Why Your Plant’s Potting Mix Isn’t Absorbing Water

Has this happened to you before?

You water your indoor plant and the water goes straight through the pot. It comes right out of the drainage hole without even soaking in.

It can feel confusing, especially when you are trying to take good care of your plants.

This is actually a really common plant care issue, and once you understand why it happens, it becomes much easier to fix.

What’s going on with your plant?

When water is not being absorbed by your potting mix, it usually comes down to one of these two things.

1. Your plant is root-bound
   There are more roots than potting mix in the pot. At that point, there is not enough mix left to hold moisture, so water moves right through instead of being absorbed.

2. Your potting mix has become hydrophobic
   Hydrophobic potting mix means the soil is repelling water instead of soaking it in, which is why water runs straight through your plant.

Why potting mix stops absorbing water

Here are the most common reasons this happens with indoor plants:

• You waited too long between waterings
  When potting mix stays dry for a long period of time, it begins to shrink and pull away from the edges of the pot. You might notice a gap or rim around it. When you water, the water follows that space and runs straight down instead of soaking into the potting mix.

• The potting mix is old and compacted
  Over time, potting mix breaks down and becomes dense. When this happens, it loses its ability to absorb and hold water properly.

• The potting mix dried out too much
  Some potting mixes, especially those with peat, can become difficult to rehydrate once they have completely dried out. This is one of the main causes of water not absorbing in plant soil.

What you can do

If your plant’s potting mix is not absorbing water, here is where to start.

• Bottom water your plant
  Place your plant in a bowl or tray of water and let it sit for about 30 minutes. This allows the potting mix to slowly absorb water from the bottom up and helps rehydrate it evenly.

• Refresh the potting mix if needed
  If bottom watering is not helping, it may be time to refresh the potting mix. Remove the plant, loosen the roots slightly, and repot using fresh, well-draining potting mix. This will help your plant absorb water properly again.

This is a common issue with indoor plants, and you are not alone in experiencing it.

For those in Charlotte, NC looking for plant care help or a plant consultant, feel free to check out our Plant Care services. We would love to help you.