Sphagnum Moss Vs. Peat Moss: Learn About Their Qualities

Sphagnum moss vs. peat moss is a matter that can leave you at crossroads when choosing the best way to keep your plants moist. These two products are harvested from the same plant called the sphagnum moss.

However, they are different in their physical appearance, have different pH levels, and are used differently. Follow up with the article, and you will see more differences and their distinctions.

Features	Sphagnum moss	Peat moss
Physical appearance	It has visible plant parts and long fibers and is easy to bend	It decomposes completely, leaving no visible plant parts, and has short fibers.
Leaves	Has tiny, slightly toothed light green leaves. Other species have deep red, yellow, or pink foliage	No cells since it decomposes completely
Texture	It has a soft and spongy texture	Fine texture
PH	Has a neutral PH	It is acidic with a PH of 3.0 to 4.0

What Are the Differences Between Sphagnum Moss and Peat Moss?

The main difference between sphagnum moss and peat moss is their appearance and method of harvest. Sphagnum moss is a plant found on the soil or swamp surface and is harvested, dried. Whereas peat moss is the dead and decaying sphagnum that has sunk below the water’s surface.

To elaborate their difference, you must know that peat moss is a mixture of dead plant and insect materials that have stayed for thousands of years and is extremely rich in organic nutrients. However, since sphagnum is collected from living moss, it is not combined with other materials, making it have fewer organic nutrients than its counterpart.

There is also a difference in the acidity levels of these two soil amendment products. Sphagnum has a neutral when it comes to the pH, while peat moss is highly acidic. Gardeners with acid-loving plants growing in alkaline soils will see a massive difference after using peat moss. However, avoid using the product if the soil is acidic because too much acidity can kill the plants.

They are also different in the way of being harvested, as these two plants growing products have different uses. For example, seed-starting farmers prefer sphagnum, also used for lining baskets. The product also makes a better gro orchid moss. Peat moss is mainly used on acid-preferring plants and as an ingredient for potting soil.

Exploring The Features, Characteristics, And Uses of Sphagnum Moss

The key features of sphagnum moss are that it has long fibers that are easy to blend, and it is neutral in its acidity. Moreover, it has a soft and spongy texture, as it can vary from green to brown in its color.

It is harvested as a living plant, dried to make the end product, and sold commercially to farmers. The moss’s leaves are tiny and slightly toothed, with long fibers because this base is one that grows in marshy lands in Northern America. Also, since it is harvested as a living plant, it has visible plant parts like leaf parts with a spongy and soft texture, and it is easily flexible.

The spongy texture of this moss makes it perfect for retaining potted plants’ moisture, a reason it is common among homeowners. Also, it has a stringy, fibrous nature making it suitable for hanging plants in a basket, and it would resist water well.

– Features And Characteristics

Sphagnum moss is a plant that requires a proper balance of light, water, and humidity to grow. However, it belongs to a type of non-vascular plant called bryophytes. The plants don’t grow roots, flowers, or bear seeds. However, they have leaf-like structures called phyllids and it would add aesthetic features.

The leaves are porous and thin, with a single cell. These are available in different vibrant colors depending on the species. Some sphagnum have light green leaves, while others have orange, pink, and red hues. The leaves are full and dense, and their vertically upright terminal heads are starry.

Sphagnums are pioneer species of moss plants, and so they are essential non-vascular plants. And if you are wondering, is sphagnum moss acidic? These plants mostly have a neutral pH, and they influence the environment’s nutrients and water levels wherever they grow, and this will not impact the plant that is growing around it.

– Varieties

The different leaf hues of sphagnum explain its varieties. The Prairie Sphagnum is common moss with green, gold, and brown leaves. It is mainly found in woody swamps and marshy meadows.

Another common sphagnum is the Red Bogmoss. It is mainly found in boreal forests and bogs, forming dense carpets. Its leaves are green under the shade but turn to shades of red when exposed to the sun.

The Fine Bogmoss type has small, narrow leaves and is commonly found in temperate and arctic zones. Its leaves are green under the shade and could turn yellow, golden brown, and mustard depending on the light intensity.

– Growth Requirements

Since sphagnum is grown as a plant, it requires optimal growing conditions to mature. For example, you must expose it to full and partial sun to get different leaf hues. The plants are not chosen with the soil type because they take water and nutrients with their leaves.

You need to frequently water sphagnum because they love moisture and this is how it would remain vibrant looking. You can mist the plants to maintain moisture levels and ensure the water is not hard or alkaline. When the leaves get brown or white tips, it is a sign you need to water them more because they must remain moist.

The other essential requirement for sphagnum growth is humidity and temperature. You will get an excellent product if you maintain humidity between 40 and 80 percent. Also, ensure the plant grows in warm areas. Maintain a temperature range of 55 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants become dormant when it gets too cold.

