"With the dense soil idea, could you poke straws into it and blow making the soil spread out to loosen it up?"

I wouldnt advise it. If the plant has outgrown its pot, which is very likely, then youll need to transplant it.(too bad you dont got pics) Sticking anything into the pot will damage the roots even more. 7pH is neutral. Your pH is great, for now. You want a steady neutral pH for seedlings, but as the flowers start forming you will want to let the pH rise a little.