Hi Kayla Silcox! Personally I use MiracleGro African violet potting mix, mixed with about 50% perlite. The fertilizer is mixed in and lasts for about 6 months, then I use my own fertilizer after that. I have some African violets, a bird's nest fern, a 'Domino' peace lily, a pothos, and a parlor palm, and they all seem to thrive in this mix. I have read online about different potting mixes and everyone seems to have their own mix that works best for them. If MiracleGro Moisture Control works well for you, don't listen to what anybody else says, and keep using it. Everyone has different growing conditions, and that is why everyone has a different opinion on what is the best potting mix. Like a wise man once said, "If ain't broke, don't fix it." I hope this helps!

Good luck!

damask_rose_5 : )

The 5.1.1 mix is one that’s great for most plants.

5 parts sifted pine bark fines, 1 part peat, 1 part coarse perlite, dolomite lime.

Hi Kayla, if Miracle Grow soil works well for you and you never have any problems then I would continue doing what you're doing regardless of what anyone else thinks. 😁

Deanna

Hi, Kayla. Don't be to quick to accept the idea that because something doesn't appear to be broke, it couldn't use fixing. That stale old argument posits that the status quo is acceptable and should not be improved, which is ridiculous when you consider what it suggests. And, I think it is not at all helpful to suggest you disregard what someone else thinks, just because you might think things are going reasonably well - especially if you think that person might have the ability to help you.

Now, if you're completely happy with the results you're getting and have no interest in hearing suggestions or exploring ways to get more from the growing experience - no problem. On the other hand, I've been around helping/teaching other growers long enough that I can tell with a good deal of certainty that you can make some very significant strides along the path to green thumb status by engaging and keeping an open mind. I rarely suggest you disregard anyone's advice unless that advice has the potential to limit your growing experience, and this is one of those occasions. If you're going to disregard advice, let me suggest that with you start with those offering advice that limits your ability to advance your understanding and your skill set.

Something to think about: I've experimented with container soils for more than 30 years. One of the things I've found is, you can grow a plant that looks perfectly healthy in soil A, but soil B can produce a plant that is larger, more compact, and glows with a level of vitality absent to plant A. What this illustrates is, a poor or mediocre soil can deny a plant the lion's share of it's potential without the grower even knowing it w/o a basis for comparison. Root congestion can rob a plant of MORE than 100% of its growth potential, and most growers might not even consider tight roots as a potential problem.

Learning by trial and error (getting bit on the butt by your mistakes) is a painfully slow way to learn. My suggestion would be to keep your ears open. Ask lots of questions, and listen to growers who tell you why things do or don't work, and why they offer the advice they give. I'll leave you to consider what I said. If you have interest in exploring how to get more from the growing experience and think I might be able to help. Just ask. Then, you'll be able to decide if the suggestions/advice are worth implementing. The quickest way to proficiency isn't by trial and error. Learn all you can, then use the time you'd spend on trial and error to validate what you already know.

Good luck - I hope I get to talk to you again.

Al