Why does the soil in one plant pot stay wet for days?

Compare the slow pot with a faster-drying one rather than assuming every pot should dry on the same schedule. Look at drainage, pot size relative to the roots, growing medium, location and plant differences. The supplied guidance supports checking drainage, container size, mix and standing water, but it does not give a universal drying time or identify the cause in a particular pot. [S1] [S2]

Start with drainage: check for holes and whether water can leave the pot. Also see whether the pot is sitting in water. Good drainage and emptying saucers are recommended for containers. [S1]

It is one factor to address and observe. Empty the saucer rather than leaving the pot in excess water. [S1] [S2] Check whether the pot has drainage holes and whether water can drain out; a saucer collects water but does not show that drainage is working.

For a simple comparison, note when you water and check the pots in the same way. Record whether the saucer has water and whether the mix feels wet below the surface. Treat the notes as observations, not a diagnosis.

Either is worth comparing. OSU Extension recommends a container with only modestly more room than the combined rootballs; excess unfilled space can retain too much water and encourage root rot. It also recommends an all-purpose potting mix containing perlite or vermiculite for drainage. [S1]

Check whether the slow pot is much larger relative to its rootball. If you know the mix, check its label or your notes for its type and ingredients. These clues suggest what to investigate, but do not prove the cause in your pot.

Record whether the pots are in different locations and whether the plants differ. These are useful comparison points, but the supplied sources do not explain how temperature or plant demand affects drying time, so they cannot establish which factor matters here.

For example, suppose Pot A and Pot B both have drainage holes, but A is much larger relative to its rootball and has water in its saucer. Note both differences, empty the saucer and track the pots consistently. If A remains wet, that is useful information, but it does not prove pot size caused the difference. Avoid assuming one pot’s watering schedule suits another.

Use this checklist:

1. Check for drainage holes and whether water can drain out.
2. Empty standing water from the saucer. [S1] [S2]
3. Compare pot size with the rootball; note any substantial extra space. [S1]
4. Record known details about the growing medium, including whether it contains perlite or vermiculite. [S1]
5. Note the plant, location, watering date and moisture observations.
6. Compare your notes over several checks; do not assume every pot should dry within the same number of days.

Copyable note: Pot: [name] Date watered: [date] Drainage holes: [yes/no/unknown] Water in saucer: [yes/no] Pot size versus rootball: [similar/much larger/unknown] Mix: [known details/unknown] Location and plant: [brief note] Moisture at next check: [observation]

Mark anything you do not know as unknown rather than guessing. The guidance supports checking drainage, pot size, mix and standing water; it does not establish a universal drying time or determine whether temperature or plant demand explains your case. [S1] [S2]