Thanks guys for your replies, I've opted for the 'soak and wait 2 hrs
method' courtesy of an old tub in the backyard, seems to have done the
trick. I will also be revising my watering regime regarding my training
pots, I guess i was too worried about root rot and didnt water them
frequently enough...

'dammed if u do, dammed if u dont' - bart simpson

Martin

"Wayne C. Morris" wrote in message
...
In article , "Martin" wrote:

Greetings all,

The soil in my training pots seem to repel water instead of absorb it.
I'm
using commercial grade 'standard' potting mix with added coarse river
sand
(about 10-15%). Each time I water, the water either wells around the top
without being absorbed by the soil, or it just seems to run down the
insides
of the pot. When the water _does_ seem to be absorbed, it only
penertrates
about 5mm down, leaving the rest dry. Additionally, a dry 'crust' of
about
5-10mm tends to form on some of the newly repotted plants.
I've tried soaking the pots in buckets of water for 30mins or so, which
_seems_ to help.

I've seen that with my non-bonsai houseplants. It's a symptom of
under-watering. When potting mix gets too dry, it tends to repel water.
It also happens to a lesser extent with potting mix fresh from the bag.

My solution is to use a spray bottle to moisten the whole surface just a
little. Wait half a minute for the spray droplets to be absorbed, and
then
water normally. After half an hour, check the soil and water again if it
needs it.