I am glad it was helpful. There are so many kinds of peat moss, coconut coir, and other potting mediums - I had hard time choosing when I started growing my AVs, and also killed some along the way. Always learning something new! Happy growing!
Thank you this is so very helpful. I am concerned however about coming in contact with the systemic pesticide when I’m repotting and cleaning up the violets. I was told that systemic mean that the pesticides are digested by the plants though the roots hence the name systemic, which means now the plants have the pesticides throughout their leaves stems and petals. That’s how the plant is able to keep the pests away. I’m concerned about coming into contact with the systemic pesticide. Should I wear gloves at all times when repotting and cleaning up my violets, in order not to come in contact with the systemic pesticides?
Appreciate your feedback! Please follow safety instructions on the insecticide label. Best to wear gloves for protection when repotting. I use tools when repotting and try avoiding close contact with potting mix. Bonide Systemic safety instructions are available here: bonide.com/product/systemic-houseplant-insect-control-granules/, in the Product Literature section on the bottom of the page.
Thanks for sharing you knowledge! I have a question: did you find a good/inexpensive source of horticultural charcoal? It seems to be sold in small and expensive packs everywhere. Also, how to choose molasses for adding to soil mixtures?
I get mine at Armstrong Garden Centers. I've also heard about soil conditioners alternative to charcoal, but haven't used them yet, so something to explore. For dry molasses, I was lucky to have received mine from a fellow AV club member, I've also seen various kinds on Amazon, e.g. there is one called Soil Mender Dry Molasses, 5 lb, specifically for potting mixes.
Hi Gray Turtle! Have you tried Pro-Mix HP instead of BX? Did you adjust the amount of perlite? What is the purpose of horticultural charcoal? Can I use table sugar instead of molasses? Thank you for your videos they are fantastic 😁
I did not use Pro-Mix HP, but I heard good things about it from other growers. I use 50/50 perlite ratio with Pro-Mix BX. Horticultural charcoal is mostly used to improve soil aeration and drainage. Some also pose it offers bioactive support for beneficial microbes in the soil. I haven’t tried using sugar instead of molasses. Happy growing!
Hi again! I notice you began using this recipe for your potting mix two years ago.. Just wondering how you're liking it.. Have you tweaked it at all? Found anything better?
I tried substituting ProMix with sphagnum peat moss, now I am back using ProMix again, my plants seem to like it better. Also, I no longer use Diatomaceous Earth. Everything else is the same. Might be a good time for a follow up video!
Your videos are the best! I am just starting in the hobby and would like to know if you are still using the same recipe of potting soil today (3/25/23) as when the video was made 3 years ago?
Thank you for the video and sharing your thoughts. May I ask why you stopped using diatomaceous earth? Also have you had any issues with the vermiculite in the Pro-mix Bx retaining too much water with wick watering? Thank you again 🌸
@@jebb342 Appreciate your feedback! African Violet roots need air pockets in growing medium for healthy root growth, and Diatomaceous Earth’s fine powder worked as a solidifying agent in my potting mix, so I had to stop using it. As for vermiculite, the 5% ratio of vermiculite in ProMix BX was low enough to make it work with wick watering, just need to add extra perlite, to avoid overwatering.
@@grayturtleviolets Recently I've been watching RUclips videos and studying potting soil, potting soil additives like charcoal, dry molasses, diatomaceous earth, Mycorrhizae, perlite and so on. After wading through a sea of different opinions, from many different hobbyist, I found two channels I trust and like the most. Garden Fundamentals @Gardenfundamentals. He has a background in biology and chemistry. The other is Gardening In Canada @GardinginCanada. She is a soil scientist. Thought you would enjoy these two RUclips channels for their expert knowledge concerning potting soil additives. They both have a wealth of knowledge on many different topics for gardening and houseplants as well.
Большое спасибо, Gray Turtle! I'm so glad I subscribed to your channel! I've been glued to your videos! I'm wondering if you've ever looked into Mosser Lee brand, No Damp Off Seed starting mix for use as a base for your Violet mix? It's made from ground spaghnum moss as opposed to Sphagnum Peat Moss, so is less acidic. Also I'm trying to source a set of Optimara "Yosemite" leaves. I've been on the hunt for months with no luck.. Any info would be much appeciated...
Appreciate your feedback! I haven’t seen this particular starting mix brand, will check it out, thanks for recommending. Yosemite seems to be out of stock on the Optimara distributor’s website, Selective Gardener - that’s where I got mine, hope they get it back in stock soon!
