Water moisture monitor

[Hectorsgaf]

Hi
Does anybody use one of these? Are they any good and if so which is the best to buy? Thank you

[Ross M]

I just use the plants as monitors - if they look thirsty they get a drink

[Hectorsgaf]

I just use the plants as monitors - if they look thirsty they get a drink

haha. Part of my problem. My little guys NEVER look thirsty.

[edds]

I've got one. Just the stick in pH /Moisture type sold in most garden centres. As a relative newbie I find it useful to check, especially on larger pots, that they have dried out all the way through before watering again. Otherwise I'm a bit too heavy-handed with the watering can!

[Ross M]

Sorry Simon. I know it's easier judging with some plants than it is others. Moisture meters have been around for a long time now but I was always wary of their accuracy and whether I'd likely risk damaging roots by probing deep into the pot.

[el48tel]

I have variety described by edd.
"It's a guide only" I was advised by an old hand. Yes he also mentioned root damage by the probe. Another old hand recommended a sharpened pencil. Stick it into the compost. If it comes out clean, the pot is dry.

[edds]

Absolutely a guide only - I feel it is only accurate enough to say something is thoroughly dry as in my potting mix they never seem to register above moist even after a good soaking! But when it says it's totally dry it seems to be accurate.

Bamboo skewers are often advised to put in orchid pots to use in the fashion Terry described for pencils. If the stick is damp so's the compost!

[el48tel]

It depends entirely on the salts in the compost to conduct electricity. If the compost is low in salts and the water is not free to move .... no conduction ... so it will appear to be no water present.

[Apicra]

I simply look at the potting compost around a plant to see if it is wet. If you don't use any grit top dressing, then dark potting compost is obviously still wet. A few days after it turns light in colour and watering can be considered again, since lower parts of the pot will then be becoming dry. Moral of story: if you don't hide your potting compost, you won't need a gadget!

Best wishes,
Derek Tribble

[Stuart]

I 'hide' my compost mix under grit, no reason other than it makes the plants look better. The grit works in the same way for me as the soil does for Derek. It's a different colour when wet and any plant where the grit doesn't change colour back to the dry colour hints at a root problem. With smaller pots, it's easy to pick them up and feel the weight to see if they need watering. No gadget needed though I'm sure someone will have invented something for a phone that sends a message from the plant when it thinks it needs a drink.

Stuart