This Common Houseplant Mistake Stops Soil From Absorbing Water – Luckily, It’s Easy to Fix
Soil can actually become water-repellent from prolonged drought
In my experience, getting watering right is the number one thing houseplant owners struggle with. One common occurrence is when incorrect watering turns soil hydrophobic, meaning it won't absorb any water or it dries unevenly.
This is the result of common indoor plant mistakes where soil is left to stay dry for too long, the potting mix is old, or it can be the result of intense heat. These things actually turn soil repellent to water, so you'll see it pool on the surface and struggle to absorb.
The good news is it's super easy to resolve hydrophobic soil and improve your houseplant's growing environment. Here, I share the steps I take when my houseplant soil won't absorb water and how I avoid it happening again.
What Causes Hydrophobic Soil?
There are several causes behind why houseplant soil won't absorb water.
While there are several houseplants that thrive on neglect, leaving soil to sit in a prolonged period of drought can result in houseplant potting mix becoming unable to absorb water.
This is especially the case when potting mix has peat moss or coco coir in it, both of which turn waxy and water-repellent when left to dry out entirely.
Likewise, drought can shrink and shrivel your plant's root ball, resulting in it pulling the soil away from the edges of the pot. When you then water your houseplants, you'll spot the water trickling down the sides of the pot, rather than being absorbed from the surface.
This is worsened during hot spells, where room temperature is significantly higher and dries soil out faster. Without increasing watering frequency to support this, your plants are at risk of heat stress, leaf scorch, and hydrophobic soil.
Another cause behind why houseplant soil won't absorb water is the age of the potting mix. Organic components in the soil break down over time and the soil becomes compacted, making it trickier to absorb water.
Fertilizing mistakes and excess plant food can likewise be a cause. This is because it can create crystalized barriers in the soil, stopping full absorption.
Whatever the case, it's best to act immediately when you spot water isn't absorbing properly, so your plants aren't left to dehydrate and excess pooling water doesn't cause mold on the soil surface.
How to Fix It
I personally like to give my houseplants struggling with hydrophobic soil fresh new houseplant potting mix.
The best potting mix for indoor plants is a peat-free, well-draining, and moisture retentive blend (like this Miracle-Gro houseplant potting mix from Lowe's). Though, you can also opt for specific blends for plants, like this monstera potting mix from Amazon.
When repotting with the new mix, gently brush away any soil on the roots. The new soil will then provide a brand new, healthy and nutrient-rich growing environment for your plants.
If your houseplants are severely dehydrated, try soaking the root ball in a bowl of water for 20 minutes before repotting to rehydrate it.
You should also use the pencil trick to aerate houseplant soil. I like to do this every so often to ensure the soil remains well-draining and breathable for roots. If you're houseplant soil is only just starting to absorb water slowly, this can be enough to fix it.
Going forward, make sure to also use a soil moisture meter (I have this one on Amazon) every time you pick up your houseplant watering can. This will tell you just how wet the soil is, so you never over or underwater again.
Bottom watering houseplants can also improve moisture management. It allows the roots to soak up sufficient water without becoming oversaturated. Using a self-watering planter (like these pretty green ones on Amazon) provides a reservoir so plants don't become dehydrated.
What to Shop
Use these pebble humidity trays to boost humidity levels for your moisture-loving houseplants. Simply place your houseplants on top and top up water levels.
This indoor plant food is a balanced mix for all types of houseplants. Apply diluted in water during spring and summer, as per your specific houseplant's needs.
This soil moisture meter can help you avoid watering mistakes. Simply insert the probe and it will identify how wet the soil is. It can be used on indoor plants and in the garden alike.
There are quite a few summer houseplant care mistakes to be aware of as we approach the hottest months of the year. This includes watering too often and not checking for pests regularly. Getting into a routine with checking your houseplants weekly during summer can help prevent bigger issues developing.
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