In an unreferenced rec.gardens post from Feb 28, 1997, "Acid-loving plants (long)", Frank Monroe's material states that african violets are in the category of plant that thrive in a soil pH of 4.5 to 5.5 That's _very_ acidic.
Most formulae I find for african violet soil include lime, which is very caustic (raises pH.) For example, the formula included in the pot by The Violet Pot recommends:
2 quarts peat moss
1 quart vermiculite
1 quart pearlite
1 cup powdered lime
2 cups dehydrated cow manure
I was reluctant to include either the manure or the lime as they are both so powerful, and I was concerned I would damage the plants (isn't manure caustic? you can sure smell the ammonia...)
What's up with this?
tx
pc