Question 1

What are all the ingredients listed on the back of the package?

Accepted Answer

According to the package: "This product is formulated from 50-60% sphagnum peat moss, peat humus, perlite, and dolomite limestone to adjust pH."

Question 2

Several new violets; sat several days before I repotting using new bag of your soil.  Now that area is swarming with little black bugs.  ???

Accepted Answer

YIKES that has NEVER happened to me.  I do soak my AV Pots for a time in a tub of hot water and about a cup of bleach to hopefully kill any fungus spores or insect eggs (hopefully)......Also there are "Peat" mites that feed on rotting bark, and plant materials commonly used in creating potting soils....they are awful to see hopping around like tiny fleas in the soil around the plant. They are harmless to the plant but you do not want these in your home feasting on the naturally, small, bits of bark and stuff.  A solution of one tablespoon fizzy hydrogen peroxide to a half-gallon water helps to put much appreciated Oxygen available to your African Violet roots and hemorrhage the eggs the peat mites have laid in your soil.  They will eventually return and then you need to retreat again.  All houseplants usually get these little peat fleas and the Hydrogen Peroxide helps in many ways.  Google this and see it is a common problem.  A treatment of Magnesium Sulfite (Epsom Salts dissolved in water) also helps ALL plants but particularly house-potted plants as they become mineral depleted in the confines of a pot.

Question 3

Is this a quality soil for dieffenbachia (dumb cane)? thanks!

Accepted Answer

Yes, Espoma products are excellent products.  I also use their organic fertilizers, very good,

Question 4

Does the Espoma Organic african violet potting mix contain enough perlite to sustain the plants.?

Accepted Answer

You can ad some if you want to.  I used to.  But the Espoma I think uses a higher grade of ingredients and the Spagnum used feels so spongy (I also think they put very fine ground-up lime in it- a friend of mine said this)....my African Violets seemed to do just fine when I began using it straight.  I do mix one tablespoon Fizzy fresh Hydrogen peroxide in one gallon water and water with this about once every two months.  I read years ago from a master gardener that AV LOVE oxygen around their deep roots and fizzy HP gives the roots the oxygen they need plus hemorrhages the nat eggs. Those little nats actually don't harm the AF but live in the surface soil and lay their eggs there and it is an ugly nuisance to see a beautiful flower and nasty little bugs hovering about.  Google the benefits of using Hydrogen Peroxide on ALL your houseplants for the benefit of getting rid of nats AND giving your plants needed oxygen.  Since I don't put more Perlite in my mixes anymore I worried about the dirt packing with time and depriving my plants of the Oxygen and many good gardeners recommended HP.....know it sounds weird but I promise it does work.  Google it and read up before you try it.  I have beautiful houseplants besides AV and LOVE the Espoma Organic potting soil, pricey as it is.  Good Luck

Espoma Organic Natural and Organic Premium Potting Soil Mix for African Violets and All Indoor Flowering Houseplants. for Organic Gardening. 4 Quart Bag

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