Hydrophobic Soil, Affects and Cures

Hydrophobic Soil Signs & Fixes:

Hydrophobia is very common and can mislead you as to to evaluation, diagnosis and nutritional needs of your plant. When soil is hydrophobic it often looks like a magnesium deficiency or even a Cal-mag problem. Always check your soil dryness before any action is taken. Fact: if your soil drains quickly or lifts when you water it is probably hydrophobic. To treat hydrophobic soil, you need to add a surfactant or wetting agent when you water your plants.

The excess dryness of the soil puts you into nutrient lockout. This resembles all the signs of magnesium problems or Cal-mag issues. Be careful with your analysis before you jump into fixes. The wrong fix just complicates the issue. In the picture provided you will see the lower leaves with the symptoms. The top portion of the plant was simply the correction of the condition that dry soil created, no amendments were changed.

Recommendations:

Add wetting agents or surfactants to your water accordingly. These are such things as Yucca, Castille Soaps, and surfactants, to allow your dry soil to fully absorb water properly. You can also dunk your planter in water until it is properly hydrated. In addition, never let your soil dry too much, this is what initially causes hydrophobic soil.