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Most garden soil contains peat. We show which environmentally friendly alternatives are available to replace peat and give tips for peat-free gardening.
Peat replacement is an important topic in climate protection. We explain which properties have made peat so successful in substrates and show good alternatives. If you're still wondering "What is peat?" read our dedicated article on the subject.
Why is there peat in the garden soil?
Peat is a good base for garden potting soil. This is because it retains water well without the roots suffering from a lack of air and starting to rot. In addition, its pH value and nutrient content can be flexibly adjusted, depending on which plant is to be cultivated. Last but not least, it's nice and light when dry, so it's easy to transport.
Unfortunately, peat also has disadvantages: Peat is a finite resource and its extraction and use cost CO2free, which should actually be better stored in the ground. Continued mining of peat prevents former bogs from being rewetted and able to resume their work as CO2 storage.Because of its advantages and disadvantages, both professionals and Hobby gardeners rely on peat substitutes as far as possible.
Tip: You can also save CO2 with our Plantura organic soils. In our shop we offer peat-free and low-peat garden soil in organic quality, which protects the natural peat stocks.
Alternatives to peat
Environmental protection is important to every garden lover. But of course our green fingers shouldn't have to suffer. Alternatives to peat soil are mixtures of different materials that make peat-free gardening possible. We would like to introduce you to common peat substitutes.
wood fiber, wood chippings
Both are made from untreated wood scraps. They provide loose, airy substrate, but hardly store any water. Wood fiber is not very structurally stable. Wood chips are coarser and therefore have little water storage capacity, but good drainageProperties. Wood materials cannot store nutrients. With the exception of our Plantura organic lawn soil, all Plantura organic soils contain wood fibre.
Compost
Compost has the advantage that it has a high pH value and hardly sags. Compost can effectively store and release nutrients and water, which is why it is included in all of our Plantura organic soils. Quality-assured substrate compost is free from plant pathogens and weeds.
Sand
Sand can act as a source of iron in substrates, but otherwise hardly stores any nutrients. It is very heavy, which is why mixtures with sand are particularly suitable for buckets that cannot be blown away so quickly. Mixed in in sufficient quantities, it ensures good water drainage and sufficient root aeration, for example in our Plantura organic lawn soil.
Bentonite
Bentonite is a natural clay mixture of different clay minerals. These can swell through water absorption. Used in substrates, they therefore increase water retention enormously. The clay minerals can absorb nutrients, store them and release them again when needed. Because they greatly increase the fertility of the substrate together with compost, they are included in our Plantura organic flowering plant soil and organic universal soil.
Blähton
Expanded clay is created by heating clay. Compared to the parent material, expanded clay allows for very low water and nutrient retention. When added in large enough quantities, expanded clay improves water permeability and thus root aeration, which benefits our Plantura organic flowering plant soil.
Coconut Materials: Coconut Pulp, Coir Fiber, Coconut Chips
Coconut pulp is the abrasion of coconut shells. Coconut fibers are completely removed from the coconut and cut into small pieces. Coconut chips are the same fibers but in cube form. All three are structurally stable and hardly store any nutrients. Coco coir and chips hold less water but aerate the substrate well. All of our Plantura organic soils contain coconut pith because it has similar properties to white peat.
Rice Husks/Rice Husks
Rice husks are obtained from threshing rice. Rice husks are very light and provide a loose, air-permeable substrate. They cannot store large amounts of water or nutrients.
Perlite
Perlite is a volcanic glass that expands and becomes porous under high heat. It is pH neutral and does not hold any nutrients. It stores small amounts of water, but loosens up substrates when mixed sufficiently, so that the roots are well aerated. This is particularly important for young plants, which is why perlite loosens up our Plantura organic herb and seed soil.
Pine Bark
Pine bark is obtained from the Mediterranean pine tree. It is structurally stable and ensures good ventilation in the substrate. It contains hardly any nutrients and can easily be adapted to the needs of each plant with fertilizer and lime. Our Plantura organic pine bark, for example, is natural and is sustainably produced in the EU from natural raw materials.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a precursor of lignite, i.e. incomplete charred plant parts. It is a by-product of lignite mining. It is very structurally stable and provides an airy substrate with good water storage at the same time.
In addition to the alternatives mentioned, bark humus, broken bricks and vermiculite are also used in peat-free and peat-reduced potting soil. Compost soils are particularly popular. The Plantura organic soils also contain valuable compost. We explain how compost is made and how you can use compost as fertilizer. Or do you prefer to plant your plants directly in the ground? Then we'll show you how to improve your garden soil.
If you are interested in building hummus as an alternative to peat, you can find out everything you need to know in this article.