Soil after flushing is thick and muddy-like

My plant is currently at 5 weeks and 3 days old. There was recently a pH imbalance so I flushed it with regular tap water. I'm in a 1 gallon pot and the soil has become quite pasty. It's Expert Gardener Potting Soil made from compost, sphagnum peat, perlite, a wetting agent and plant food.

Total Nitrogen 0.07%
0.04% Ammoniacal Nitrogen
0.03% Nitrate Nitrogen
Available Phosphate 0.01%
Soluble Potash 0.03%


Should i just dig my hands in there and try to loosen the soil or would that kill my root system? Or should I transplant her again with more perlite in the soil?

I forgot to mention that there is also a lot of added peat moss to the soil as well.

dig around on the top soil and airate it, dont go to deep or you will hurt the roots. but find something long and skinny(i use a chopstick lol ) but stick it down deep into the soil a few times around the pot(SLOWLY and GENTLY) and rough up the top to cover the holes. the soil will dry out in a few days. next time you flush try to pour the water alot slower and it wont compact so much.
they'll pull through bro. GL


[EDIT] dont transplant now. when you flush you make the plant "sleep" and it starts to wick the water out of the pot. transplanting now will just confuse the plant. wait atleast a few days to see if it starts to look oxygen deprived.

Ok I went ahead and used a chopstick to make some holes. Thanks for the idea So I'm guessing after a flush you should wait 5 days or so before feeding again?

yup, it varys a bit depending on the plant
but yea feed it again in 3-5 days when the soil is dry about 3 inches down