So, I'm used to seeing the surface of all my container soils nice and fluffy/crumbly due to the nightly/constant earthworm activity. The container soils are so porous, and the dry crumbliness of the surface provides mulching effect so that any water poured on the surface disappears immediately, and sometimes, I zone out and can't remember if I had watered the plant moments ago.
However, among the Famiy Rm grouping of citruses, there are a few containers in which the soil surface is compacted flat. Every time I see them, I get a sense of disorientation -- like "there's something wrong".
The reason for the flattened soil? Cats! They like to look out that window, so they walk among the massed pots on the soil to get to the windowsill. Then, the narrow windowsill only accommodates one cat at a time unless they're in a friendly mood (they usually hiss and swat at each other for the space) so one of them crouches ON the soil surface, spanning two pots. So, even though I avoid compacted soil in my outdoor garden, I can't avoid it in my indoor mini citrus orchard!
