How to care for African violets
Article summary: This topic covers the common knowledge of caring for African violets, how to cultivate them, and the following article introduces the basics for netizens.
In terms of caring for African violets, soil is an essential factor. Many enthusiasts may have made some common mistakes when they first started growing African violets due to a lack of understanding of their habits, such as using nutrient-rich soil with high water retention bought from the flower market, resulting in the rotting and death of the African violets (rotting roots can be saved, but I didn't know at the time).
Below are some tips based on my own lessons, hoping to help新手s like me avoid unnecessary mistakes.
African violets prefer slightly acidic (pH 6.5-6.9 optimal), loose, well-draining, and nutrient-rich soil. Therefore, ordinary horticultural soil cannot meet their needs, and the most commonly used mixture is the three-in-one planting material:
Perlite: Good water drainage, neutral pH, clean and sterile, nutrient-free, low fertility and water retention.
Vermiculite: Slightly acidic, clean and sterile, moderate fertility and water retention.
Peat soil: Slightly acidic, contains organic matter, strong fertility and water retention.
By mixing these three planting materials in a certain proportion, you can meet the needs of African violets. I recently started using the wick watering method, so I need to enhance the water drainage ability, with the ratio being: Perlite: Vermiculite: Peat soil (2:1:1). If you use the normal watering method, you can slightly increase the proportion of vermiculite and peat soil, such as 2:2:1, 1.5:1:1, etc. Of course, these ratios are not mandatory, and you should find the mix that suits your growing environment and method. If the environment is humid or you water frequently, increase the water drainage, otherwise, increase the water retention – there's always one that fits you!
About six months after using the planting material, it will become acidic. When the pH is lower than 6.5, a chemical lock effect occurs, preventing the plant from absorbing nutrients from the soil, and only iron can be absorbed. Excessive iron in the plant can cause toxicity, and as the toxins accumulate, it can lead to plant death. Therefore, changing the planting material every half a year is a better choice. For lazy people like me, the thought of frequently changing the soil and pots for my African violets is daunting! After searching, I found several materials that can help delay the acidification of the planting material:
Eggshells: Contain calcium, which can delay the acidification of the planting material and extend its usable time.
Charcoal: Controls humidity, filters impurities, removes odors, decomposes harmful chemicals, provides trace elements, and delays the acidification of the planting material.
Mei Neng An: Neutralizes the acidity of the planting material, purifies the soil, prevents bacterial growth, and prevents root rot.
After adding an appropriate amount of auxiliary materials, you can extend the time to change the soil by 2-3 months. Of course, even if you don't change the soil for a year or more, it doesn't mean the plant will die immediately due to the lack of new soil. This is just a point in time to ensure the plant's condition. I have an African violet at home that hasn't been repotted for a year and a half. Although the plant's shape has changed, with the center leaves clustering and having a raised state, it still blooms. Therefore, the plant's growth form can also indicate whether the planting material has become acidic. If you still don't have time to change the soil 6-9 months after using the planting material, reduce or even stop fertilizing and occasionally rinse the soil with clean water, which is also a way to mitigate the acidification of the planting material.
I've rambled on enough; now let me demonstrate the process of mixing my own planting material through pictures. I hope this helps新手s and enables them to successfully care for their own African violets.
The small experience of caring for African violets (soil section) introduced above [] hopes to bring help to your daily life!