Thank YOU!!!!! This is helpful, I did have a fan/ heater keeping the temp up when it gets really cold and it was blowing the air directly at the pots. I did water once daily, sometimes twice if I noticed a lot of it ran off from the first watering. Either way, I get the compacted soil thing. I have noticed sporadic areas that don't want to soak up water even after having watered the day before. BTW The explosive growth I was expecting was from the air pruned roots. I do have an understanding of what makes the pot different / alike a fabric pot but maybe my expectations were out of line.
If water is running off the soil, that means it already too dry. It may take multiple waterings a day to keep it moist all the way through.... Not multiple feedings, but just plain old waterings.. If water just sits on top and takes a few minutes to absorb, that's the start of compaction. Water should immediately absorb or sink into the soil, like it would with sand.. Pruning prevents roots from circling and cutting each other off. I'm not familiar with air pruning increasing the growth rate. I bet if you squeeze the sides of the air pots you'll feel blocks of soil break up..
All pots can be squeezed, lol.. It's plastic, not steel. I've had many, and have done it many times. I still have to squeeze my auto pots every now and then..
