this is the heirloom garden forum

They both have there pros and cons But if your soil does drain fairly fast then the plant really isn't soaking up any of it. That way if you soak it it insures that your plant Is obtaining the water that it needs. Like Rhizo said it might also need repotting if it is pot bound. In which the root mass takes up most of the pot leaving less soil to absorb the moisture. Like you said just fill up a sink and put it in there for maybe 5-10 minutes then allow it to drain out in the sink. You don't have to soak all your plants you can also water them how you would normally. I usually soak my succulents and my big spider plant as the succulents are in a fast draining mix and my spider is due for a repot and insures that the water dosnt spill all out the bottom and create a waterfall down my cabinet like it has done in the past I'm not sure what the white thing is but you said you've noticed webbing between the leave so like purple said that's most likely spider mites. I'd look for spider mites damage on the leaves and for more webbing. I usually use a flashlight at night and go through all the leaves to make sure I see no webbing or mites.

That looks like something I had several years ago. They were great for feeding my baby praying mantis, but never came back after that year. Didn't notice any damage from them (and there were LOTS of them!)

It's a lady beetle. But not a larva. Instead it's a pupa, the next step on the way to becoming a lady beetle. It goes like this: egg; larva; pupa; adult. With time, the pupal case will split down the back and an adult lady beetle will step out. Congrats. You have successful biological control going on at your place!