One of the best ways to ensure that your houseplants are getting the right amount of water (and on the right schedule) is to use a soil meter to exam the moisture level of the soil.

There are lots of dissimilar methods for testing the moisture level in a constitute'southward soil, but we dear moisture meters. Here's why!

Why use a soil meter?

A soil meter is the most accurate way to measure out the wet level in your plant's soil, especially within the root ball.

In that location are lots of unlike methods for determining whether houseplants are gear up to be watered.

Some houseplant owners water on a strict schedule, but this doesn't take into account the plant's actual h2o needs or ecology factors that may affect the rate at which plants use water. These factors, including temperature, light, and humidity, can vary throughout the year, and then watering on a schedule doesn't always work.

Some other mutual method is the finger test or poking your finger into the soil to exam the moisture of the soil past feel. This method can work well, simply it tells you zip about what's going on in the root ball.

Many other houseplant owners use the poke a stick method, in which a wooden stick similar a chopstick or dowel is inserted into the soil. If it comes out wet with clumps of dark soil, the soil is on the moist side. If it comes out dry out, the soil is dry. This method gives y'all more information than the finger exam just is still imprecise.

The practiced thing about a soil meter is that you can exam the moisture level of the root ball in a precise mode so you know exactly when to water. It's also helpful to monitor the soil after watering and so you can run into how quickly the soil drains and dries, which tin can exist helpful for dialing in your plant'south intendance routine.

Where to buy a soil meter

You can find soil meters at any garden store and online. This is the one we recommend because information technology measures soil wet and pH too equally light. Super useful!

Houseplant 3-1 Moisture Meter

How to Employ a Soil Meter on Your Houseplants

Lookout man this video for a demonstration!

Step ane: Choose where to take your reading.

This is important considering you tin can get unlike readings depending on where you insert the meter. The best identify to take your reading is near the heart of the root brawl. Insert the sensor about halfway between the base of operations of the plant and the edge of the pot, and almost halfway down into the pot.

Step 2: Take your reading.

Read the instructions that come up with your meter to determine how long to leave the sensor in the soil. Virtually meters will give yous a reading when the advisable amount of fourth dimension has passed. This will exist a number between i and 10, with i beingness completely dry and 10 being absolutely soaked.

So what do you do with this data?

Different plants have different watering preferences. It's of import to research your plant's needs to know what to do with the information your meter gives you. (Make sure to read the symbols on your plant's information tag to get an idea of how much water it needs.)

In general, plants that prefer drier conditions similar succulents , serpent plants , etc. will demand to be watered at a 1 or 2.

Plants with medium water preferences and that like slightly clammy soil like fiddle foliage figs and monsteras volition need to exist watered when the meter reads 3 or four.

Wet-loving plants that need constantly moist soil, such as the maidenhair fern , will need to be watered effectually a 5 or 6 or peradventure fifty-fifty higher.

Step 3: Remove the meter

This step is super important considering leaving your meter in the soil constantly will impairment the sensor and cause the meter to malfunction or not function at all!

When you lot're done using the meter, remove it from the soil, wipe off the sensor, and put it abroad in a safe place until its next utilize.

A soil meter will help you lot give your plants the exact amount of water they demand so they can stay healthy. Once you beginning using a soil meter, you'll never want to go dorsum to testing soil with your finger or a stick!

Houseplant Resources Center Soil Meter Review

For more data about our iii-1 Soil Meter, be sure to read a review of our product from The Yard and Garden.

Subsequently testing our 3-1 Soil Meter, they ended:

The Houseplant Resources Heart's 3-in1 soil examination kit is one of the easiest kits to use on our listing. This analog design ways no batteries are required, but button the probes into the soil, look 10 seconds, and take the reading.

Moisture Meter Nautical chart

Unlike houseplants require unlike levels of moisture in the soil. Download this free Moisture Meter Nautical chart and acquire how to confidently water all of your houseplants.

Moisture Meter Chart

Essentials:

  • Make sure you're giving your plants the correct nutrients! Our Indoor Establish Food works perfectly for almost all indoor plants, and it's easy to utilise. Grab it here!
  • Use our premium well-draining potting soil for your houseplant.
  • Protect your houseplant from insects, leaner, and fungus with our Houseplant Foliage Armor. (As an added bonus, the Foliage Armor also cleans and adds shine to your houseplant'south leaves!)
  • Utilize a wet meter similar this one to ever know how thirsty your plant is.
  • Click here to shop live plants!

To acquire more:

  • Bring together united states of america for our free Top Secrets From Dabble Leaf Fig Growers Webinar or enroll in our costless Advanced Dabble Leaf Fig Care Course.
  • Read The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert, your complete guide to growing salubrious fiddle leaf fig plants. The volume is available in full-color paperback or Kindle edition on Amazon at present!
  • Click to bring together our community on Facebook: Houseplant Resource Group.