Some potting mixes become water repellent when allowed to dry.

Was your mix damp when you potted your AV?

I do not have any experience with self watering ceramic pots.

Irina, great advice. I have made these pots and used them. I don't like them, they are inconsistent. And you are right, they have to be "redone" every so often. Give me a good old fashioned plastic pot with a pretty cover pot any day!

If you are trying to make watering easier set up a wick watering system for your plants. Works much better. Rosie

what if I water plant from the top and let the excess water drip from ceramic into the outer glazed pot instead? So that way I don’t risk over watering the plant?

If you drill a couple holes in the bottom of the bisque transforming it into a normal "pot", then it may work. Just remember,,,,,,all of the unglazed area will draw moisture out of the soil. Rosie

Rosie's idea has merit. Maya's - no. we need to have water out in 15 minutes - even for well working double pots it will take much longer. Your porous inner pot -was not manufactured right.

I.

So if I drill a couple holes on the ceramic part then I can insert the wicks and make it like a self watering pot or I can water from the top and let the water drip into the outer part either way would work right? But how do I drill the ceramic pot without breaking them?

Irina, thanks. Does that refer to Oyama pots also? Joanne

Many indoor gardeners are frustrated with not knowing how much water to give their plants. African violets are among the most common plants killed indoors because of their finicky water requirements.

Rather than simply guessing and hoping you give each plant the right amount of moisture, use ceramic self-watering pots. These planters consist of a glazed pot on the outside to hold water and an unglazed pot that fits inside.

Water seeps through the plain terra cotta, giving the plant exactly the moisture it needs and not a drop more.

If you are going to use this pot as manufactured, you better thoroughly SOAK thoroughly the inner unglazed pot BEFORE you plant into it. And make sure you use a very loose soil/perlite mix. No peat or vermiculite. They hold water and you don't need anything to hold water since you are now working on a "wick" system. Your wick is the entire unglazed portion of the pot.

Understand however,,,,,bisque is very porous, those pores in the bisque will eventually become clogged with the minerals from fertilizer and what comes from water passing through as it "wicks" water from the bottom of the pot, through the wall of bisque and into your soil and then evaporates out of the soil. You will have no way to "leach" excess minerals out of your rootball. When you wick water every so often you should "leach" or take the plant of the reservoir and water from the top to bottom thoroughly and that washes a lot of excess minerals out of your pot so you don't have mineral/ salts buildup that will eventually kill your plant.

I am not trying to talk you out of using those types of pots, some people love them. And some hate them. Seems there is really no middle ground. But it is a game changer on how you manage the plant you have in that pot.

And no,,,,it does not give the plant exactly the moisture it needs and not a drop more. There is no sensor or shut off valve with this system. As long as you maintain water in the reservoir touching the bisque, water will keep absorbing into the soil and evaporating out of the top provided the pores do not clog and shut down the process.

I have made these pots from scratch,,,,pouring slip into the mold, cleaning, glazing and firing the piece (ceramics and porcelain dolls are another one of my hobbies) and I am not a lover of the pot as it pertains to growing a violet. But that is just me. For me the deal breaker was no way to "leach" or flush the excess soil from the plant thru top watering.

If you understand the dynamic of ceramic bisque/glazed plant containers then try one plant. See how it works and learn from it. Good luck. Rosie

Another thought. As far as my suggestion to drill a hole etc. that would not change or help you unless the inner pot was also glazed. A wick added to the unglazed bisque inner pot would serve no purpose. Rosie

Joanne - Oyama pots work really well. You just make sure that you add a required amount of perlite on the bottom and add a hefty amount of perlite to the soil so it stays airy.

Regarding the double ceramic monstrosity. May be - if you take everything out, wash an inner pot - and either soak or boil it or both - you can give another try. Wihout a violet. Just soil and pot. If it is still not passing water - use it someway... as a cashepot or to store garlic ..