– Uses

Sphagnum can be used for gardening and crafting purposes. Its porous nature makes it suitable for water retention purposes. Homeowners also use it as a soilless potting medium for growing succulents and orchids. It is also ideal for growing plants that require little moisture because it doesn’t become soggy. This way, your plants won’t suffer root rot.

You can also mix sphagnum with soil to make an exceptional plant-growing environment and this is advisable because growing plants entirely on sphagnum will require you to water frequently. After all, it loses water fast and doesn’t hold nutrients for a longer time. So, is there a sphagnum moss alternative, may be your worry, which is why you can use coconut or coco coir to grow plants instead of sphagnum. This is made from the outer layer of young or mature coconut shell husks.

One advantage of sphagnum moss vs. coco coir is that the coconut coir is renewable, sustainable, and lasts longer. It also provides better aeration for plants and improves moisture retention, reducing the number of times you need to water the plant.

Besides growing plants, you can also use sphagnum for decorative purposes. Homeowners place them in hanging pots and put them in empty spaces. The dried plant-like materials resemble hanging plants to add aesthetics to the home. And if you want to buy sphagnum, an easier way to find them is by researching ‘sphagnum moss near me.’

The product is also used to beautify spaces. For example, the speedhide 1 gal. ppg1111-7 sphagnum moss is a satin interior paint with a low paint odor. It also has mildew resistance and can be applied on brick or concrete walls.

Exploring The Features, Characteristics, And Uses of Peat Moss

Peat moss, commonly known as sphagnum peat moss, is the dead and decayed remains of where sphagnum grows and settles at the bottom of the sphagnum bogs. The remains stay at the bottom of the bogs and consist of sphagnum remains and organic matter from other plants and animals.

Peat moss has a fine dry texture and is light brown because it hasn’t been oxygenated to be green. The product helps sandy soil to hold moisture, making it perfect for soil amendment. Gardeners mix it with clay soil to help the soil type loosen, improving drainage.

– Features and Characteristics

Peat moss, is also called bog moss, has a low PH of 3.0 to 4.0, making it suitable for plants that prefer acid areas. Therefore, it is commonly used in areas with highly alkaline soils. Using this product in areas with acidic soil is inadvisable because increasing acidity could kill the plants, and when you use it, you must be fully aware of the plant’s needs.

The moss is also lightweight, making it easy to work with, and is sold in compressed bales. It does not have leaves or plant parts because it is harvested as decayed matter, and this makes it rich in nutrients and a perfect growing medium for plants. The moss can protect your plants from animal and insect attacks because it is high in tanning, and this matter creates a mouth-coating feeling when you bite an unripe fruit, discouraging animals from feeding on plants.

Now you must also note that peat moss and sphagnum originate from the same plant, and you may think to yourself, can I use sphagnum moss instead of peat moss? It is not a choice to opt for if you wish to replace moss with sphagnum. The reason is that they have different pH levels, which can affect your plant’s growth. They also have different textures, nutrients, and water retention abilities which can impact your plant.

– Variety of Grades

Black peat is a highly decomposed market-grade peat. It is mainly mixed with other types of peat depending on the type of crop grown. The coarse or chunk grade is fibrous with a blonde color. It also has a medium moisture retention capacity and high aeration, making it common for Azalea and orchid mixes.

The most common peat moss is the horticultural grade if you wish to use it in a prosperous way. Farmers prefer it because of its fibrous consistency, which gives it a high moisture retention power. The moss promotes root development and is common among vegetable and flower farmers.

If you want a short fiber peat moss, buy the Fine type. It is famous for hydro-seeding and starting seeds. The forestry type is a medium fiber peat moss used mainly for cell propagation of seedlings.

– Uses

This moss can be tilled into a planting bed for outdoor plants. It lightens up the soil, improving its drainage. This helps plants that prefer moist to soggy soils and prevent root rots. Also, when mixed with sandy soil, peat moss increases the moisture retention power. The ground can hold water for longer, reducing the frequency of watering the plants.

If you grow orchids and want to compare sphagnum moss vs peat moss orchid, peat moss is a better choice. Although sphagnum works well for orchids, miniature orchids have better options if you wish for the proper amount of moisture around the roots. The tiny plants won’t get the right wetness to support their growth, and for this, you can get the better-gro 1/8 cu. Ft. premium grade orchid for beautiful orchids.

Some gardeners also mix peat moss with soil to enrich plant roots. For example, you can use the perfect plant 8 qt. organic sphagnum peat moss as a soil additive for indoor plants and outdoor potted plants.

Conclusion

This discussion has shown us that peat moss and sphagnum are different. First, their occurrence differs; sphagnum occurs as a plant, is harvested in its plant form, and then dried and processed. The sphagnum peat moss is a mixture of sphagnum and other organic materials decayed and decomposed over time.

Whether you choose sphagnum or moss depends on the type of plant, the pH levels of your soil, and plant requirements. Sphagnum is ideal for plants with little water requirements because it is loose and loses water faster. Peat moss is highly acidic, so it is suitable for plants that require acidic environments and grow in alkaline soils.