Does the Promix need to be pasteurized or sterilized first? (To kill fungus gnats?) I'm so excited because I have finally gathered all these ingredients! But I want to be sure I don't bring fungus gnats back in the house. Thank you for all you do! (ps- If I should treat the Promix before mixing it up, what method do you need? Thanks again!! )
I don't pasteurize mine, using Bonide Systemic seems to help - never had fungus gnats since I started adding it to my mix, in 2019. When I just started growing, in early 2019, I used a big box store houseplant potting mix at first (very famous brand, names not be told, lol), ending up with a huge fungus gnat issue! Lesson learned here! My pleasure, happy to share!
@@grayturtleviolets I repotted 3 this morning! Oh- can you tell me why this mix should be used within 2 weeks? If I need to do that, then do you think I can use this for other types of houseplants? Thank you again!
@@essbee3720 It can be used right away, too - I normally wait a week or two to make sure all ingredients blend in together well, especially peat moss and garden lime - to normalize the pH of the potting mix. Peat moss can be acidic, garden lime is added to make it less acidic, for the violets.
I am using the same potting mix for a few AVs that are top watered - so far so good. Seen other DIY recipes, some growers add coarse vermiculite to top watered mix, with great results, especially in dry climate. Vermiculite is known to retain moisture, because most of my AVs are wick watered, I skip it to avoid overwatering. Tried adding coconut coir too, my plants didn't seem to like it, so I switched back to simple peat moss and perlite mix.
@@grayturtleviolets Our 3 cats rule our house, too! I have to keep my plants up HIGH to keep them alive. THANK YOU for answering my Q. You are an outstanding teacher and videographer.
I did make some adjustments - I no longer add diatomaceous earth, its fine powder seems to solidify the mix making it less porous, so I skip this ingredient in my current potting mix recipe. When I run out of Pro-Mix, I use regular Canadian peat moss, it seems to work well, too!
Are you still using this same mix? I feel like I’m making it way more difficult than it needs to be. It’s like a mad scientist’s lab when I’m mixing soil 😂
@@AngelaGStark Same here, I’ve simplified it over time down to 3 ingredients: ProMix-BX and perlite 1:1 ratio, plus systemic granules according to label instructions. Happy growing!
If it already has the ph adjusted then why do you need to add more garden lime won’t that make the ph too high if it’s already adjusted to the ph it needs to be?
Great question! True, depending on the acidity of the peat moss component, the pH level in the local water, and the fertilizing routine, adding garden lime may not be necessary, as long as the combination of potting mix, water, and fertilizer is maintained at a 6.5-6.8 pH level. That's why I skipped garden lime in this recipe, at 3:15 "In this batch, I will keep all of the other ingredients the same, as in the original recipe from my previous video, with the exception of the garden lime and mycorrhizae, because Pro-Mix already has them in," recipe without garden lime at 11:12.
Thanks sorry I commented on the wrong video so the recipe you use in this video with the pro mix is what you use now to wick water with? How long can it be stored for once mixed it says on the bag to not store in a container that it could affect the ph or something like that.
@@jessicadepew9112 No worries, happy to help! I've used the Pro Mix recipe for quite a while, storying it for a few weeks at a time seemed to work ok. Then we moved from CA to OR, and I didn't take the Pro-Mix to save on moving space, so just recently started using regular Sphagnum peat moss instead of Pro-Mix, I don't add the garden lime to this one either, and it seems to work well, too! Although the quality of water here, in OR, is much better than in SoCal, so maybe that's why it works, not sure. Will keep observing and keep everyone posted!
@@grayturtleviolets thanks how are the barrina lights working out I had those and used 1 light per shelf and my violets acted like they were getting too much light so I switched the the active grow lights and now they seem worse they are turning a lighter green from the outer leaves to the center leaves idk what I’m doing wrong I try to research online but get conflicting information? Also is it ok to still add the worm castings to the mix? With the pro mix?
@@jessicadepew9112 Still testing Barrina lights with mine - just made a video about them, How Much Light Is Too Much Light, check it out! I left one light per shelf, too, 10 hr/day, 14 inches away from the plants, so far so good. Some varieties are more sensitive to Barrina than others, I found by trial and error. Worm castings work well, I've heard good feedback from other growers on those as well. Depends on how you water, mine are mostly wick-watered, so I am finding the less I add to the potting mix, the better they grow, the key is to keep the potting mix well aerated for healthy root growth, so mine grow well even without worm castings, with proper fertilization.
