Judy, I'm no expert on the subject, but you might consider adding Vermiculite to potting soil that you think is drying out too quickly. I'm just getting started with the Violets, and find myself headed more to the other Gesneriads now. I have been using regular potting soil up until recently, and having generally good results. I now find that I cannot find the regular mixes that aren't primarily pine bark, so have started using the specific "African Violet mixes", and you are right, they're mostly peat. I keep bags of Vermiculite and Perlite on hand, and use them as additives. Hope this helps. Bill

When winter comes and the furnace kicks on my plants would dry out so quickly I would water and when I was done almost had to turn around and start again.

THAT is when I went to wicking my violets and gesneriads. Easier to fill reservoirs than take a chance I wasn't watering thouroughly.

Research wicking. You will find a lot of information right here in the past posts of this forum. You may find it works for you. You do not need special pots, I used a lot of recycled containers.

Just make sure you use a light mix. Rosie in Michigan

I use jiffy seed starting mix, since it is affordable, readily available and decent quality. I add perlite and some horticultural charcoal and hydrate with steaming hot water, allowing it to cool for several hours. In a dry climate like CO, I agree that adding coarse vermiculite can help with water retention. Happy growing!

Aaargh - even Optimara guys discovered that the peat is the cheapest ingredient in the mix. I presume that their mix is balanced to a proper pH, so you just need to add lets say 20% of perlite and 20% vermiculite to make it more palatable.

I am still swearing that VioletShowcase mix is the best for CO. You can still order it on eBay.

If you use Jiffy mix or Promix HP - with adding perlite and vermiculite as needed - the most cumbersome part of creating a mix - balancing pH - is already done.