What is peat humus

Peat moss has a wider application than peat humus. This is because peat moss has a combination of interesting chemical and physical properties airy structure with the important ability to retain large amounts of moisture that make it a suitable candidate for higher quality soil mix, including the potting mix. Indeed, given the above, I did not found any source recommending peat humus for potting soil as a replacement of peat moss. Indeed, the most logical explanation is that peat moss has a winning mix of chemical and physical property.

Moreover, given the higher cost and scarcity I looked for it on Amazon USA and UK without success of peat humus I do personally recommend peat moss for potting soil. On the other hand, peat humus might be an interesting alternative for garden soil for outdoor usage as contributes to a heavier soil structure than peat moss, important for garden soil in raised beds for highly acidic loving plants out of range for the most common edible herbs you might want to have home but suitable for other plants such as carnivore.

Such application is indeed suggested by peat humus manufacturers. Also, research on the subject highlighted although not for indoor potting herbs that peat humus might have a beneficial effect on plant growth not for the nutrition that is absent but for its structure that seems boost growth as stated by the authors of the study.

Surprisingly, a few on the internet wonder if peat humus or peat moss is a fertilizer. The answer is no, peat humus is not a fertilizer. Indeed, peat humus has mainly a structural function that gives to the soil mix in which is in the capability to retain nutrients not having , heat from the sunlight, and moisture. The gardening world is not always crystal clear.

Those two mediums are different. Humus is an umbrella term for a variety of mediums. For instance, if you take compost material that is partially decomposed, hence it is not humus and you leave it to decay and broken down until there is no recognizable vegetable structure fibers essentially what is left can be called humus.

Hence, from the above, we can say that peat humus is a subcategory of peat humus. Moreover, humus can be developed in a way shorter time than peat humus. Both peat moss and peat humus come from peat bogs. This is the problem. Sphagnum moss is the best-known and the most abundant component of peat. Unlike the regular humus, the organic matter in bogs goes through painstakingly slow anaerobic decomposition — an oxygenless process that could be somewhat compared to pickling but please resist the temptation to add peat to your meals.

The color of peat humus is dark brown to black. Unlike peat moss, it is a heavy substrate with a low water-holding capacity.

However, it too has low pH , although acidic is more common , plus contains a small amount of nitrogen — 2. Peat moss is partially decayed sphagnum moss found in the upper layers of peatland and bog sediments. It has low pH, light brown color, is airy, and retains water very well.

Peat moss is one of the most common components of soilless mixes. Peat humus is a deeper part of the sediment found at the bottom of a bog. It is a combination of various deposits, and it too contains sphagnum moss — only in more advanced stages of decay. On the other hand, true humus is fully decayed organic matter, mostly plant matter from various terrestrial ecosystems. Despite popular belief, humus has no nutrients. But, it does have a structure that is highly beneficial to the soil.

As for humus pH, it is slightly acidic to neutral. Peat humus is one of the more expensive and hard-to-find soil amendments out there, which has precluded it from more common use.

While peat humus does have moisture-retaining properties, it is not as effective as peat moss. Be aware that peat humus is low in nutrient content. Its purpose is to improve the structural qualities of soil. If you are wanting to boost soil nutrients, you will need to use a different ingredient, such as compost. Sustainability is a common concern with peat humus, because this soil amendment is harvested from peat bogs. Peat bogs appear to form and decompose slowly. Indeed, scientists believe that it can take hundreds of years for peat humus to form.

This means that we could theoretically harvest peat humus faster than it is regenerated. However long peat humus takes to form, it definitely takes much longer than peat moss because it must undergo more extensive decomposition. Peat humus is often confused with organic matter, compost , and peat. However, peat humus is not a fertilizer.

Instead, it is often used in gardening as a soil amendment to add structure to a soil. What is peat humus soil used for? Peat humus is often confused with organic matter, compost, and peat. How much humus do I add to soil? Use approximately 1 wheelbarrow full of humus for every 5x5-foot section of soil to be treated, or about 1 cubic foot or humus for every 25 square feet or soil. You can add more as desired without causing any harm, but using less than the suggested amount may result in reduced plant vitality.

How is humus removed from soil? In short, humus brings soil to life. Organic matter such as leaves, dried plant parts, prunings, animal remains, manures, and other debris is routinely removed before it can recycle into the soil.

Intensive planting of crops, turf grasses, and ornamental plants rapidly depletes soil of its existing humus content. What is peat soil made of? Peat is a type of soil made up of waterlogged partially-decomposed plant material including sphagnum moss and other acid-loving plants, which has built up over something like 10, years in poorly-drained wetland habitats.

What is the source of humus in soil? In addition to the plant material in leaf litter, humus is composed of decaying animals, such as insects, and other organisms, such as mushrooms.