FAQ: after some time, soil becomes compacted and roots in those dry pockets start to die. Some corresponding leaves will show signs of wilting (leaves curled up). If all you did was try to water more often, it may not help since water would drain right past the dry pocket. The best way to deal with this is to aerate the soil, which not only breaks up these pockets, but also encourages air flow to the roots (they need oxygen too). Aerating can be accomplished by GENTLY poking the soil with a chopstick. When you do this occasionally before watering, it helps the soil absorb more of the water you pour in instead of it draining through the drainage hole. Here I’m also using a turkey baster to remove the excess water after a few hours (this baster is dedicated for plants; don’t borrow the one in your kitchen!)
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