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African Violets

Has anyone tried ...

10 years ago

Fafard AV mix ...

As opposed to miracle grow

I got a bag, and yes it needs to have some perlite added to it. It has a slightly different texture to it than MG but my AVs seem to like it. I seem to see pieces - very small pieces - of sphagnum type stuff in it and it seems to be a slightly lighter mix than MG. They have several different mixes, and this is the one for AVs.

I started two groups of leaves ... one week apart ... in MG and Fafard ... as a test. Also, the stuff I have in the Fafard does not seem to take as much water to recharge in case it gets dry, and drains very well.

Perhaps I just held my mouth correctly when I added the perlite. But I ran my hand through the mix and remarked to myself "Self, I think I would like to be planted in this stuff, because as Goldilocks said 'It feels just right'."

ÃÂ.ÃÂ --~

dave

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Comments (4)

LunRTwilight
10 years ago
I've never seen Fafard AV mix before, but i it works well for you, why change it? I'd like to know how your leaves come up and compare the two when it's time to separate them, though. You should post pictures so we can see side-by-side.

As much attention as our African Violets get, I might like to be one myself. I couldn't help but laugh when you mentioned being potted in your mix!

Lisa aka LunR
bragu_DSM 5
Original Author
10 years ago
I plant my hostas outside the same way. I dig a hole 3x to 4x bigger than I need. I add home grown compost and sphagnum and mix it back with the soil that got dug (along with a couple large handfuls of perlite). I crumble it with my bare hands, and when it gets to that stage where I go ... I could live in that ... I carefully spread my hosta roots and top off the hole and water, mulching it and watering again.

Then I set it and forget it

hmm, where have I heard that before?

ÃÂ. ÃÂ --~

dave
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Whitelacey
10 years ago
Dave,

Jack's Violets on E Bay uses Fafard mix and the plants I buy from him grow beautifully. I haven't been able to find it locally. I'd be interested in knowing how your plants do so don't be a stranger.

Linda

P.S. Do you know Goldilocks personally? What about the three bears? WInnie the Pooh...?
perle_de_or
10 years ago
I just switched to it from MG. I think it is going to be better, and my plants seem to like it. I add perlite to it, about four parts mix to one part perlite, I would use more perlite if I used wicks, but I have stopped using them. I only have one local place that carries it, so I bought a bunch of bags.

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