Comments on: Choices of Potting Soil

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:51:34 +0000

Hi Catrin,

Thanks for leaving a comment, and sorry it took so long to get back to you! I’ve been out of town for a few days.

Yes, this is something we discussed on later posts and in the associated comments. Yes, it can be sterilized by putting it in a medium oven for about a half hour. It does smell bad, and if you need to sterilize a lot it can take quite a lot of energy. Someone also suggested sterilizing it with household bleach, which in theory should also work.

By: Catrin

Catrin — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:20:16 +0000

is it not possible to sterilise compost to be a seedling growing medium by putting it in the oven for a while??

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:09:19 +0000

Hi Majdi,

I’m sorry, we don’t sell peat moss here. I don’t know of anyone else who could help you either. Thanks for stopping by.

By: majdi

majdi — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:35:20 +0000

hello . If you have office in netherland for export the peat moss . Reply me

By: Sue

Sue — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 12:23:01 +0000

Great post Patrick. It so often happens that when we think we are being “green” we’re often causing more problems than we’re solving. Recycling is a case in point – what with transport to the plant, and the energy used by the recycling process itself, recycling can often have an ultimately negative effect on the environment. Which doesn’t mean it’s not sometimes a viable option. But it’s not an easy way out – cutting down on use, and reusing what we have to use is still going to have a far more important effect than recycling.

By: Correy

Correy — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:30:32 +0000

I was told that one major ingredient in potting mix is the dregs from Coffee from big companies like bushels and nescafe?

P.S Your blog is a great resource and this is fantastic information.

By: Bare Bones Gardener

Bare Bones Gardener — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:48:00 +0000

One thing though to remember when trying to protect the peat bogs is that they are often the modern result of medieval tree clearing, so even though a ecosystem has developed around them in the modern world. They are often a sign of a very disrupted local environment, where once trees and understory plants once thrived

By: blueblue

blueblue — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 02:14:27 +0000

My family comes from Holland/Netherlands…where peat moss is probably still an industry (long line of Gasselte schippers, a fascinating history). Removing it has an impact on the environment (land level,water table, unique habitats, non-renewable, slow regeneration in that order or priority). It can be a bit of a hazard itself (flammable).

I don’t use peat moss. Coir seems to be more readily available here. I don’t use it either, but was unaware of the environmental impacts and political and economical factors.

Making your own seems to be the way to go.

By: Christina

Christina — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:15:21 +0000

Yet another informative post. Man, I am learning so much from you lately! Wonderful!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:05:32 +0000

Hi Steven, While you were leaving this comment, I was just adding a link to a post Rebsie made where she mentioned the same thing. I think there’s a lot of dishonesty in the world of potting soil.

By: steven

steven — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:37:47 +0000

Another thing to consider when buying so-called organic potting soil is corporate “greenwashing”. I bought a bag of potting soil from Scott’s earlier in the season and while it may have been organic material, it seemed to be mostly uncomposted bark chips and other fillers. I was planning on using it for a seed starting mix, but it wouldn’t hold moisture and I ended up tossing it into the compost pile.