Is top soil plus some peat the same as peat-based compost?

Its just that I'm building a terrarium and they say peat-based
compost, but all the stuff they sell has added bits of vermiculite or
other white stuff in it which doesn't look so nice. I bought a big bag
of top soil ($1.28) and a bag of sphagnum moss peat and was wondering
if that would make for a good terrarium when mixed.

Thanks!

-Dean

On Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:43:22 -0700 (PDT), DeanB
wrote:

Is top soil plus some peat the same as peat-based compost?

Its just that I'm building a terrarium and they say peat-based
compost, but all the stuff they sell has added bits of vermiculite or
other white stuff in it which doesn't look so nice. I bought a big bag
of top soil ($1.28) and a bag of sphagnum moss peat and was wondering
if that would make for a good terrarium when mixed.

Thanks!

-Dean

Compost may be a problem in terrariums due to fungus growth. A mix of
50/50 top soil/peat moss should be a good terrarium mix. The peat
moss may lower the pH a little and that can be adjusted (if needed)
with a small amount of whiting or ag lime. It would be a good idea to
bake the wet mix for an hour.

On 6/17/2008 5:43 AM, DeanB wrote:
Is top soil plus some peat the same as peat-based compost?

Its just that I'm building a terrarium and they say peat-based
compost, but all the stuff they sell has added bits of vermiculite or
other white stuff in it which doesn't look so nice. I bought a big bag
of top soil ($1.28) and a bag of sphagnum moss peat and was wondering
if that would make for a good terrarium when mixed.

Thanks!

-Dean

Use my do-it-yourself potting mix. See
http://www.rossde.com/garden/garden_potting_mix.html. Since a
terrarium generally has NO drainage, none of the nutrients will leach
away; thus, reduce the amount of nutrients from the recipe. It should
still have a trace of compost, but that too should be reduced.



--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/