In my experience when i use soil in clay starter pots, they are a bit different to water.
It's like the clay steal some of the water.
It's like suddenly the soil is dry and then watering gets more difficult for me.
The water can run through the top soil and to the bottom making the soil uneven moist if i don't give me really good time to water.
How i grow is i aim to keep the soil as even moist a possible and preventing them being heavy in the bottom.
It makes my watering more easy.
Just how i do.
And i think we maybe just maybe, again have a case of over/under watering. Too dry top half and too wet bottom, but you can feel if that's the case by lifting the pot.
And of course you can also feel if the top soil is moist, then just forget what i said.