects in their environment.
- This type of plant starter material is quite acidic for some types of plants, including succulents and cacti. But it’s a good thing because this will give these plants their necessary nutrients.
- It comes in contact with some amount of organic material that will help succulents and cacti grow quite well, but it can also be a bad thing for other plants because this type of soil needs to drain well.
Disadvantages to using peat moss
- It doesn’t drain as well, so it can become waterlogged with too much watering or rain. This type of plant starter material needs to be mixed in with other organic materials for better results.
- Peat moss is not very good at retaining nutrients and this will mean that you may have to provide more fertilizer.
- It is not a good type of plant starter material for plants that prefer cooler temperatures.
How to mix peat moss with soil?
There are a number of different ways that you can mix this type of plant starter material with soil. One way is to add it directly into the pot or container and then add the plant.
But, if you’re adding peat moss to an existing mixture such as compost, sand, perlite, or vermiculite, you can mix it in with a shovel or your hands. If you do this type of mix you will have to water more frequently because it does not drain as well.
Are There Any Peat Moss Alternatives?
There are a number of different alternatives to peat moss:
- Start your seeds inside first! They’re a good way to start plants and you won’t need any type of plant starter material at all.
- You can also use potting soil. This is usually the best option for them because it will provide better drainage so that the roots don’t become waterlogged.
- Vermiculite, perlite, or sand are other alternatives to peat moss.
What Is Vermiculite?
Vermiculite is an organic material that comes in a small, lightweight block. It has the ability to retain water and it’s also known for its ability to provide nutrients. This type of plant starter material can be used as an additive or replacement for peat moss when starting plants indoors.
What Is Perlite?
Perlite is another type of plant starter material that comes in a small, lightweight block. But it’s made from volcanic rock and so it has lower levels of nutrients than vermiculite does.
Differences Between Compost and Peat Moss
Many people are confused about the difference between peat moss and compost. Peat moss is a type of plant starter material that can be mixed in with other organic materials to provide better drainage for plants.
Compost is a type of soil that needs several weeks or months to decompose before it can be used as plant starter material, so you’ll want to start your seeds inside first and then use this in the ground when ready. The compost will need to be mixed in with other types of organic materials.
Conclusion
Peat moss is actually good for succulents. It provides a perfect balance between moisture and oxygen to help plants grow. However, if you are looking at adding in some extra nutrients or fertilizers they may need more than what the soil can provide it’s best just to use a normal potting mix instead of peat moss.