Went ahead and used the 4" pot. Mixed 1/2 cup perlite and 1/2 cup Miracle Gro. African Violet Potting Mix. The violet with the soil left and that fit in a 4" pot. When do I need to start fertilizing? The Miracle Gro has some in the mix.

In a month or month and half. Let it use the fert.

The commercial soil mix is not that easy to get rid of - you still have a lot of it on a rootball. It is not that awful - you just need to make sure that your plant is never overwatered and never let to dry to a crisp. That's when this soil becomes dangerous. With time the plant will grow out of it. If you repot your plant - in theory every 6 months - you cut a layer off the rootbal off the bottom - and add fresh soil on the top to cover the bare stem. after 3 repottings - all the old soil is cut off.

i.

Oh I know exactly what you are dealing with. When I started putting my violets on their wicks, I realized how much of that yucky soil was there. I thought it would just be simple to shake off the excess and repot. What a shock! I did my level best to get most of it off. And to compensate, I removed a lot of leaves and started them. My plants are doing and blooming much better. I used the same mix you did to repot.

And yes,,,,,all of mine are from Lowe's and Meijer also. All Optimara.

Hope yours do as well as mine. Good luck! Rosie

"Should of" ? Did you mean "Should have" ?

LOL! Took almost a month! Violet is doing well. It hasn't set anymore blooms. I have rooted a leaf. I tried 3, but I think 2 of them were too small.

Ah, Bill,,,,,maybe you should have said "Do you mean,,,,," instead of "Did you mean,,,,"? lol

I am with you Irina! I am limping as fast as I can! Wait for me!!!!!! Rosie

I grew up in the deep South. Gulf coast of Mississippi and Alabama. I haven't lived that far down in 40 years or more, but I will never lose the accent or phrases. It will always be may-o-naise , su-ga, and sa"l"-mon. Drives my son crazy!

Hey Sherry,,,no worries,,,,we don't mind! Welcome to African Violets! Wadda ya got! Pictures???? Names????? Look forward to see'in sumthin! Sometimes proper English is overrated!!!!! Rosie

Nothing wrong with Bill's 'Did you mean....?' She had written it - it was in the past. 'Do you mean...' would also have been fine. (Please note use of the word have instead of of in that sentence.)

What is this dangerous stuff that you guys are saying is on the young plant at purchase? Or am I misunderstanding? Just interested. I confess I no longer have a single African Violet but I did, years ago. And they were a lot of fun.

Awww, we are just messing with symantics and syntax! As far as the "dangerous" stuff, it is the mix they use when they pot the Optimara violets. (I say Optimara because I have no present experience with mail order potted violets).

As stated in several thread discussions it may be ok for their greenhouse, but certainly NOT ok in the real world [our homes]. But not dangerous in the sense that it will kill or harm you. Unless of course, you get hungry??? lol

Try another violet and come join all the discussion and fun we have here!!! Although you don't need a violet to talk to us! Welcome!!!!! Rosie

It looked good when I bought it at Lowes. It was in a 6 inch plastic pot, It was very wet, but I let it dry out as recommended, but did not repot. I thought I was careful watering, but one morning I checked and the soil felt like a drippy sponge. That is when I repotted into a 4 inch pot and used the mix recommended (one half African violet potting soil and one half perlite). It is doing great and the blooms lasted most of December. It is not blooming again yet, but looks very healthy. The "soil" must have been peat as mentioned, because like I said it felt like a sponge. They must have just potted up to a 6 inch pot, because there were only a few roots at the outside, and that was why it was staying so wet. I had been advised to repot at the first, so that was the reason for the title of this post.

This is my first in a quite a few years. I had another post where I was looking for one similar to mine from the 1970's.

Sherry I am glad your plant is doing so well. It will bloom again, not to worry. Good thing there are so many knowledgeable people on the AV forum!

How 'bout a pix next time it blooms???? Rosie

Thank you for the invitation to join in, Rosie.

Oh, you are so welcome! Looking forward to a pix of a violet!!! teehee! Rosie