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["Lynda" <lurine AT softcom.net>]

O.K., if I remember my chemistry correctly, it is the cell walls of the peat 
plants that are the reason for the acidity.  They are ion exchangers and 
take in a load of minerals such as calcium and magnesium and release 
hydrogen ions back into the water they live in.  This round and round 
creates more and more acid in the water and with time the plant becomes more 
and more acid.  They are self-serving as they create an environment inwhich 
few plants but themselves can live.  The water around them has the same or 
higher ph than vinegar!

Well, except for muck peat which is either neutral or slightly alkaline.

Lynda
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Jones" <billj AT harborside.com>
To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:46 AM
Subject: [Homestead] peat moss?


> I tried to research what exactly makes peat moss acidic in a chem text,
> but I'm even more stumped than ever.  It seems to teach that all acids
> are water-soluble.  Could anyone shed some light on this question?
>
> Bill
> S. Oregon coast
>
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