Yes, just make sure to pre-moisten the smaller batch ahead of time, a few days in advance, to make sure all the ingredients blend well together. Happy growing!
I get ProMix and Perlite from Greenhouse Megastore, link is in the Description of this video. Other ingredients are from various other stores and my local AV club.
Pro-Mix BX is mostly sphagnum peat moss (75-85%), as shown on the label, and the rest is perlite, vermiculite, limestone, and wetting agent. In my recipe, I use 1 part Pro-Mix BX to 1 part of additional perlite, and a few extras, which can be skipped. I have recently started replacing Pro-Mix BX with the regular sphagnum peat moss, and it works just as well. Happy growing!
Thank you for the good information 💁♀️
You are very welcome! Happy to share!
Your video is so helpful. I make soil from coconut coir. I have had so many killed of AV with peat sphagnum mix because of low level of pH.
I am glad it was helpful. There are so many kinds of peat moss, coconut coir, and other potting mediums - I had hard time choosing when I started growing my AVs, and also killed some along the way. Always learning something new! Happy growing!
great video. Thank you.
Thank you this is so very helpful.
I am concerned however about coming in contact with the systemic pesticide when I’m repotting and cleaning up the violets.
I was told that systemic mean that the pesticides are digested by the plants though the roots hence the name systemic, which means now the plants have the pesticides throughout their leaves stems and petals. That’s how the plant is able to keep the pests away.
I’m concerned about coming into contact with the systemic pesticide. Should I wear gloves at all times when repotting and cleaning up my violets, in order not to come in contact with the systemic pesticides?
Appreciate your feedback! Please follow safety instructions on the insecticide label. Best to wear gloves for protection when repotting. I use tools when repotting and try avoiding close contact with potting mix. Bonide Systemic safety instructions are available here: bonide.com/product/systemic-houseplant-insect-control-granules/, in the Product Literature section on the bottom of the page.
Thank you! This was very helpful
You are very welcome! Happy to share!
Thanks for sharing you knowledge! I have a question: did you find a good/inexpensive source of horticultural charcoal? It seems to be sold in small and expensive packs everywhere. Also, how to choose molasses for adding to soil mixtures?
I get mine at Armstrong Garden Centers. I've also heard about soil conditioners alternative to charcoal, but haven't used them yet, so something to explore. For dry molasses, I was lucky to have received mine from a fellow AV club member, I've also seen various kinds on Amazon, e.g. there is one called Soil Mender Dry Molasses, 5 lb, specifically for potting mixes.
thank you for this video. I will need to keep this one as it has the recipe.
You are very welcome!
Hi Gray Turtle! Have you tried Pro-Mix HP instead of BX? Did you adjust the amount of perlite? What is the purpose of horticultural charcoal? Can I use table sugar instead of molasses? Thank you for your videos they are fantastic 😁
I did not use Pro-Mix HP, but I heard good things about it from other growers. I use 50/50 perlite ratio with Pro-Mix BX. Horticultural charcoal is mostly used to improve soil aeration and drainage. Some also pose it offers bioactive support for beneficial microbes in the soil. I haven’t tried using sugar instead of molasses. Happy growing!
Thank you so much
You are very welcome! Happy growing!
Hi again!
I notice you began using this recipe for your potting mix two years ago..
Just wondering how you're liking it..
Have you tweaked it at all?
Found anything better?
I tried substituting ProMix with sphagnum peat moss, now I am back using ProMix again, my plants seem to like it better. Also, I no longer use Diatomaceous Earth. Everything else is the same. Might be a good time for a follow up video!
Your videos are the best!
I am just starting in the hobby and would like to know if you are still using the same recipe of potting soil today (3/25/23) as when the video was made 3 years ago?
Thank you, glad it’s been helpful! Yes, still using same recipe except I no longer add Diatomaceous Earth. Happy growing!
Good to know, thanks.
Thank you for the video and sharing your thoughts. May I ask why you stopped using diatomaceous earth? Also have you had any issues with the vermiculite in the Pro-mix Bx retaining too much water with wick watering? Thank you again 🌸
@@jebb342 Appreciate your feedback! African Violet roots need air pockets in growing medium for healthy root growth, and Diatomaceous Earth’s fine powder worked as a solidifying agent in my potting mix, so I had to stop using it. As for vermiculite, the 5% ratio of vermiculite in ProMix BX was low enough to make it work with wick watering, just need to add extra perlite, to avoid overwatering.
