Peat moss is sold online and at gardening centers. Keep in mind that the amount of peat moss you need may vary a little depending on the size of pot used.
Vermiculite is a soft, spongy material that retains water well. Perlite is a hard type of volcanic glass that aerates better and has a slightly higher pH. Sand can also be used to lighten soil. It’s heavier than vermiculite and perlite and drains faster, so it helps if your soil mix tends to get waterlogged.
Some growers find commercial mixes to be too dense. To fix this, combine 1 cup of the potting mix with 1 cup of peat moss and 1 cup of vermiculite or perlite.
Another option is to mix 2 cups of peat moss with 1 cup each of vermiculite and perlite. This mix will give you the benefits of both vermiculite and perlite.
To raise the pH, dilute some dolomite lime in warm water and use it to moisten the soil before planting. Lower the pH with diluted vinegar or ground sulfur mixed into warm water. Everything you need to monitor pH is available at gardening centers. Most homemade pH tests work by taking a sample of soil and mixing it with an included chemical, but there are also handheld monitors that detect pH when you stick them into soil.
Getting the correct pot size matters a lot. It means the perfect amount of soil so the violet has enough space and nutrients available for growth. If your violet is too small for one pot, always choose the next size up.
Avoid other types of pots, such as decorative glazed pots. The soil won’t drain fast enough to keep an African violet healthy. Pots can be reused as long as you clean them out first. Wash away old dirt with soap and water, then soak the pot in a bath of 9 parts water and 1 part household bleach.
If you’re repotting a violet, you could use the old pot to prepare the new one. Set the old pot in the new one, then spread the soil around it. The old pot will leave a perfectly-sized hole for the violet.
Watch for water to pour out of the drainage holes on the bottom. It shows that the water has passed all the way through the soil and you may even be using too much. If you wait, the soil may dry up. Wet it again. Make sure it stays moist so the violet adapts to the fresh mix.
The number on fertilizer symbolizes how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is in it. A 14-12-14 fertilizer is 14% nitrogen, 12% phosphorus, and 14% potassium. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations about how much fertilizer to use. Concentrated liquid fertilizers have to be diluted in water first. Commercial violet soil mixes often contain fertilizer, so be cautious about adding extra. Overfertilizing a violet causes it to overgrow and brown without sprouting flowers.
Keep the soil at the right consistency so that removing the African violet is easier. If it is still stuck, try tapping the sides of the pot or sliding a knife around the edges of the soil. Be as gentle as you can when taking out an African violet. Never force it out, since that could cause permanent damage.
Take off as much of the old soil as you can. The plant will be fine if you’re unable to tease out every last clump of dirt. As long as you remove most of it, the violet will be fine. Always clear away the old dirt before replanting. It may have leftover fertilizer and other things that could have a negative effect on your violet.
Any buried leaves will end up rotting, so take care to keep them elevated above the soil. Leaving too much of the stem exposed could limit the violet’s growth as well.
At a minimum, repot African violets once a year. With regular soil changes, violets last for decades. Unless the violet has outgrown its container, reuse the old pot. You can tell by how the violet fits inside the pot. If the plant looks crowded with leaves and roots spilling out from the pot, then switch to the next largest size pot available.
