Can African Violets live in normal soil?

6 years ago

Hey I recently bought a african violet from Home Depot like a week ago. I wanted to repot it in a bigger pot but soon notice that the "soil" that its already in its pot does not look like the normal kinda soil. So I assume whether or not I can repot it in normal soil when transferring it to a bigger pot. Please help me, and tell me what kind of soil african violets like and would thrive in :). Appreciate any help or advice given. :D <3

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Jeff Zenner
6 years ago
Hey Nina, welcome! You have come to a great source of information regarding the growing of African Violets.

While I and a good many others here try to be helpful, some more so than others, specific questions that have not previously been discussed in depth will receive more attention than the entry level questions that have been discussed so thoroughly in the recent past.

There is a search feature on this website. Please search for (African Violet potting mix) and read what is available. That should take about a week or so.

You should be able to obtain what you need as far as potting mix goes from any of the big box stores. Steer clear of Miracle Gro products if you can.

There really is no "soil" in the potting mixes most of us use. You will discover this as you research.

Good luck and welcome!
NINA YANG thanked Jeff Zenner
User
6 years ago
Welcome to what will soon be a violet addiction! Like Jeff said, there's a bunch of ways you can go about it and a few days of research will take you far. Personally, this is the mix I use with Jack's Classic fertilizers:
- 1/4 cup worm castings to a gallon of soil mix
- half miracle gro all purpose potting mix
- half perlite
I think it really comes down to preference--you'll find what works for your plants and your environment over time. Here's a good starter guide.

Have fun!!
NINA YANG thanked User
Related Discussions
Bugs / insects in african violet soil, plant/leaves are great
Q
Comments (8)
Springtails (if that's what you have) are generally of no harm to the plant. They feed on dead plant material, usually at the soil surface and will much prefer to munch on the peat in the soil mix than living plant tissue. Treating to kill them is likely to be harder on your plant than simply leaving things as they are. I wouldn't worry about them too much. I see them at times with my plants, and I've seen them in other people's plants. They seem to come with the territory. Mark
...See More
African Violet suckers-Prone African Violets?
Q
Comments (21)
Hi Judy, From Lyndon Lyon's, or LLG, I get consistently large plants, often in bloom, in 2 1/2 in square pots in a good potting mix that does not have to be changed for at least six months. They come with plastic stakes that have the plant name printed on them so I can move them when I repot. The plants grow rapidly and do not sucker. The company has excellent customer service and ships promptly. For me, it is worth it to pay slightly more to get consistently larger, premium quality plants. For all the trouble of ordering live plant material across country, I want to get the best I can for my money. They have good quality control and accurately label the plants. They are my first choice. I only go elsewhere if there is something I want that they don't carry. They also keep their web catalogue updated, so if they are out of stock, they won't list the item. So, no surprises and no substitutions. They usually have enough of a particular type to choose from. For example, they will offer five different reds or five different whites or more. Their own hybrids are exceptional, vigorous and strong. I primarily raise Lyon 's own hybrids. They also have a wide selection of many other hybridizers. They are a large enough company to be able to introduce new hybridizers. They first opened up the Russian market and offer a wide range. They seem to pick the best choices of other hybridizers, so if they offer a plant , I feel it has been preselected for good performance. If something is new in the plant world, chances are they developed it. They are consistent in what they offer, it is usually possible to find the same plant year after year, plus new ones. I like to be a loyal customer and give them my business. They have been at this for sixty years, I appreciate they are still in this business. I feel they are excellent, so why not do business with them? When I place an order with them, I already know what to expect, so I can safely order a dozen. But they will accept an order of any size. When I want to try out a new grower, I place a small order. Usually, about four. Joanne This post was edited by fortyseven on Tue, Aug 12, 14 at 10:56
...See More
African Violet Wicking Soil for Drainage
Q
Comments (3)
I stopped using a "drainage layer" 20 years ago, except in a few bowls/jars just for looks. Drainage layers are useless in both pots and terrariums. Worse, they can collect stagnant water and cause more problems. Using a non-absorbent layer of something like aquarium gravel can even cause the soil right above it to remain saturated, without draining excess water, due to the surface tension of the water and hydrophilic nature of the wet soil mix as opposed to gravel. This invites root rot and/or weak, shallow root systems. A well draining mix all the way through will do just fine. Underlying mix that drains even better but still wicks moisture (like the AV wicking mixes) will do equally as well. I often sprinkle in some charcoal too, roots do seem to like it, but only a thin layer that mixes in with the soil mix. If you must go with a layer of gravel or whatever, for looks, just be sure you're not leaving stagnant water in it between waterings. Or put in an aquarium airstone and keep it aerated and alive. (joke - sort of!) Vincent
...See More
Can't identify issue with African Violets
Q
Comments (11)
Hi Aegis - thanks! I have long suspected that it's something to do with soil PH or fertilization. Unfortunately, have not been able to find any supporting evidence of this online... I am using Jack's African Violet fertilizer (12-36-14), 1/4 tsp every other week - same as I have been using for years. No sign of salt build up. In terms of repotting: I repotted them about 11 months ago. I already have the materials to repot this year, just haven't gotten around to it yet. I am using repotme dot com's African violet mix, which is a mix of coir, vermiculite, and perlite. I'm currently trying to decide whether to dispose of the affected plants. Do you have a sense of whether the crowns are ruined forever on the deformed plants? If so, I may try propagating from a non-affected leaf before throwing them out.
...See More
aegis1000
6 years ago
Also ... unless the new bigger pot is 1/3 or less the diameter of the plant, ... it will be too big for your violet to flourish.

One of the first mistakes most of those who start growing African Violets make ... is over-watering the plant, leading to its death.

The other mistake is putting the plant in too large a pot ... leading to the plant's death.

A correctly potted plant should look like the image below ... with leaves overlapping the side of the pot ... about equal to the diameter of the pot ...

Generally, if an African Violet is planted in the correct size pot, the diameter of its leaves will be about three times the diameter of the pot.
NINA YANG thanked aegis1000
irina_co
6 years ago
Just do not bring any soil from the yard. The problem wit outside soil - is nematodes. In outside environment the soil is teaming with all kind of organisms - and they keep one another in check. You take this soil home - and with time the living things either disappear or take over. Root nematodes take over - and they are unkillable. That's why in old books - the mix for AVs included 2 parts of garden loam, so much of coarse sand and so on and so forth. The nematode pest was so prevalent and devastating that now everything is grown in soilless mix - some kind of combination of peat, perlite and vermiculite.

Good Luck

Irina
NINA YANG thanked irina_co
Rosie1949
6 years ago
If you are trying to make a light soil, I recommend 1 part MiracleGro/1 part perlite. I don't use vermiculite, it holds too much water. Some people don't like MG but it is available and works for my home climate. But do some research and read the back postings, you will find more information than you thought existed!!! Good luck and keep in touch! Rosie
NINA YANG thanked Rosie1949

Can African Violets live in normal soil?

Comments (5)

Jeff Zenner

User

Related Discussions

aegis1000

irina_co

Rosie1949

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US