Peat moss was once the primary component in potting soil and seed starting mixes. Then coco peat joined the fray, prompting several critical questions, such as which is the most sustainable and environmentally friendly option? Coco peat has consequently taken the world by storm as a result of these two questions. Peat moss is now prohibited in some parts of the world, whereas the use of coco peat is encouraged. 

Let us begin by explaining what peat moss and coco peat appear to be.

PEAT MOSS

• Peat moss is a dead fibrous material that forms when mosses and other living material decompose in peat bogs over thousand of years. 
• Peat can be formed from different materials, but sphagnum moss makes up a substantial portion of the peat harvested, hence the name peat moss.
• Peat mosses are commonly found in bogs and wetlands of the northern hemisphere of the earth.
• Peat moss was once widely used as a soil amendment, soilless mix, seed starting, etc. While on the contrary

COCO PEAT

• Coco peat is a natural fiber made out of coconut husk.
• The extraction of coconut fiber from husks gives us this by-product named coco peat, which is a 100% natural growing medium.
• Coco peat is mainly manufactured in India ad Sri Lanka and is sold all across the world. 
• Coco peat, the widely-used hydroponic growing medium is predominantly consumed by nurseries, greenhouses, and potting mix manufacturers, and so on.

Thousands of acres of coconuts are planted each year, yielding millions of pounds of coconut coir. It is thought to be particularly long-lasting and readily available. Coco peats are dry and light, making them easy to transport and export over the world. Coco peat, unlike peat moss, requires less water to maintain the same degree of hydration. Furthermore, coco peat does not decay after usage — it can be washed and reused, making it a sustainable and cost-effective product. Peat moss, unlike coco peat, has the disadvantage of not being sustainable because it is valuable in and of itself as well as for purifying water passing through it. Harvesting peat moss devastates the ecology, and due to the slow rate of recovery, the supply will be depleted. Many American experts believe that peat moss is not a sustainable technique, and instead propose using coco peat instead of peat moss.

COCO PEAT IS ECO FRIENDLY

To sum up everything that has been stated so far, Because coco peat is a natural waste product, it has a low environmental impact and is an excellent way to repurpose a portion of the coconut that would otherwise be discarded. Gardeners are gradually switching to more environmentally friendly alternatives due to a lack of sustainable production of peat moss, a medium that takes hundreds of years to replenish. Coco peat has the added benefit of being reusable and recyclable. Gardeners can now use coco peat in greenhouses, nurseries, the outdoors, and potting mix in a variety of ways.