what is peat moss
In this article by Hexa Grubg, we examine Pythagoras.
You may have heard the names peat moss, coco peat and perlite many times, but you do not know exactly what they are and what their uses are. On this page, we have explained everything you need to know about it. A general description is given at the top of the page, and the closer you get to the end, the more details you will encounter. First, what is this substance.
Definition
In simple terms, peat moss is a type of potting soil. It has a fertilizer-like appearance and is usually seen in black on the market
Peat moss is actually dead moss that has rejected the early stages of decomposition. Mosses are very hardy plants that can grow in cold and dry climates and accumulate after death. After thousands of years of dead moss accumulating on top of each other, moss swamps are formed. The growth of mosses on these swamps does not stop! Therefore, the upper surface of moss swamps is always covered with young mosses and dead mosses sink into the swamp. These moss swamps are dried and the dead mosses are packed inside and Pete Moss is written on the packages! Yes, that’s exactly it. Here are ten facts about Pete Moss that if you do not have the patience to read long content, do not get bored and get the most information in the shortest time
ten facts about Pete Moss that you may not have known
1. Pythagoras can not be produced!
Pythagoras cannot be produced by humans. Rather, there are very limited and special areas in the world from which peat moss is harvested. So we do not have Iranian Pythagoras because we do not have a Pythagoras mine in Iran.
2. Moss is like a water storage tank!
Pythagoras store up to 25 times their own weight in water, and this water is lost over time, keeping the culture medium moist.
3. Peat moss stores minerals!
Pythagorean fibers have the ability to store minerals within themselves. Normally, by irrigating the culture medium, a large amount of minerals in the medium are dissolved in water and removed from the plant. Or when you mix the fertilizer in water and give it to the plant, a large part of the fertilizer passes through the bed and comes out of the bottom of the pot with water. Pythagorean fibers store these minerals in water along with them and gradually provide them to the plant roots.
4. Natural Pythagoras are not inherently mineral!
Natural Pythagoras do not contain many minerals after extraction, unless minerals are added to it during the processing stage, which is called enriched Pythagoras. Naturally, fortified pythagoras are more expensive than unenriched pita bread.
5. Peat moss is acidic!
Pythagoras acidifies the culture medium and is suitable for acid-loving plants. Note that if your plant is game-friendly, you should combine Pythagoras with other game ingredients to raise the litter pH.
6. Pythagoras are not used alone in the culture medium!
If you use Pythagoras alone for the culture medium, you have practically created a swamp where the roots of the plant can not breathe. (If you did not know the roots of the plant need air, read the article on root respiration.) Usually peat moss or perlite or cocopeat or leaf soil is mixed and includes between 1/3 to 2/3 of the culture medium.
7. Peat moss does not condense!
This property not only greatly improves the condition of the litter, but also eliminates the need for years of litter replacement. Lack of density of Pythagoras guarantees proper ventilation of the culture medium and root health of the plant.
8. Pythagoras is a natural antibacterial and fungicide!
Pythagoras were used in World Wars I and II to improve the condition of soldiers. Because it kept the wounds moist, it was antibacterial and antifungal and prevented the infection of the wounds. This feature makes Pythagoras ideal for seedling production. Because the big challenge of these producers is to fight diseases and fungi in the early stages of plant growth.
9. Natural peat moss is inherently free of weed seeds or pests!
The acidic environment in which Pythagoras is located is free of any weeds or pests. However, after mixing Pythagoras with other materials in the culture medium, the substrate pH changes and the conditions change. However, compared to other culture medium modifiers, this is an advantage. For example, composts usually contain weed seeds and pests and are not used for transplanting.
10. Pythagorean mines are non-renewable resources!
This process is very slow because the decomposition of pythmas takes place under anaerobic conditions. Only 1 mm is added to the depth of Pythagorean mines annually, so it takes thousands of years for a Pythagorean mine to form. Therefore, it is classified in the category of non-renewable resources
black?white? or brown?
