Useful information

About peat

 

Peat is an organic material formed from swamp vegetation remains that have not fully mineralized due to excess water and lack of oxygen, along with incompletely decomposed plants, wood remains, and humus. Typically, peat forms in depressions where temporary or permanent excess irrigation occurs, making bogs and marshes extremely conducive to peat formation. A peat layer can be found in over 80% of bogs.

The global area of peatlands exceeds 4.42 million km², with only 2000 km² used for horticultural peat production, accounting for less than 0.05% of the world's peatlands utilized for peat in growing media. Out of these 2,000 km², approximately 1,200 km² are utilized by the European Union's peat industry, representing only 0.03% of the world's peatlands and about 0.4% of peatlands within the European Union. Peat covers around 3% of the Earth's surface. For instance, in Lithuania, peat constitutes approximately 6.4% of the country's area, in Latvia - 10%, in Estonia - 22%, and in Finland - 33%.

Peat and peat-based substrates are arguably the best medium for growing plants, serving as an essential means of production for many horticultural activities for which there are currently no comparable alternatives on a similar scale.


General Advice

 

  • It is advisable to ventilate and moisten the substrate before use, maintaining a consistent level of humidity and preventing complete drying out.
  • When sowing seeds or planting seedlings, covering the tops with cling film until they develop sufficient roots to absorb water independently is recommended. Ensure proper water drainage in the container to avoid stagnant moisture. Once the roots are well-established, transplant the plants into a larger container with adequately fertilized substrate.
  • Timely plant ventilation is essential to prevent fungal infection.
  • Never allow the substrate supporting the growing plants to completely dry out. Ensure good water drainage in the container, avoiding stagnant moisture. Apply balanced multi-element fertilizers to plants at the appropriate intervals.
  • If your plants require more space for their roots and need a larger pot, don't delay and repot them using the appropriate Terraerden substrate. Before transplanting, remove some of the previous soil from the roots. Press the transplanted plants slightly, ensuring all the roots are well-covered with fresh soil. Water transplanted flowers, shrubs, trees, and perennials generously, but avoid over-soaking them. During the initial weeks, ensure the roots do not dry out entirely in the soil. Maintain proper water drainage in the container to avoid stagnant moisture.
  • Fertilize plants in a timely manner with balanced multi-element fertilizers.

Orchids like warmth and do not tolerate temperature fluctuations. Soft water is especially suitable for orchids, with rainwater being the best option. Avoid excess moisture in the pot – this promotes root rot. Fertilize sparingly but regularly with special fertilizers. Check if the plant's roots are healthy and if there are any pests. Pay attention to the lighting in the location where you grow your orchids and their light requirements. When repotting orchids into larger pots, use transparent ones, as this will clearly show the condition of the roots.

  • Tomatoes should be planted when it is warm enough (at least +10°C) and no frost is expected in the near future (or ideally, at all). It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight when planting, so evening or a cloudy day is a good choice.
  • When planting tomatoes, it is important that the substrate is well-aerated, sufficiently moist, and loose. Plant in a "chessboard" pattern, leaving about half a meter of space so that the tomatoes do not shade each other.
  • Prepare slightly deeper holes for the tomatoes in the substrate than they previously grew in the pot. The easiest way to remove seedlings from the pot is by turning the pot upside down and, if necessary, gently squeezing it until the roots with soil easily slide out. Gently shake off the old substrate and place it in the prepared hole, covering the top with Terraerden universal tomato substrate. The plant stem covered with substrate will develop new additional roots, and the more roots there are, the stronger the plant will be. Therefore, you can remove the first false leaves and plant the tomato deeper.
  • It is very important to water the planted tomatoes abundantly, but do not overdo it. To prevent water from running off the tomato plant, you can form a small depression around the tomato in the substrate with a border to retain the water. After heavy watering, the substrate may settle and create holes, so fill them with surrounding or leftover Terraerden substrate. Transplanted tomatoes do not need to be watered for 10-14 days, allowing time for the plant to develop new roots. The roots will spread as they seek out necessary moisture and nutrients. Once the plant is established, water the plants regularly (1-2 times a week, depending on the type of tomato). Ideally, the soil under the bush should be 85-90% moisture. It is best to water tomatoes early in the morning, at the roots. Once the water has been absorbed, it is recommended to loosen the soil. It is best to water with settled, warm water. Watering tomatoes with cold water on the leaves will result in a smaller yield. Ideally, water should be applied gradually (e.g., by installing an irrigation system).
  • All Terraerden substrates have a balanced amount of fertilizers and micronutrients to ensure optimal plant development, so additional fertilization is not needed in the first few weeks. Later (after 3-4 weeks), it is recommended to fertilize the tomatoes with balanced multi-element fertilizers.
  • Blueberries are an excellent fruit shrub valued for their very tasty and health-beneficial berries, as well as their relatively easy cultivation. However, it is essential to know certain aspects of their cultivation.
  • Firstly, it is important to choose the right location for planting blueberries. Blueberries should be planted in an open area where they can get plenty of sunlight, so avoid planting them in places that are often shaded.
  • Blueberries grow in acidic soil, which is naturally rare, so they are usually planted in a pit filled with a suitable acidic growing medium. When determining the dimensions of the pit, consider the soil type (sandy or clay), but typically a pit of about 1 meter in diameter and 0.4 - 0.5 meters deep is sufficient for each shrub. Even if you are planting a small seedling, the pit should be of these dimensions since the seedling will eventually grow into a large shrub.
  • As mentioned, it is crucial to plant blueberry bushes in an acidic medium – natural peat with a pH between 3-4, or even better, Terraerden universal blueberry substrate. This substrate contains a carefully selected amount of NPK mineral fertilizers, micronutrients, and water absorption enhancers, making it better at retaining moisture than regular soil, thus keeping blueberries from drying out and reducing the need for frequent watering. Using this substrate, plants receive all the essential nutrients and micronutrients, resulting in a bountiful harvest. On average, 200-250 liters of peat or substrate are needed to fill the pit for one shrub.
  • Blueberry bushes grown with a closed root system (when the plant was grown in a pot and its roots formed inside the pot) can be planted at any time during the warm season. It is best to choose a cooler and not too sunny day to help the plant establish more easily.
  • Before planting blueberries, thoroughly water the pit, and after planting, water the plant abundantly again, maintaining the appropriate moisture level. Blueberries are not demanding in terms of care, but they like a lot of moisture, especially when the berries are forming and ripening. However, they are sensitive to waterlogging, especially prolonged root saturation. In summer, it is recommended to pour about a bucket of water on each shrub once a week. It is best to use surface water, which is more acidic. If you have many blueberry bushes, it is advisable to install an irrigation system (capillary).
  • Terraerden substrates contain a carefully selected amount of NPK mineral fertilizers and micronutrients, so there is no need to fertilize blueberries in the first year. Later, if the shrub is in good condition, a single light fertilization in the spring is sufficient. It is important not to overdo it with fertilizers, as blueberry roots are shallow and delicate, and too much fertilizer can have the opposite effect. For example, if the shrub receives too much nitrogen, its stems will grow vigorously and not prepare properly for winter.

 

To Be Continued!