What Is the Difference Between Peat Moss & Potting Soil?

Peat Moss

• Peat consists of moss and decaying plant matter. The moss in peat is peat moss, also called sphagnum or sphagnum moss. Peat moss forms a tight, soft, spongy mat, growing up to 20 inches high. It usually grows in swamps. Peat moss absorbs and holds water and increases the soil’s acidic properties, which inhibits fungi growth.

Potting Soil

• Potting soil is a planting medium for growing plants. Its basic ingredients typically include sand, vermiculite, perlite and peat moss. The ingredients can vary meeting the needs of different plant types. Some gardeners make their own potting soil, while others purchase prepackaged commercial potting mix. After making potting soil, heating the mixture kills organisms harmful to the plants.

Potting Soil Ingredients

• Each ingredient in potting soil has a different purpose. Peat moss helps the potting soil retain moisture. Sand is typically coarse sand, the same type use in construction. It assists in drainage. Perlite also promotes drainage. It is a volcanic glass, which prevents potting soil from compacting. Instead of pelite, some potting soils use vermiculite, a natural mineral. Potting soil might contain other ingredients, such as fertilizer or compost.

Peat Moss Uses

• Peat moss has other uses in the garden. Gardeners add it to the soil’s top to hold moisture. After planting a new tree or bush, peat moss added around the soil’s top at the plant’s base helps to keep the soil moist. Gardeners also use it for creating a peat moss-based potting soil, appropriate for seed germination. Garden centers sell peat pots, which are little, organic containers used to start seedlings. Instead of removing the plant from the container when repotting, simply plant the peat container in the soil.