EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES ON AFRICAN VIOLET (SAINTPAULIA IONANTHA WENDL.) GROWTH

Two experiments on African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) culture were conducted in the ornamental plant grower’s property. The physical characteristics suitable for the cultivation of this plant were evaluated and it was observed that the substrate presenting 0.75g.cm^-3 density showed the best results for the evaluated parameters. African violet developed well in the following conditions: 75.10% total porosity, 19.53% air space, 26.03% available water and 23.71% easily available water. Different mixtures of materials, which had physical characteristics suitable for the culture, were analyzed in a second experiment and conventional peat : eucalyptus bark : sand, earthworm humus : vermiculite + sand, pine bark : earthworm humus, cultivated peat : vermiculite, other commercial substrates ("Eucatex", made from peat, and "Vida Verde - substrate for African violet"), showed to be adequate for African violet cultivation.