Peat-free potting ground
Tip:
First, check whether you need potting soil at all. Potting soil is a specialist product used for sowing and cutting. It is only essential for a plant's germination phase. For many applications, such as filling beds and pots, garden soil and compost are much better options than potting soil. Are you buying a plant from the nursery? Then, you do not need potting soil.
Fortunately, peat-free alternatives are now relatively easy to find in the Netherlands. If you are looking for potting soil, we have a list of sustainable options for you here.
Bio-Kultura is available online and from various retailers. Their garden soil is completely peat-free, while their potting soil contains a mix of cultivated peat moss (not fossil) and a touch of coconut.
Ecotuintje offers peat-free, organic, and vegan soil, as well as coconut and peat-free growing pots.
Fertila Biologische Potgrond – 100% peat-free, available online via Abbing nursery in Zeist (delivers near Zeist).
Organic nutrition centre sells potting soil based on leftovers from mushroom cultivation.
Tardy offers natural compost (available in Castricum from Alkmaar)
Pokon has a peat-free waterproof planting soil containing cocos.
DCM seels peat-free potting soil.
Kwekerij Hessenhof sells leaf compost.
Holsto Tuinen & Buitenleven sells peat-free potting soil.
Innogreen sells peat-free potting soil with a bit of cocos.
Although there are some alternatives based on coconut fibre or coir, we must acknowledge that these are not free of problems, such as transport costs, plantations on former rainforests, and sometimes even child labour. Their total ecological impact is still considerably lower than that of peat, but not as ideal as the above-mentioned options (Read more). That is why we have chosen not to include products with coconut as the main ingredient in our list.
Make your own potting soil
You can also easily make your own potting soil.
Recipe:
Mix four parts garden soil (preferably sandy loam), four parts compost, and two parts coarse sand or river sand. Compost provides structure and fertilizer to the potting soil.
Adjustments to your soil type:
If you are gardening on clay soil, add some extra sand. For sandy soil, replace the extra sand with leaf compost. If you want a more airy mix, you can add leaf compost.
!!! Many labels are misleading !!!
If potting soil is not labeled peat-free, you must presume its main component is peat.
Watch out, the label "Organic" of "Bio" doesn´t mean peat-free.
Only the European Ecolabel guarantees a peat-free product. Most other (eco) labels such as MPS or RHP allow the use of high percentages of peat.
Get Active!
Ask your local garden center to have peat-free products on their shelves. You can make a big difference!
