What are the drainage holes like?
Did the turface perhaps migrate to the bottom?

Can you post a picture of the mix?

Josh

I'd say you have a drainage issue. Holes plugged, holes too small.

Nothing should be able to "float' in properly made GM in an adequately draining container.

It's a small container with one small drainage hole, which I covered with a paper towel. I've read you're supposed to cover the drainage hole with something like that (permeable) to prevent loss of soil and bugs from crawling in. Sounds likely the paper towel is not breaking down enough and is still plugging up the hole too much.
So this doesn't necessarily mean I used the wrong sized bark? I spent a significant amount of time sifting, sifting, sifting so would be bummed out if that were the problem. But maybe its that I shouldn't cover drainage holes in small pots.
Thanks guys!

I'd need to see a picture of the mix to even guess about the bark....

Poke some holes in the paper towel. Best to use a screen or mesh of some sort.

Josh

In very small containers with small drainage holes it is very easy to overload the drainage hole and basically fill up the pot with water. When youdo this, you can get perlite or dry bark floating pretty easily. If the pot has gritty, the water should just pour out the bottom after you stop watering and drain the pot. It's only a problem if you get a lot of rain. I don't mind this so much as the tiny pots get really dry and flooding them helps wet the medium.
0 The paper towel is a bad idea. You most likely don't even need screen with small drainage holes especially once the roots fill in.

Fiberglass drywall tape is often used over a drainage hole to keep the soil from falling through but also for letting water drip out of the container. I suggest you try that rather than a paper towel.

TYG

I use old window screen, mostly because I have the worlds DUMBEST Chocolate Lab that likes to run through sliding glass door screens. After the 2nd I put a metal mesh on the bottom. I have a lifetime supply of screen!