@@grayturtleviolets Recently I've been watching RUclips videos and studying potting soil, potting soil additives like charcoal, dry molasses, diatomaceous earth, Mycorrhizae, perlite and so on. After wading through a sea of different opinions, from many different hobbyist, I found two channels I trust and like the most. Garden Fundamentals @Gardenfundamentals. He has a background in biology and chemistry. The other is Gardening In Canada @GardinginCanada. She is a soil scientist. Thought you would enjoy these two RUclips channels for their expert knowledge concerning potting soil additives. They both have a wealth of knowledge on many different topics for gardening and houseplants as well.
Большое спасибо, Gray Turtle!
I'm so glad I subscribed to your channel! I've been glued to your videos!
I'm wondering if you've ever looked into Mosser Lee brand, No Damp Off Seed starting mix for use as a base for your Violet mix? It's made from ground spaghnum moss as opposed to Sphagnum Peat Moss, so is less acidic.
Also I'm trying to source a set of Optimara "Yosemite" leaves. I've been on the hunt for months with no luck.. Any info would be much appeciated...
Appreciate your feedback! I haven’t seen this particular starting mix brand, will check it out, thanks for recommending. Yosemite seems to be out of stock on the Optimara distributor’s website, Selective Gardener - that’s where I got mine, hope they get it back in stock soon!
Does the Promix need to be pasteurized or sterilized first? (To kill fungus gnats?) I'm so excited because I have finally gathered all these ingredients! But I want to be sure I don't bring fungus gnats back in the house. Thank you for all you do! (ps- If I should treat the Promix before mixing it up, what method do you need? Thanks again!! )
I don't pasteurize mine, using Bonide Systemic seems to help - never had fungus gnats since I started adding it to my mix, in 2019. When I just started growing, in early 2019, I used a big box store houseplant potting mix at first (very famous brand, names not be told, lol), ending up with a huge fungus gnat issue! Lesson learned here! My pleasure, happy to share!
Thank you so very much! I didn't want to mess this up. I really appreciate your generosity of time and teaching. I am inspired!
@@essbee3720 So glad you find it helpful! Happy growing!
@@grayturtleviolets I repotted 3 this morning! Oh- can you tell me why this mix should be used within 2 weeks? If I need to do that, then do you think I can use this for other types of houseplants? Thank you again!
@@essbee3720 It can be used right away, too - I normally wait a week or two to make sure all ingredients blend in together well, especially peat moss and garden lime - to normalize the pH of the potting mix. Peat moss can be acidic, garden lime is added to make it less acidic, for the violets.
Will this same recipe work well for AV that aren't wicked? What adjustments would be needed?
I am using the same potting mix for a few AVs that are top watered - so far so good. Seen other DIY recipes, some growers add coarse vermiculite to top watered mix, with great results, especially in dry climate. Vermiculite is known to retain moisture, because most of my AVs are wick watered, I skip it to avoid overwatering. Tried adding coconut coir too, my plants didn't seem to like it, so I switched back to simple peat moss and perlite mix.
I love your videos! Including the Cat video. Q: What is the name of the Facebook group you mentioned? Thank you!
My Cat is the one who runs the house, for sure, lol! The FB group is called African Violet Nerds - I love it!
@@grayturtleviolets Our 3 cats rule our house, too! I have to keep my plants up HIGH to keep them alive. THANK YOU for answering my Q. You are an outstanding teacher and videographer.
@@essbee3720 I have to bribe mine with snacks, so she leaves my plants alone, lol! Thank you so much, that means a lot!
2 years later, is this still the mixture that you use for African violets that you water wick? Or have you made changes?
I did make some adjustments - I no longer add diatomaceous earth, its fine powder seems to solidify the mix making it less porous, so I skip this ingredient in my current potting mix recipe. When I run out of Pro-Mix, I use regular Canadian peat moss, it seems to work well, too!
@@grayturtleviolets thanks for the reply! Do you prefer pro mix or peat moss more?
@@alexpaine4516 sure thing, you are welcome! Definitely Pro-Mix for me.
Are you still using this same mix? I feel like I’m making it way more difficult than it needs to be. It’s like a mad scientist’s lab when I’m mixing soil 😂
@@AngelaGStark Same here, I’ve simplified it over time down to 3 ingredients: ProMix-BX and perlite 1:1 ratio, plus systemic granules according to label instructions. Happy growing!
If it already has the ph adjusted then why do you need to add more garden lime won’t that make the ph too high if it’s already adjusted to the ph it needs to be?
