Question
Hi Nick,

I repotted two Fittonia, one Purple Passion, and two Pilea plants into African Violet potting mixture. I use a moisture meter and following watering after only two days the soil reads dry in all the plants. I've read on the internet where one should water these only once per week. Every two days sounds a little too frequent to me. The plants are near a window with partially open verticle blinds and room temperature runs anywhere between 65 and 75 degrees.
Should I repot the plants in a different type of soil mixture or should I repot again in the African Violet mix and maybe add some Perlite to the mix?

Thank you greatly,

Mark D.

Answer
Hi Mark, I always recommend a "soilless" mixture, which consists of 25% Sphagnum Peat Moss, 25% perlite, 25%Vermiculite and 25% shredded bark; this mixture ensures that the roots are never compromised with compaction, and have an even, aerated environment in which to spread out (keep in mind there is no nutritional value here, so fertilizing a little more often is necessary). Plants will always let you know when they are thirsty, you will learn to know that little difference in your individual plants, when this happens, and can act accordingly; but if a plant is over watered, then the damage is often irreversible. Nick