Throughout the past few years, the price of peat moss has increased tremendously due to high demand. Growers have been looking for new growing media to buy instead, and Mark Sanford, the director of quality at OldCastle Lawn and Garden, is confident wood fiber is a replacement.
Sanford and his coworkers began looking for a peat moss alternative a decade ago – one that would “be a lower cost for the grower but also perform and be productive,” and came across the success of wood fiber.
By choosing a wood fiber mix over a peat moss mix, growers can see “anywhere from 20% to 30% savings,” according to Sanford, and “you’ll get more wood fiber on a truck than you would peat moss” because wood fiber can be compacted more.
Sanford described wood fiber as “a very good material to use and grow in” as long as it’s processed correctly. Most producers utilize pine trees, and the bark is placed under high temperatures and pressure. This heat and pressure separate the fiber from the moisture, sap and tannins in the bark. Sanford said this process is efficient because everything that is removed by heat is recycled and burned off, creating “pure H2O.”
Additionally, very little steam/heat escapes from the equipment, so not much energy is being wasted during the process.
So far, Sanford doesn’t know of any mixes that wouldn’t work with wood fiber. “I’ve mixed wood fiber with just about anything they have on site, and it does great,” he said.
It’s recommended producers keep wood fiber content under 30% of the mix. Sanford has seen studies of mixes with up to 90% wood fiber, but this is only successful for very knowledgeable growers who have experience with mixing the materials.
Additionally, since wood fiber has a more neutral pH than peat moss, less lime is needed to balance the pH of the mix.
The completed wood fiber mix doesn’t break down very quickly, as studies show it takes 18 months after opening a bag for it to start decomposing. This is because in the bag, there is not enough moisture for decomposition to begin. Sanford described the material as “soft and consistent in look and feel” – as long as it’s screened correctly.
The main difference in managing wood fiber mix instead of peat moss mix is the way it’s watered. Wood fiber absorbs water better than peat moss, so the mix tends to look dry on the surface – but all the moisture is within. Sanford stated that moisture management was where he saw the most problems with growers using the mix for the first time.
Since the surface of the mix/pot doesn’t tell you the moisture at the bottom, Sanford recommends lifting the whole pot to gauge how much water remains based on its weight. With this technique, growers are “watering less, they’re saving money on labor and watering and they’re able to grow a better plant,” he said.
However, it’s important to get high-quality mixes because if the wood fiber is not blended well, growers can notice uneven moisture levels and bad draining.
The amount of potting mixes with wood fiber incorporated is increasing, and Sanford stated, “It’s here to stay, and I can’t see any reason why growers can’t grow with it.” He anticipates the price of wood fiber mixes dropping as more companies start to produce it.
Consider looking into using wood fiber in your business. It could save you money, reduce labor and water waste and help produce a better product in the end.
by Kelsi Devolve
