African Violets Best Potting Mix You Need to Choose

When growing African Violet, it’s highly recommended for you to know all the aspects of the care of these plants; what they need. One of the important aspects for growing African Violet is soil potting mix. Of course, the soil where African Violet grows needs to contain the supportive elements such as nutrients, moisture and space for its roots.

Considering the potting soil is a very important aspect for growing African Violet, it would be better for you to find out the perfect potting mix you have to choose. Since you’re at this page, you don’t have to look for the information on another source, as we’ll show you about it below!

What Is the Best Potting Mix for African Violets?

Need to know, African Violets are sensitive to change in the soil ingredients and content. However, it’s not complicated to provide the African Violet potting soil, as long as you know the potting mix.

The best potting mix for African Violet will indicate the following qualities:

• Maintain moisture without waterlogging the container.
• Allow for adequate airflow, since the roots breathe too.
• Retain fertilizer and inhibit nutrient leaching.
• Increase humidity above ground.

Even though it sounds complex, you can provide those conditions with just a few key ingredients.

According to some sources, the best potting mix for African Violets uses three essential ingredients including perlite, vermiculite and peat moss. Certainly, each has a certain job to perform, and they create the perfect conditions together that your plant has to thrive. The ideal potting mix is a mix of peat moss with perlite and vermiculite in the ratio of 50:25:25.

Let’s identify the performance of each ingredient below!

• Perlite

It is known that Perlite is a hyper-lightweight material that originates from volcanically heated glass. The process of heating glass is to create a popcorn-like material which maintains moisture without impeding drainage.

Read more: These are Recommended Pots for Violets

It really keeps your plant hydrated without water logging it underground. When the porous perlite releases moisture slowly, it will increase the humidity in the environment that mimic the steamy, jungle-like conditions beloved by African Violet.

• Vermiculite

This is a flaky mineral that is often sold in the form of pellets that is nontoxic and does not rot or mold. However, it prevents irritating pests from locating in a safe environment in your plant’s container.

This ingredient also helps keep potting mix sterile that keeps your African Violet’s blooms fresher longer. Finally, it can help soil retain nutrients like potassium, ammonium and calcium and also boost root growth and anchorage.

• Peat Moss

Peat Moss comes from decaying plant matter in mossy peat bogs. However, this ingredient really helps increase acidity in the soil and retain soil structure over time. Just like perlite and vermiculite, peat moss can also hold several times its weight in moisture, slowly releasing it to the plant. With the water absorption, it can help slow the process of leaching and maintain more essential nutrients for your plant.

How to Make DIY African Violet Potting Mix?

You may prefer making DIY African Violet potting mix to buying the commercial potting mix from the market. Of course, you can make DIY African Violet potting mix at home. Here’s how!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of 50% peat moss or coco coir
• 1 cup of 25% perlite
• 1 cup of 25% vermiculite
• Additional ingredient of Limestone and Superphospate

Steps:

It’s not simple to make DIY African Violet potting mix, as you need to pasteurize the ingredients to get rid of any bacteria, insects, plant disease, etc. Here’s how to do it!

• First, heat the oven to 180º Fahrenheit (82º Celcius) to eliminate any unwanted elements.
• Then, moisten the soil mixture and spread over a large roasting tray evenly. If you use peat moss, you can wet it before combining it with other ingredients.
• Make sure to cover the baking tray with aluminium foil and put in the oven for 45 minutes to one hour.
• You may need to control the temperature with a cooking thermometer. Make sure to not let it heat above 180^o Fahrenheit.
• Uncover the foil and set your mix in the open air for four days, make sure to stir it several times per day to aerate the soil.
• After the soil has aired out for the proper time, you can continue to use what you have to fill your African Violet and place the rest in a cool, dry place.

Congratulations! You successfully make DIY African Violet potting mix at home.

Some Recommended Potting Mix Products for Growing African Violets

In addition to making DIY African Violet Potting Mix, there are dozens of commercial potting mixes that you can buy in the market. However, not all products are great for you. To make it easier for you to choose the best potting mix products, we’ll show you some recommended potting mix products to grow African Violets. Here they are:

1)     Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix

Buy the Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0798Y4L11?tag=planto05-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

This commercial potting mix is one of the top picks for soil mix products that is specially formulated by experts. The formula works to provide good drainage and aeration, as well as providing the necessary nutrients and giving African Violet a gorgeous color naturally.

If you use this potting mix, you can also combine with other soils such as flower bed soils and garden soil. This potting mix product can also be used for other house plants. If you use it on a large scale, you may need more bags as well.

2)     rePotme African Violet Imperial Potting Soil Mix

Buy rePotme Potting Soil Mix on rePotme  https://www.repotme.com/products/african-violet-imperial-potting-soil

As one of the best mixes for African Violets, rePotme is specially formulated and handcrafted by experts, so you cannot grow wrong with this mix. So far, this commercial potting mix is the perfect formula for African Violets.

You can buy rePotme in small quantities for easy usage. You will need a pot or container which is appropriate for African Violets to complete this soil. This potting mix can really provide the optimal drainage while absorbing the proper amount of water to keep your plants.

3)     Espoma Organic African Violet Potting Mix

Buy Espoma Organic Potting Mix on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Espoma-AV4-Organic-African-Potting/dp/B002Y06KN0

Espoma Organic African Violet Potting Mix product will make it greater for your African Violets with well-draining and aerated formula. This product will encourage the growth of the roots and absorb as much water as needed.

The natural ingredients contained in this product include aged humus, yucca extract, composted rice hulls, limestone, peat moss and 35%-45% Canadian Sphagnum. This is a very great potting mix for other houseplants.