As mentioned, moss swamps have deepened over time and the depth of the peat moss mines has gradually increased. The surface parts have been in the process of decomposition for a shorter time. They are lighter in color and less old. The deepest part of the mine has the darkest color and is thousands of years old. Accordingly, Pythagoras are divided into three groups: white, brown and black. However, Pythagoras with white color do not exist externally and this is just a common term that refers to the surface of peat moss mines and its true color is brown according to the photo. It is clear.
The middle parts of the mine are dark brown, which are classified in the category of brown peat moss. Each of these categories has its own application, which you can find more information in the article on the difference between the use of different types of peat moss.
Consumption of peat moss
Potting soil
Grove growers usually use pittamas to improve the soil in a mixture with leaf soil. Because Pythagoras has an acidic pH, it is ideal for acid-loving plants such as blueberries. Compost is the best option for plants that need a pH medium. Since compost is not sterile and may be contaminated, substrate pH modulators should be used if you want to use Pythagoras for these plants. If you are interested in reading about how to adjust the pH of the culture medium, click here.
On the other hand, peat moss does not compact and always causes proper drainage and proper aeration of the plant roots, so the potting soil can not be replaced as long as there is enough space for plant roots to grow.
Seedling production and seedling stage
The best option for seedling production is to use a combination of pytomass and cocopeat. Every plant in the first stage of its life is most vulnerable to diseases and fungi. Creating a sterile, disease-free environment has always been a challenge for seedling growers to minimize waste. Pythagoras on the one hand do not inherently contain harmful microorganisms, pests and weeds, on the other hand it has antifungal properties. These properties make peat moss a very valuable material for seedling production, and in fact, this feature caused a great change in agriculture with the advent of peat moss.
Another challenge in seedling production is irrigation of plants and the exact number of irrigations. In conventional culture media, a proper cycle should be established between wet and dry so that the plant, in addition to absorbing water, also has the opportunity to breathe and breathe. Since Pythagoras store up to 25 times its own weight of water, it can keep the substrate moist for a much longer period of time and eventually bring it to the root of the plant. It is drastically reduced and the control of the irrigation-respiration cycle of the plant roots is much easier.
Hydroponic culture:
In hydroponic culture, a combination of phytomass, perlite and cocopeat is used. The percentage of composition of these materials depends on the environmental conditions of the cultivation area and the type of plant, which is a very specialized discussion in the field of culture medium. But as a rule of thumb, the drier the climate in the area, the more Pythagoras should be used. The more respiration the plant roots need, the more perlite should be used.
History :
For centuries, dried Pythagoras was used as a fossil fuel for heating homes and cooking in northern Europe. After the emergence and use of oil and gas, the use of Pythagoras as a fuel became obsolete. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of peat moss led to its use in World War I and World War II to improve the thickness of soldiers. Pythagoras entered agriculture in the 1940s and was used to improve soil structure in arid areas. Today, Pythagoras is widely used as a suitable culture medium for hydroponics, seedling production and mushroom production.
In what countries are the peat moss mines located:
The most suitable area for creating moss swamps is in the northern orbit of the planet. Most of these swamps form in the 81 ° north orbit of the Earth. Where there are coniferous forests or moist tundra areas. 60% of the Earth’s moss swamps are in Russia, 25% in Canada and another 15% in Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Lithuania.
A more scientific look at Pete Moss:
So far, 380 species of moss have been identified and registered in the world! One of these species is called spaghnum. Most Pythagorean mines are made of this kind of moss, so that the terms Pythagoras and Spagnam are used interchangeably in scientific circles.
Peat refers to any plant debris that is decomposing. Moss means moss and contains the 380 identified species. PeatMoss refers to spaghetti moss that accumulates and decomposes in peat bugs.
If you are interested in reading the scientific details of this type of moss and the stages of its formation and expansion in full, the best source is the English Wikipedia page about spaghnum.
Extraction steps:
Moss swamps must be drained to extract Pythagoras. To do this, they first dig canals around the swamp and drain the surface water of the mine. In the next step, they create a network of canals throughout the swamp and use powerful pumps to drain the swamp water. Then, using a loader, the peat moss is transported inside the roof to be dried and packed. At this stage, the final product can be enriched by adding fertilizer, which of course is optional.