Why We’re Breaking Up with Peat Moss (and Running Away with Coco Coir)

dianag292
Jul 2
3 min read

Calling all plant-moms, balcony-botanists, and living-room-jungle creators (yes, you with the fiddle-leaf fig that doubles as a roommate): it’s time to spill the sustainably sourced tea on soil mixes.

1. The Eco-Tea: Sustainability That Actually Sustains

Coco coir = coconut husk glow-up. It’s literally the fluffy fibre left after the coconut water and meat head off to piña-colada heaven. Nothing new is harvested, nothing precious is destroyed.
Peat moss = slow-motion eco-heartbreak. Peat bogs lock away carbon for centuries. Strip them and-poof-goodbye biodiversity and hello greenhouse-gas party.

Think of Coco coir as Beyoncé-level renewable; peat moss is that ex who never changes.

2. Performance Perks You’ll Notice Before Your First Latte

Feature	Coco Coir	Peat Moss
Sustainability	By-product, endlessly renewable	Takes centuries to regrow
Water Retention	Holds H<sub>2</sub>O like a champ, re-wets in seconds	Great… until it dries out, then it’s Sahara
pH	5.8–6.8 (plant-perfect)	3.3–4.4 (hello, lime bill)
Longevity	Slow to break down	Gets crumbly fast
Nutrients	Higher K & P (needs N, Ca, Mg top-up)	Basically decorative
Reusability	Rinse, repeat, save $$	One-and-done
Environmental Impact	Low	High (carbon release, habitat loss)

3. Water Retention & “I-Forgot-to-Water” Insurance

Ever returned from a weekend in Tofino to a pot that looks like the Mojave? Coco coir sucks water back up like your fave hydrogel eye patches, no crusty topsoil drama. Peat moss, on the other hand, turns hydrophobic faster than you can say “drought-shaming.”

4. Neutral pH = Chill Plants

Most houseplants thrive in a slightly acidic to neutral pH environment. Coco coir sits right in that sweet spot (5.8–6.8), meaning fewer lime-add-to-cart moments. Peat’s acid trip (3.3–4.4) works for blueberries, sure, but your Monsteras are silently screaming.

5. Longevity & Wallet Wellness

Coco coir breaks down sloooowly, translation: your potting mix keeps its airy structure longer, roots stay happy, and you buy refills less often. Bonus: rinse it, re-nutrify, reuse. That’s thrifty and planet-friendly.

6. Nutrient & Microbe Minute

Coco coir: Naturally richer in potassium & phosphorus (great for flowering), but short on nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, so pair it with a balanced fertilizer or Maya’s Kelp Meal natural additive.
Peat moss: Almost nutrient-free. Think of it like rice cakes, great for texture, but you’ll need the toppings.

Both can house beneficial microbes, but when you snag Maya’s Aroid Mix, we inoculate it with myco-goodness so your roots get a probiotic boost from day one.

7. Everyday Canadian Reality Check

Availability: Coco coir bricks and pre-fluffed bags are stacked at local garden centres and (conveniently) at mayagrowingmediums.ca.
Cost: Upfront, Coco can be a bit pricier, but its reusability makes it a long-game steal, much like splurging on a quality rain jacket for Vancouver's drizzly season.
Versatility: Seed-starting? Indoor containers? Hydroponics? Coco’s neutral pH and easy wet-ability make it your all-around MVP.

8. Mental-Wellness Bonus ✨

Science says tending plants lowers stress hormones, so why add eco-guilt to your Zen routine? Choosing a renewable substrate means every watering session doubles as an act of climate kindness. Self-care, but make it planetary.

The Mic-Drop Conclusion

If you’re ready to:

Slash your carbon footprint without sacrificing plant glam,
Cut soil-drama (goodbye, hydrophobic crust!), and
Flex your sustainability street-cred on Insta #PeatFreeQueen,

then coco coir is your new ride-or-die. Peat moss? Thanks for the memories, but we’re moving on.

Ready to repot? Grab Maya Growing Mediums’ Aroid Mix - 100 % peat-moss-free, Canadian-crafted, and pre-blended with the nutrients houseplants crave. Your monstera will throw bigger splits, your pothos will trail like a Rapunzel cosplay, and you get to brag about saving peatlands over brunch.

So, coco on, plant fam—you’ve got this, and Mother Earth thanks you. 🌿✨ Maya's Growing Mediums Team.