I repotted my houseplants just three days ago, and I noticed that the soil is still really wet. I used potting soil from my local nursery, mixed it with some orchid bark and perlite, and potted them into clear plastic pots that have drainage holes. I only watered them once after the repotting. Does anyone have suggestions on why it's taking so long to dry?
4 Answers
I've found that putting some screening over the drainage hole, adding a terra-cotta shard on top, and a layer of rocks before the soil helps. After I pot, I really drench it for the first time and let it drain completely, emptying the dish multiple times in the first hour. It’s normal for the soil to stay damp for a week while the roots are adjusting.
It could be that the drainage holes are a bit clogged. I had a similar situation with one of my pots; I just poked the holes with a stick and it got better afterward.
In my experience, fresh potting soil tends to stay wet longer after the first watering, so I'd wait a few more days. About your mix, I usually go for a 1:1:1 ratio with those ingredients, but it might be that you added too much soil this time.
You might want to try elevating the pots a bit for better drainage. I have a ceramic pot with drainage holes that sits flat on the bottom, so I put it on some metal washers to help it drain more effectively. It's made a difference for me!
I'll give that a shot! Thanks! I also tried aerating the soil with a chopstick and have a fan blowing on them at a low speed.