>> Top of pot soil is dry as a bone.. but at the bottom its wet as can be.
Have you read the discussions of "perched water" in containers that Al ("Tapla") has posted on several sites? His posts would be much more accurate, but what I retained from his discussion is this:
In containers (not outdoor soil "in the ground" or raised beds), the bottom inch or two may be prone to "perched water". That is water in excess of what simple capilary wicking would hold if the soil column extended below the pot.
If the soil mix in the pot is fairly fine, that perched water can exclude all air from the bottom of the pot. Since it won't run out of the pot, roots can drown. Making your potting mix coarse (many people woluld think "very coarse") reduces the amount of percvhed water and encourages bigger channels and pores that will let water out and air in, for root health.
But if the mix has more than 10-15% fine stuff, it will probably plug up those pores and defeat the purpose of adding coarse stuff.
If you have perched water, it won't run out of the pot unless you thread a wick (like cotton flannel) through the hole in the bottom before you fill it with soil, and then let that wick dangle BELOW the bottom of thee pot. As long as the wick is in good contact with your potting mix, and extends down, the wick can pull the perched out of the pot and your roots won't drown.
Maybe if the pot is already full of fine potting mix and soggy, you can poke some cotton into the hole (a cotton ball or two??) then sit the pot and cotton balls on a capillary pad, towel, or sheet of cotton flannel. Now let the towel or pad dnagle olver the edge to carry excess water away. Just a thoguht.
