Is PittMoss successful?

PittMoss may have gained stardom overnight, but it isn’t an overnight success. The PittMoss story started 21 years ago, when Mont Handley, a livegoods department manager at several Frank’s Nursery & Crafts in Chicagoland, became aware of peat moss and the impact of harvesting it.

Who owns PittMoss?

Mont Handley is the founder of PittMoss, a peat moss substitute made from organic additives and recycled paper. In April 2015, Handley pitched the business on Shark Tank and got a deal with three Sharks including Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjevac.

What is PittMoss made of?

PittMoss is made from recycled cellulose fibers, like newspaper. It keeps material out of the landfill, which allows gardeners to have good stewardship of our planet.

What does peat moss do?

Peat moss helps the soil hold nutrients by increasing what is called the CEC or “cation exchange capacity.” Peat moss has a low pH, so if you use much, lime should be added as well. Plants that do well in acidic soils, termed “ericaceous” such as blueberries and rhododendrons, benefit from peat moss.

What happened to ZinePak?

ZinePak is currently working with the New York Mets Kids Club and romance novelist Debbie Macomber who’s best known for her Cedar Cove series which was turned into a Hallmark Channel series starring Andie MacDowell.

What plants need perlite?

Because of these properties, perlite is also popular in orchid, cactus, and succulent planting mixes that like to be on the drier side, and in hydroponic setups as a standalone growing medium.

How much is Buck Mason worth?

They felt Buck Mason was worth $1.5 million to $2 million, so taking $200,000 for a 25-percent stake felt like the sharks thought it was worth only $800,000.

Why is peat moss bad?

Peatlands store a third of the world’s soil carbon, and their harvesting and use releases carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas driving climate change. The biggest environmental risk from peatlands is if they catch fire, which happened spectacularly in 2015 in Indonesia on land cleared for plantations.

Is PittMoss organic?

PittMoss® Plentiful Organic Potting Mix is made from organic, recycled natural cellulosic fibers with added compost and mineral ingredients. Waste cellulosic materials that are normally land-filled are up-cycled into this valuable potting mix.

Why should you not use peat?

There has been a huge effort to phase out the use of peat by both amateur and professional gardeners. Because peat is formed in the watery environment of an oxygen-free bog it decomposes into carbon. That carbon stays in the bog, locked away from the atmosphere.

Why is peat moss being banned?

Peatlands in Europe contain five times more carbon than forests and disturbing peat for agriculture or harvesting it for compost releases CO₂ to the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. The UK government plans to ban peat use among amateur gardeners by 2024.

What happened to ZinePak after shark tank?

How much does PittMoss cost per cubic foot?

It cost $2.50 a cubic foot while Pittmoss costs $2 a cubic foot retail. Mont said he made 60% profit on that price. Barbara seemed impressed that it was both much cheaper and also good for the environment. Mont claimed that he could help farmers save 15% on their running costs since it’s a cheaper and more efficient product.

Who was the CEO of PittMoss in 2015?

Since the taping of the show, Handley has stepped down. In October 2015, it was confirmed by Michael Matesic, CEO of Idea Foundry, an original investor in PittMoss, that Handley left the company. In November, executive Ned Collins was named interim CEO.

Who was the CEO of PittMoss on Shark Tank?

PittMoss CEO Steps Down After ‘Shark Tank’, Volunteers at Food Bank. Mont Handley is the founder of PittMoss, a peat moss substitute made from organic additives and recycled paper. In April 2015, Handley pitched the business on Shark Tank and got a deal with three Sharks including Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjevac.

What do you need to know about PittMoss growing media?

PittMoss is a next-generation growing media. Not only does it reduce the need for applied chemicals and water, it is made from organic and natural materials. Do you need a soil amendment or a ready-to-use soilless blend?