"If this happened it has to do w/ too much peat in the mix which hardens & becomes impossible to re-wet."

Maybe that's it. It did take a slight amount of force to push the little dagger into the soil to place the spikes in.

I think I'll try to re-pot it using the African violet/peat moss mixture you recommended in another posting. If I understand correctly, these guys don't mind being somewhat root bound?

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions!