You love your houseplants, water them regularly – and yet some of them seem sad or simply wither away? Sometimes you literally drown them, sometimes they are left to dry out for weeks. You’re not alone! Many plant lovers experience exactly that. So it’s no wonder that more and more are turning to a little gadget: the Moisture meter for plants. But does it really help? Or does it rather cause confusion?
How do moisture meters for plants work?
A moisture meter for plants shows you how moist the soil around your plant currently is. At first, this sounds like the perfect solution for all watering problems – but it is only partially so.
The device does not measure moisture directly, but the electrical resistance of the soil. The wetter the substrate, the better it conducts electricity – and this is exactly what the moisture meter shows you. Sounds clever, doesn’t it?
But there are a few catches that you should be aware of.
What a moisture meter cannot do
A big misunderstanding: many people think that a moisture meter for plants tells them exactly when they need to water. This is not true. You have to know for yourself what the optimum value is for your particular plant. And that’s not so easy.
There are also some disruptive factors:
- Different soils conduct electricity to different degrees. Organic soil often shows higher moisture values than sandy mixtures.
- The harder you press the soil into the pot, the more moist it appears according to the measuring device – even if it is not.
- Fertilizers and mineral salts distort the measurement. They collect in the soil over time and influence the resistance.
- The depth at which you insert the device also plays a role. The moisture differs significantly depending on the soil layer.
- Calibration is not possible with most devices. This means that if your moisture meter displays incorrect values, you cannot correct them.
And then there are plants for which you should completely dispense with the device – such as succulents or orchids. Their soil is either too dry or too airy to display meaningful values.
Measuring devices as a useful addition, but not as the sole aid
A moisture meter for plants can help you get a better feel for your soil – especially if you are just starting out with gardening. However, it does not replace your common sense or your powers of observation.
So don’t blindly rely on the display. Instead: Do the finger test regularly, feel with your finger about two centimeters deep into the soil. Lift the pot – that way you can quickly feel whether the plant needs water.
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A Moisture meter for plants can be a useful aid if you use it correctly. It will give you an indication, but not exact watering instructions. Combine it with the finger test and a scrutinizing look at your plants. In this way, you will develop the right watering feel over time – without any technical frustration.
Source: Feey
