$ 29.99
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Tree Fern Fiber • Buffered Coconut Coir • Triple-Washed Perlite • Vermiculite • Worm Castings • Activated Biochar
Chunkiness: ★★½☆☆
Aeration: ★★★½☆
Drainage: ★★★½☆
Moisture Retention: ★★★★½
Longevity: ★★★☆☆
Wicking: ★★★★★
Mix #100 was built around a difficult combination, but one that is vital for many Gesneriads to thrive: high moisture retention, strong capillary wicking and still plenty of oxygen around fine roots.
Traditional African Violet substrates often achieve their moisture retention and wicking through very fine, peat-heavy formulations. We approached the problem differently.
Instead of relying on an extremely fine substrate to move and retain water, Mix #100 uses a predominantly soft, fibrous structure to distribute moisture throughout the container while preserving air space around the roots.
Our Tree Fern Fiber is processed differently from the chunky tree fern products many growers may be familiar with. We remove the chunks, leaving behind a soft, fluffy fibrous material with a consistency much closer to coconut coir. Combined with buffered coconut coir, it creates an interconnected fibrous matrix that holds and distributes moisture throughout the container.
Vermiculite adds additional moisture retention and wicking ability, while perlite creates air space throughout the substrate.
The result is a peat-free, moisture-retentive mix with exceptional wicking ability that remains soft, fluffy and airy.
Tree Fern Fiber
The primary component of Mix #100. Our Tree Fern Fiber has the chunks removed, leaving a soft, fluffy fibrous material that helps retain and distribute moisture while maintaining physical structure and air space throughout the substrate.
Buffered Coconut Coir
Works alongside the Tree Fern Fiber to create an evenly moist fibrous matrix and helps distribute water throughout the root zone.
Triple-Washed Perlite
Creates additional pore space throughout the mix, supporting drainage and root-zone aeration.
Vermiculite
Increases moisture retention and capillary movement while contributing cation exchange capacity.
Worm Castings
Adds organic matter and a modest nutrient contribution.
Activated Biochar
Adds porous carbon, additional physical structure and nutrient-holding capacity.
Mix #100 was developed specifically around the needs of African Violets and other Gesneriads, including:
African Violets
Gloxinia
Sinningia
Streptocarpus
Episcia
Its combination of moisture retention, aeration and exceptional wicking can also make it an excellent choice for other fine-rooted plants with similar moisture requirements, including:
Calathea • Maranta • Ctenanthe • Stromanthe • Spathiphyllum • Aglaonema • Dieffenbachia • Syngonium • Smaller Philodendron • Anthurium andraeanum Hybrids • Alocasia • Rex & Cane Begonias • Non-Succulent Peperomia • Fittonia • Pilea • Terrestrial Ferns
Mix #100 is designed to remain consistently moist while maintaining air around fine roots.
Its predominantly fibrous structure provides exceptional natural capillary movement, making it particularly well suited to bottom watering.
It is also extremely well suited to wick-watering and self-watering systems. When using a reservoir system, a physical wick provides continuous contact between the water reservoir and the substrate, allowing Mix #100 to distribute that moisture throughout the container.
Because this mix has very high moisture retention and wicking ability, watering frequency should always be adjusted for your plant, container size, temperature, light, airflow and growing environment.
Consistently moist does not mean permanently saturated.
Mix #100 is complete and ready to use exactly as it comes from the bag.
For growers who want additional root-zone amendments, we also offer our optional myco+ Essentials Booster Pack.
It is not a fertilizer and does not replace your normal fertilizing program.
The Booster Pack is completely optional. Mix #100 was formulated to perform exceptionally well on its own.
This is one of the oldest formulas in our collection, and its story goes back even further than Tezula.
Growing up in Africa, African Violets and other Gesneriads filled the windowsills of my childhood home. My mother and grandmother grew mind-blowing African Violets, Gloxinia, Sinningia, Episcia and Streptocarpus.
I was completely obsessed with orchids at the time and paid far less attention to them than I probably should have.
Years later, a friend commercially growing African Violets contacted us because he was frustrated with the ready-to-use substrates available to him. He asked us to develop something different, with one non-negotiable requirement:
No peat.
So we developed what became our original "family recipe."
Then Dr. Y., the retired commercial soil formulator we work with, got her hands on it.
She took one look at the formula and told us that with a few tweaks, she could take it from great to spectacular.
And oh boy, did she deliver!
Instead of trying to imitate a traditional peat-based African Violet mix, we focused on what the roots actually needed: consistent moisture, reliable wicking and enough pore space to remain oxygenated.
Our grower friend tested the resulting formula commercially, and it blew his mind.
We then distributed trial batches to experienced Gesneriad growers for testing under different growing conditions. Their feedback surpassed our wildest dreams, and before long we were producing this mix for some of the biggest commercial growers in the USA.
We've quietly made it for growers and customized it for customers for years.
Now, for the first time, Mix #100 is joining our permanent collection.
Texture: Fine-Fibrous & Fluffy
Moisture Retention: High
Drainage: Moderate-High
Aeration: Moderate-High
Natural Capillary Wicking: Very High
Physical Wick Compatibility: Excellent
Weight: Light to Moderate
pH: Approximately 5.5–6.5
Peat: None
Best Containers: Plastic, Semi-Porous & Wick-Watering Systems
Reuse: Not Recommended
Every bag of Mix #100 is hand-blended to order rather than mass-produced and stored as finished substrate.
Plant performance depends on environment and care. While our mixes are professional-grade growing media, results will vary based on your conditions, including lighting, temperature, humidity, airflow, container choice, nutrition and individual watering habits.
By choosing one of our professionally handcrafted mixes, you're supporting a small business genuinely obsessed with plant health.
Every bag is hand-blended because we believe your plants deserve better than another generic, mass-produced potting mix.
If your African Violets and Gesneriads love Mix #100, please consider leaving us a review. It helps our small business more than you know.
Happy Planting!
Tezula Team
