Substitute for peat moss

I am assembling the ingredients to make my own potting soil for my containers. Ann Lovejoy author of The Handbook of Northwest Gardening, for one, does not recommend peat. And I don't like the price. Do you have a peatless recipe for potting soil?

Coir (coconut fiber) actually works better than peat, and since it's not acidic like peat, you don't have to add extra lime to raise the pH. It is, however, somewhat more expensive than peat, but the price is more reasonable if you buy a large package.

If the price is still too high, you can blend it with double-grind aged fir bark, but you may wish to screen the bark first. I built a homemade screen from 2 x 4's and 1/2 " galvanized wire screen (hardware cloth).

This message was edited Apr 7, 2007 7:18 PM

I have heard about coir. I am going out today looking for coir and a long handled dandelion weeder. thanks for the info.

I use 1 part ground coir, 1 part long fibre peat (Pro-Moss TBK), 1 part perlite, 1 part pumice, 2 parts bagged Cedar Grove Compost, a little alfalfa meal, even less kelp meal, 3 kinds of lime in very small amounts, and a little Slow release Osmocote or equal.
For many plants that require better drainage I double the perlite & pumice; cactus even more.

I think you could easily substitute the peat for more coir if you reduced or eliminated the lime.

thank you. How much potting soil do you make?

I mix in an extra large 2 wheel wheelbarrow, about 1/2 or 2/3 full. I store it in extra large rubbermaid plastic bin.