Charcoal has definite benefits, but I've only ever heard of it in the mix. I'd say, experiment. FOR SCIENCE! :-)

Charcoal is usually placed on the bottom of the mix. Its fumes are supposed to draw the roots to the bottom. Secondly it "sweetens" the soil. When soil starts to smell, the charcoal keeps in sweet.

By the way, use horticultural charcoal and not that used in a fish tank.

Nancy

I use the soil that I purchase from "Violet Showcase" - and the owner makes it from peat, perlite, vermiculite, horticultural charcoal, adds microelements and dolomite lime to make it exactly 6.5 Ph.

How long charcoal absorbs the undesirable compounds - hard to tell, but it is light weight, creates air pockets and has probably some potassium present in it.

It probably was more important in old times when people used the loam from the back yard, sand and aged manure to make their own soil. And they grew great violets - you can look at the old issues of AV magazine - and there are photos of somebody like Mrs. John Smith and Mrs. Robert White with wagon wheel size plants loaded with bloom.

The only way you can get an idea - is to take 2 starters of the same variety - plant them with and without charcoal - and see how they develop. may be it will your own little know-how to grow super plant.

Keep us posted - and make pics!

Irina