Peat Compost

[Stoney Bologna]

Hi,

Does anybody have any experience with composted peat. Does it have any uses for the organic mj grower? I got a bag, and this stuff is beautiful dark compost, but I have no experience with it. Is it very hot? Does it provide any nutes at all? ph?

Thanks

 

[vonforne]

Peat moss is what we generally use. I have never seen it as compost. Not by itself. I have added it to my compost pile though but have never purchased it as compost. Dark and spongy is the way I get it. It is used as a substrate for a growing medium. It usually comes with lime added since it is very acidic. There is very little nutrient value in it. The PH is 6.3 on my bag I believe. Its is a brand made by Farfard. Here is a pic. Does it look like this?







Do you have a pic of your bag? If so post it up and lets have a looksy.

V

 

[Stoney Bologna]

thanks for the reply vonforne,

The loose, airy sphagnum peat, is what I'm used to seeing. I've got a bail of it right here that's prolly the same stuff as you've got in that picture:


Now this other stuff I'm talking about is advertised as "organic peat" and definitely looks composted. It retains a lot of moisture and is similar in texture to the mushroom compost that I have but maybe a little bit coaser. I've never seen this stuff before either so i thought I'd grab a bag to experiment with. It's nice lookin stuff but I just don't know anything about it.
.


What do ya think?

 

[vonforne]

I did a search and could not find that brand. Post up the web address if you would. It looks to me like forest humus. which I use sometimes as a soil conditioner.

Post it up and I will get back to you. you have me curious now.

V

 

[BurnOne]

Always use powdered dolomite lime with peat. After you make your final mix (peat, worm castings, perlite) use 2 tbs./gal. or 1 cup/cubic foot of mix.
Burn1

 

[Guest]

ive never seen something called "peat moss" which looks so black. does it say it is composted peat moss on the bag?

 

[Stoney Bologna]

vonforne, I wasn't able to find a web address for the company either. The manufacturer is Milburn Peat Co. which doesn't have a website. The parent company is Zion Oil and Gas but they provide very little info about Milburn Peat Co. on their website. It reminds me a bit of humus I've seen in the forest, but I've never worked with a product called "forest humus" before. The only discription given on the bag says, "Holds Moisture and Conditions Soil". Perhaps this indicates it's intended usage is similar to the way you use forest humus. The stuff is pretty sticky and can be balled up easily. If I squeeze the ball in my hand I can get a few drops of water out of it. Yes, this had got me interested as well.

BurnOne, thanks for the tip. Have you ever used a product that appeared to be composted peat, rather than the standard dry peat moss that were all used to seeing?

Gelatinous, It does not say composted peat. All it says on the bag is "Organic Peat" and "Holds Moisture and Conditions Soil". I only speculate that it's composted peat. From my experience, which is limited, this looks like compost.

Thanks for stopping by people.

 

[vonforne]

I don't know about this one. This is an oil company selling "Organic peat". Sounds like recycled scrapings to me. Do what you will but I would not add it to all of your containers until you know what the outcome would be using this stuff. When I introduce something new, I so it in small quanities.

About the only thing I could find on this company is they want to drill for oil in Israel and donate the money to religious funds.

V

 

[BurnOne]

BurnOne, thanks for the tip. Have you ever used a product that appeared to be composted peat, rather than the standard dry peat moss that were all used to seeing?

Pro Mix looks like that but it has perlite and vermiculite added. Pro Moss looks like that.

Do what you will but I would not add it to all of your containers until you know what the outcome would be using this stuff. When I introduce something new, I so it in small quanities.

Burn1

 

[3BM]

Hey stoney:

What you have there is exactly what it says: composted peat. Peat which has completed an aerobic decay process. Check out the OFC thread's recent posts for a nice description of the life cycle of peat (as it occurs naturally). This "composted" peat is also called "Black Peat". Since this material went through a longer period of decay than typical peat it is more acidic. Test yours to be sure, but expect it around 5.5. Use this product to increase acidity in a hurry. Peat is hardly nutritive (.01-.01-.01), so dont use this product as a substitute for a more nutritive compost. I used beat as an emergency pH down in soil. For example, soil tests at 8.0 but you must transplant very soon, just cut the mix 50/50% with beat and add more perlite. Note that this technique will dilute the nutritive value of the soil, so add more fert to compensate. Beat will also add a nice richness to the mix - ie it will hold moisture well. I prefer finished homemade compost to beat. Good compost can be even more acidic than 5.5, and has a high nutritive value (something like 5-5-5) - its just better in every way. Regardless, beat will get soil into the 6.2-6.5 range that most cannabis plants prefer. Lime is very overused in soil mixes, I think. Keep adding compost to soil and it will get below the acceptable range, then use crushed dolomitic lime to raise it in a hurry. However, if you never add anything acidic enough to drop below 6.2 then do not lime. Well Im getting off topic, sorry. Hope this helps.

3bm

 

[Stoney Bologna]

Vonforne, BurnOne --- thanks for the input and advice, I will certainly proceed with caution.

Fantastic info 3BM, that helps a ton. Now I wont feel like I'm stabbing in the dark if I use this stuff.