Plant group

African violets and gesneriads: soil, pH and plant guides

Fuzzy leaved houseplants that want a light, airy mix. Living Soil has guides for 3 plants in this group, built from published references.

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Mixes for African violets and gesneriads

Opened up violet mix

An opened up mix that gives African violets and their relatives the light, airy root zone they want, so water drains away instead of rotting the roots.

Soil based violet mix

A soil based mix for African violets and other gesneriads. It has more body than a soilless mix while staying light enough for fuzzy leaved plants.

Light violet mix

A light mix for African violets that keeps the roots airy. The recipe allows a simple swap, so you can make it with what you have on hand.

Good to know

pH: the references give 6 to 6.5 for African violets and gesneriads in general.
The mistake to avoid: Overwatering into root rot, then feeding more to fix the symptoms.

Questions

What soil do African violets and gesneriads need?

Fuzzy leaved houseplants that want a light, airy mix. Living Soil has 3 mixes for this group, each from a published reference, and guides for 3 plants.

What pH do African violets and gesneriads need?

The references give pH 6 to 6.5 for African violets and gesneriads in general. Each plant's own guide adds its notes where the references give one.

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