Sphagnum moss V Peat Moss

[shibui]

You are correct with true peat being decomposed sphagnum Graeme but a little out with the timeframe i think. It can take thousands of years to develop significant peat beds. The Irish peat beds yield preserved bodies of stoneage people occasionally. Peat can also develop from sedges and other bog plants but I understand that sphagnum based peat is far superior. Burying peat for a few million years yields coal and oil so peat beds, as Craig points out above, should be considered non renewable or 'fossil fuel'. Coco peat (coir) has nearly all the same characteristics and is renewable. Also provides valuable jobs and income for pacific islanders.

Note that most of the compressed coir peat now has fertiliser added to it and my carnivorous plants do not like it!

Personally I do not use peat of any sort in my bonsai mixes. There is usually enough fine humus in the pinebark or potting mix that will perform the same role as peat.