When potting soil repels water, irrigation runs down the gap beside the pot or beads on the surface while the root ball stays dry. This usually happens after a peat-based mix has dried too far, but it can often be corrected without immediate repotting.
Push a wooden skewer several centimeters into the mix. If it comes out dry while water has just drained from the pot, channels have formed around a compacted root ball. Also check that the container has open drainage holes.
Use the skewer to break only the top 1 to 2 cm of crust. Do not push repeatedly through the root ball, because this can tear fine roots.
Pour a small amount of water evenly over the surface. Wait five minutes, then repeat twice. Slow applications give the dry organic material time to begin absorbing moisture.
If water still beads, stand the pot in a basin containing 3 to 5 cm of water. Leave a small pot for 15 to 20 minutes, or a larger pot for up to 30 minutes. Remove it as soon as the top begins to feel slightly damp.
Let excess water drain for at least 20 minutes. Never leave the pot standing in water after the root ball is evenly moist.
Repot if the mix has shrunk into a hard block, smells sour, drains poorly after rehydration, or is mostly compacted roots. Choose a fresh mix suited to the plant and a pot with drainage, only slightly larger than the root ball.
Gradual top watering followed by a short bottom soak restores even moisture more safely than repeatedly flooding dry soil.