Great question! True, depending on the acidity of the peat moss component, the pH level in the local water, and the fertilizing routine, adding garden lime may not be necessary, as long as the combination of potting mix, water, and fertilizer is maintained at a 6.5-6.8 pH level. That's why I skipped garden lime in this recipe, at 3:15 "In this batch, I will keep all of the other ingredients the same, as in the original recipe from my previous video, with the exception of the garden lime and mycorrhizae, because Pro-Mix already has them in," recipe without garden lime at 11:12.
Thanks sorry I commented on the wrong video so the recipe you use in this video with the pro mix is what you use now to wick water with? How long can it be stored for once mixed it says on the bag to not store in a container that it could affect the ph or something like that.
@@jessicadepew9112 No worries, happy to help! I've used the Pro Mix recipe for quite a while, storying it for a few weeks at a time seemed to work ok. Then we moved from CA to OR, and I didn't take the Pro-Mix to save on moving space, so just recently started using regular Sphagnum peat moss instead of Pro-Mix, I don't add the garden lime to this one either, and it seems to work well, too! Although the quality of water here, in OR, is much better than in SoCal, so maybe that's why it works, not sure. Will keep observing and keep everyone posted!
@@grayturtleviolets thanks how are the barrina lights working out I had those and used 1 light per shelf and my violets acted like they were getting too much light so I switched the the active grow lights and now they seem worse they are turning a lighter green from the outer leaves to the center leaves idk what I’m doing wrong I try to research online but get conflicting information? Also is it ok to still add the worm castings to the mix? With the pro mix?
@@jessicadepew9112 Still testing Barrina lights with mine - just made a video about them, How Much Light Is Too Much Light, check it out! I left one light per shelf, too, 10 hr/day, 14 inches away from the plants, so far so good. Some varieties are more sensitive to Barrina than others, I found by trial and error. Worm castings work well, I've heard good feedback from other growers on those as well. Depends on how you water, mine are mostly wick-watered, so I am finding the less I add to the potting mix, the better they grow, the key is to keep the potting mix well aerated for healthy root growth, so mine grow well even without worm castings, with proper fertilization.
Can I mix a big batch of ONLY the dry ingredients - and wait to add the water until I am ready to use it (in smaller batches)?
Yes, just make sure to pre-moisten the smaller batch ahead of time, a few days in advance, to make sure all the ingredients blend well together. Happy growing!
Hello! Do you have the links for everything in this video? I'm having trouble finding them on my own!
I get ProMix and Perlite from Greenhouse Megastore, link is in the Description of this video. Other ingredients are from various other stores and my local AV club.
@@grayturtleviolets thanks!! also, do you still use this soil mix for your collection?
@@taniyah9922 Yes, except for Diatomaceous Earth, it used to compact the mix, so I stopped using it.
Menekşe toprağı torf ki karışımlı mi acaba...?perlit anladım başka hangi karışım eklediniz diyecektim 🙏
Pro-Mix BX is mostly sphagnum peat moss (75-85%), as shown on the label, and the rest is perlite, vermiculite, limestone, and wetting agent. In my recipe, I use 1 part Pro-Mix BX to 1 part of additional perlite, and a few extras, which can be skipped. I have recently started replacing Pro-Mix BX with the regular sphagnum peat moss, and it works just as well. Happy growing!
@@grayturtleviolets 🙏💐🥰 Türkiye de bu markayı bulurum inşallah 🙏🌹🌹
@@haticeakkurt9421 If not, just use regular sphagnum peat moss, I've been trying it out now, and it works just as great!
@@grayturtleviolets 💞🙏 çok nazik siniz 💐 rakamlı başta yazdığınız toprak markasimi?anlaya madim 🙏
@@haticeakkurt9421 Pro-Mix is the brand, and Pro-Mix BX is the variety of the Pro-Mix brand.
Are U still using this mix?
I’ve simplified it since. Will make a video about my current mix, stay tuned! Basically, it’s just ProMix, perlite, and systemic insecticide granules.
I waiting
@@grayturtlevioletsIs the ratio 1:1 still the same for the promix:perlite?
@@onLYbyM yes, still the same ratio.
@@grayturtleviolets thanks a lot
What in the world is with heap? Are you trying to saying heaping teaspoon?
Correct, that's what I was trying to say, "with heap" - meaning "heaping". Thank you for pointing it out!
How can I see Part one of your video. Can you share your company’s name, address and contact phone number
@@dotwilson5269 Here is Part 1, check it out: ruclips.net/video/dPxgaDSS_Z4/видео.htmlsi=PhsyIoFL0cL3Tbdy