there has got to be a trick to it

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tiG Newnan, GA(Zone 8a) Jul 16, 2001

I know this is probably the dumbest question ever posted here. I'll take my award now, thank you.
How do you get peat moss wet??????? There has to be a trick. If I water from the top, that's all that gets wet. If I set the tray in water, nothing happens, not even after hours. It can't be that simple, can it?

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Terry Murfreesboro, TN(Zone 7a) Jul 16, 2001

Tig, the only "trick" I know of is it put it in a large enough tub, roll up my sleeves, add warm water, and start stirring and "smooshing" (as my kids would call it), kinda like making a mud pie. It's a messy process, but it will get it eventually get it wet. Warm water seems to absorb faster, but it could be my imagination and the fact it's more comfortable to stick my hand into.

If you're really not into squeezing peat between your fingers, you can try putting it in a large ziploc bag, add some water and squeeze it until the water is absorbed.

I don't use straight peat because it is so hard to get wet; I usually use a professional soilless mix (at some point, my ever-growing gardening appetite will have a standoff with my natural frugality, and I'll start mixing my own, though.)

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tiG Newnan, GA(Zone 8a) Jul 16, 2001

thanks gv, I have done that, but figured I was missing something even then:)
btw, I missed you when your modem went out. Glad you're back.

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poppysue Westbrook, ME(Zone 5a) Jul 16, 2001

Try using hot water. It absorbs it much better than cold.

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tiG Newnan, GA(Zone 8a) Jul 16, 2001

thanks poppysue!! I'm fixing to mix up more, so I'll try hot this time.

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Terry Murfreesboro, TN(Zone 7a) Jul 16, 2001

Thanks, Tig - it's good to be back! Have fun wetting the peat!!!!

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Poojer East Meadow, NY Jul 17, 2001

Try using very hot water, but add a few drops of a mild liquid soap to the water before pouring it on the peat moss. The soap will break the surface tension and the water will absorb much faster. The few drops of soap will add a very, very wee touch of nitrogen to the peat moss.

For a gallon of very hot water two or three drops of soap should be sufficient. Add the soap drops after you fill a container with the hot water, if you add the soap drops first you'll get plenty of bubbles too.

Poojer

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tiG Newnan, GA(Zone 8a) Jul 17, 2001

thanks Poojer, I thought I had heard that years ago, but couldn't trust my memory:)

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