This is what it looked like about a week and a half ago

I am not a fan of peat. Of any kind. Vermiculite and peat both hold a lot of water. I wick all of my violets and leaves using only 1/2 perlite and 1/2 MiracleGro. To wick something you need a lighter mix.

Is your wick doing its job? Did you make sure it was good and wet to start the capillary action? Are you using the entire 4 ply of acrylic yarn or have you separated it? I had a wick once that didn't suck up and my plant got dry. Lucky I caught it in time.

There are a lot of reasons for things happening, but I don't think your violet looks bad.

I would be concerned about peat and vermiculite. They both hold water, so maybe you are actually overwatering. IMO I would stick with a lighter mix of perlite/soil only.

Anyone else got something??? Good luck and let us know what happens. Rosie

I am using the full 4 ply. I was using miracle grow for African violets and 2/3 perlite before. I switch because of the white mold in the top of the soil and because it seemed to be growing so slow. Maybe I need to switch back and try just 1 or 2 ply. My regular size African Violet looks fine with the peat, vermiculite, perlite mix.

Is your soil damp? The reason I ask is that sometimes acrylic yarn is hard to get wet. I have a type of string I use, not yarn, but I have seen a lot of people use yarn. AND there is a difference in the percent of acrylic blended in with yarn. One type may be better than others. I am still experimenting myself.

If this mix works for you, by all means keep using it. I know it didn't work for me (adding vermiculite and peat) so I narrowed it down to just the 1/2 and 1/2 mix. Good luck and let us know what happens!!!!! Rosie

I never quite understood why you'd need vermiculite if you're wicking. Except it gives you a bit of a buffer between the reservoir going dry and the pot drying out completely...

I use sulfur powder (garden sulfur from Canadian tire) against mildew and it's quite successful. I've also read you can microwave your soil or rinse it before use and that'll get rid of mildew. Haven't really tried it myself...

My wicking mix is about half and half perkite and potting soil. Have tried several and wasn't 100% happy with any of them. Seed starter makes your plants stay small, promix A/V and MG have too much fertilizer etc. My best results yet were with the blue bag of potting soil from Schultz. Moisture control I believe. A friend of mine uses it straight up for wicking. I don't dare....

As for 2 or more ply yarn, I don't believe that should make a difference. If your mix is light enough, anyways. If it isn't, limiting the water supply via small wick might help, but it wouldn't be dependable.

Fwiw, your brown spots look like water marks to me... the curling under may be a reaction to PH or light...

The soil is damp but not soggy. I am willing to try another type of wick. What brand or thickness should I get. I am determined to make wicking work with my mini violets. Have a leaf rooting in water so hopefully I get the soil and wick figured out before it is ready to pot.

Your pot might be too big. You have 3 rows of leaves and I still see dirt. Maybe try a smaller pot? Mini's like to be in small pots. In what type of light is the plant grown? Try soaping up your wicks first, it helps them take up water.

Repotted today in a smaller cup with 50/50 peat perlite and 1 ply yarn. Fluorescent desk light. It was fine for 3 months. I suspect changing the soil was part of the issue.

I'm with the others here. Don't use peat or vermiculite with wicking. It'll be too wet. I use the same mix Rosie does for mine. Good call on the pot being too large as well.