MEDIUM STILL DRY AFTER DRENCHING SOIL WITH A GALLON OF WATER!?

[Massgrower98]

Idk what it is lately but my medium (I use roots organic soil) never wants to get completely saturated, today I drenched all my pots (3 gal pots) with a gallon of water each (slightly over watered). When I stick my finger down the soil its always dry under the first inch of soil ... I never really had this problem before, for some reason the top of the soil wants to stay crusty and dry and just makes it hard for the water to drain through the entire medium. Thoughts?!?!?!

 

[Nizza]

peat is used in a lot of soils and when it gets too dry it loses its capability to retain moisture
A wetting agent such as a plant friendly soap (safer soap), or silica could be used for a watering to help the peat regain its moisture retention. You don't need much. Also being sure to water slowly is huge, I use a Dramm watering can or a floraflex cap to help disperse water even and slowly

 

[Massgrower98]

peat is used in a lot of soils and when it gets too dry it loses its capability to retain moisture
A wetting agent such as a plant friendly soap (safer soap), or silica could be used for a watering to help the peat regain its moisture retention. You don't need much. Also being sure to water slowly is huge, I use a Dramm watering can or a floraflex cap to help disperse water even and slowly

Thanks for the advice. I used recycle sil today when I soil drenched and they are looking super over watered. Because I was paranoid about them being dry, I gave them a gallon each and now they're super droopy and I also think they're rootbound I'll post pictures tell me what you think...

 

[Massgrower98]

Thanks for the advice. I used recycle sil today when I soil drenched and they are looking super over watered. Because I was paranoid about them being dry, I gave them a gallon each and now they're super droopy and I also think they're rootbound I'll post pictures tell me what you think...

 

[Nizza]

If the roots died off and now are in alot of water, I would expect some bad stuff to happen soon down there
alot of the time the plant is too dry and you water it , it will bounce back very fast