Darryl Cheng

“Using a chopstick or any other blunt poker, gently pierce the surface of the soil a short distance away from the main vine (a half inch or more). As you probe, feel the stiffness—with experience, you will be able to tell if the soil is moist or dry. Wet soil will stick to the probe; lightly moist soil will be soft; dry soil will be brittle and possibly compacted. You are also trying to assess the degree of soil compaction to determine how much you need to loosen it. If you think of the soil as a cylindrical block, the purpose of aeration is to break that block into smaller pieces so that water and air can more easily penetrate. Perlite, vermiculite, and coarse sand can all passively aid in soil aeration, but by aerating the soil with a chopstick, you are effectively taking an active role in managing the soil’s structure, just as insects and worms do for plants in the wild.”
― Darryl Cheng, The New Plant Parent: Develop Your Green Thumb and Care for Your House-Plant Family

“This is typically done over the sink. The method involves continually pouring water onto the top of the soil until water runs out through the drainage hole. This method is useful to wash salts that can be harmful out of the soil, but it also leeches away water-soluble nutrients. Every now and then, a plant enjoys a good soaking, and the plant parent can enjoy it too.”
― Darryl Cheng, The New Plant Parent: Develop Your Green Thumb and Care for Your House-Plant Family