leaf mold?

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DaleP6 Sarasota, FL(Zone 9b) May 02, 2002

What exactly is leaf mold that different soil recipes call for? Do oak leaves that have been in a pile for several years mixed in with good garden soil count as "leaf mold?" I am going to plant some caladiums and they suggest mixing "leaf mold" in with the soil and also peat.

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Terry Murfreesboro, TN(Zone 7a) May 02, 2002

Dale, check out Gardenology for definitions of leaf mould and compost. As I understand it the basic difference between the two is that leaf mould uses cold composting of purely leaves - no other vegetable matter or manure was added. Compared to composting, which can be composed of any number of ingredients, and might have been "hot composted" meaning the internal temperatures reached a point that hopefully kills any weed seeds or harmful organisms (and is a faster process) than cold composting, which - like leaf mould - does not heat up the pile in order to decompose.

In my humble opinion, anytime you see instructions for leaf mould, you can substitute any fully composted material, if leaf mould isn't available.

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Wingnut Spicewood, TX(Zone 8b) May 02, 2002

Your oak leaves that have been sitting for years (without the extra soil) sound just like what I call leaf mold ~ basically just composted leaves! Sometimes leaves that aren't completely broken down but are WELL on their way are also called that ~ they're mouldy leaves anyway. *grin* I think what you have will be perfect. I also think I rememeber seeing something somewhere that said that oak leaves raise the acidity of soil, but I'm not sure ~ anyone else know for sure? I don't know if that will matter in your case, but thought I'd mention it.

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Floridian Lutz, FL(Zone 9b) May 03, 2002

Hi DaleP6, My caladium bulbs and plants go right in the borders under the elephant ears. I don't do alot of amending for them, just a bit of compost in the hole. They are doing great!

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