---
title: "Hi everyone! So this parlor palm (from IKEA of all places) is my…"
description: "Hi everyone! So this parlor palm (from IKEA of all places) is my newest addition to my plant fam and I’m using the Miracle Gro cactus, palm, and citrus soil..…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/fQipaoQNS2SCTJGI4q9l9w/qYGgNE-KQAGpUmjjPVDclg"
community: "Equipment & Materials"
author: "Danielle"
published: "2024-07-04T20:54:44.544869Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/eaRMGeN0GC5xuoJ9KOtFva_boaBPCfvqf_WMnHNlIv4/yGtX42uMQ_a5XvkojP1Tzw.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Equipment \& Materials](https://getplanta.com/community/fQipaoQNS2SCTJGI4q9l9w.md)

# Hi everyone! So this parlor palm (from IKEA of all places) is my…

_Posted by Danielle on 2024-07-04_

Hi everyone! So this parlor palm (from IKEA of all places) is my newest addition to my plant fam and I’m using the Miracle Gro cactus, palm, and citrus soil.. I repotted it into this tall pot here for it to remain outside on my balcony. I read online if you have a tall pot you can put lava rock at the bottom, cover with landscape fabric, and put soil in as normal so it can remain well-draining… on to my issue.. I went to water it this morning and the soil seemed to repel the water like it was hydrophobic and I get the sense that it’s not draining down to the roots… any thoughts or anyone who has dealt with hydrophobic soil?

Thank you!!

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/eaRMGeN0GC5xuoJ9KOtFva_boaBPCfvqf_WMnHNlIv4/yGtX42uMQ_a5XvkojP1Tzw.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/eaRMGeN0GC5xuoJ9KOtFva_boaBPCfvqf_WMnHNlIv4/SOvH66gqQ6ezbJl1fwHXVA.webp?size=large)

## 7 comments

### Eva commented on 2024-07-04

You can try adding a touch of dish soap to the water. This acts as a surfactant, breaking the surface of the water and making it more likely to be absorbed quickly instead of running past the soil or being trapped on top. If this doesn’t work then it must be very odd soil indeed!

#### Danielle replied on 2024-07-04

I opted to just buy new soil from a local plant shop that makes their own organic well draining soil. Probably should’ve done that from the start 😅

#### Danielle replied on 2024-07-04

Thank you for the response!

#### Eva replied on 2024-07-05

Good plan! 🪴

### Riley commented on 2024-07-04

Every time I get this soil it turns out to be hydrophobic. I just have to bottom water everything, because nothing else I’ve tried has made the soil absorb water.

#### Danielle replied on 2024-07-04

Sheesh 😅 sounds like someone is going to get some free soil

#### Danielle replied on 2024-07-04

Thank you for the response!

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_