My potting soil does not absorb water. What am I doing wrong?

lots of organic material, compost that can be made from all your old veggie peelings etc coffee grounds and tea leaves will all help with soil texture.

Hi Kelley, You may want to try Perlite : http://www.gardensalive.com/product/perlite-a-great-way-to-improve-drainage-and-a-primer-on-what-organic-means/you_bet_your_garden

Good luck!

What soil are you using?

I always add water as I fill the pot so that I know that it is wet. Peat moss will sometimes shed water until it gets wet, I always mix it as I go, once it gets wet it will hold the water instead of shedding it like it does when it is dry. Sometimes if the potting soil/peat moss mixture is right it won't shed the water, especially if the potting soil is already damp. If that doesn't work, go the perlite, it works too, just isn't free like mixing the water in the soil before you plant.

Generally, water retention is inversely related to permeability. Sandy soils have the lowest water retention, followed by silt, and then soils high in clay.

Various soil amendments are available that can improve water retention, particularly soil high in sand.

Organic Soil Amendments

• Sphagnum peat moss (please note that Sphagnum peat may not be a sustainably harvested amendment)
• Compost
• Coir dust (a byproduct of coconut harvest)
• Aged manure (may have high salt content)
• Other organic materials such as grass clippings and straw

Inorganic Amendments

• Vermiculite (expensive and breaks down quickly, better for container gardening)
• Perlite (excellent for container gardening)

These are some of the common and more readily available soil amendments for improving water retention. Each has its own unique benefits as well as limitations.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/stop-potting-mix-drying-out-36672.html