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A soil moisture meter can be a helpful tool for growing any plant, from a potted fiddle-leaf fig to a burgeoning vegetable patch. Get the Reotemp moisture meter on Amazon, at Sears, or at Kmart. Weve run into problems in the past with tall pots that dont drain well, leaving us to think we needed to add waterwhen in reality, the soil in the bottom part of the pot was too soggy. We tested a range of meters, from simple analog types to digital ones with accompanying LCD displays. Get the Gain Express soil moisture meter on Amazon or at Walmart. We found the Xlux Long Probe Soil Moisture Meter was just the ticket to solve this problem. Youll want to make sure it has proper sunlight and that youre feeding it each time you water with a good liquid fertilizer for fiddle leaf fig plants. The meter reads information quickly and results are almost instantaneously delivered. The store you are switching to cannot currently accept online orders. Soil moisture meters are relatively straightforward to use, so our testing focused on how well they differentiated between various levels of soil dampness and how well they were made. A soil moisture meter is worth the investment for the following reasons: Aid your green thumb with a soil moisture meter. This is because we tested it in the un-amended soil of the lawn, and it gave us the exact same pH reading as it did when we tried it in our blueberry patcha spot where weve added a high amount of soil acidifier over the years. However, regardless of the meter type, its best not to thrust the meter into soil with a lot of force. Multifunction meters offered an additional test or two, usually pH levels or light intensity. Facebook: Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Group. This meter is strong and durable and batteries are not required. I recommend measuring halfway between the center of your plant and the container, then halfway between the top and bottom of your soil. If you are looking for the meter to do more than just measure the moisture in soil the price will go up, but you can still find those meters that wont require you to take out an extra loan. When placing the probes into the ground, you have to be careful that you dont break them. We were eager to learn if our rhododendrons were in soil with a suitable pH level, and we believe the Kensizer gave us the answer we were looking for. We then tested the light function, but unfortunately, it failed to register any difference whether in a sunny spot or the middle of our shade garden. If you simply want just a soil moisture reader, your best buy is the XLUX T10 Soil Moisture Sensor Meter. This is an extremely lightweight meter that can be used both indoors and out. The user just has to stick the meter where they want the soil tested and wait for the readings. Our budget pick, the Gouevn soil moisture meter, is just as precise and easy to use, and it comes with a chart that details the best moisture levels for many common plants. Using a soil moisture meter takes the guesswork out of watering plants and provides an accurate moisture level reading. When we tested the pH function, however, we were pretty impressed. We awarded points based on a 0-to-4-point rubric system for various aspects. Those few days pass and you notice that the flowers look worse than before. Xlux Long Probe Deep Use Soil Moisture Meter, Reotemp Garden and Compost Moisture Meter, Kensizer 3-in-1 Soil Moisture/Light/pH Meter, Fivota Soil pH Meter, FV03 Upgraded Large Screen, The Dos and Don'ts of Planting Ground Cover, So, You Want to Plant an Herb Spiral Garden, The Best Things You Can Do for Your Garden Soil, The Most Affordable Ways to Fence in a Yard, 14 Easy DIY Living Room Updates Anyone Can Do in a Day, Included chart with moisture recommendations, Possible to determine moisture levels as deep as 12 inches, Long-range signal (up to 200 feet in our tests), Must hold button down for moisture reading, The actual degree of moisture isnt detectable. We recommend these little pens for those who want to tell at a glance whether its time to water. The sensor pens come packaged together in plastic wrap with no instructions whatsoever, so we had to log on to the sellers site to figure out how to use them. If you are looking for the best soil moisture meter for the money, check out the VIVOSUN 3-in-1 Plant Moisture Meter. We then determined how much we needed to water weekly to keep the soil around that bush at the proper dampness. This model requires no additional power source such as batteries. While you can stick a finger in the soil and try to judge the moisture level from feel, it wont yield very accurate results. Hopefully, these reviews have helped you make an informed decision on the best soil moisture meter that fits your needs. Probe length, which ranges from about 6 to 15 inches and sometimes longer, is one factor in determining which moisture meter is right for an indoor or outdoor garden. Once in the ground, the meter will measure moisture and pH levels that range from 3 to 8 on the pH scale and give readings accurate within 0.2%. Knowing this, we were eager to put this Reotemp moisture meter through its paces, thanks to its long 15-inch probe particularly suited to testing a compost pile. For an even more accurate reading, consider a digital moisture meter that provides a reading to the nearest decimal point or shows a percentage. The LCD screen sprang to life, and we set the time using the buttons on the side of the display. Meter S10 Soil Moisture Sensor Meter is another no frills single function soil meter. For outdoor plants, durability may be a more important feature. The simple analog display shows moisture levels on a 1-to-10 scale, light levels on a 0-to-2,000-lux scale, and pH between 3.5 and 8. This will give you a consistent moisture reading where most of the important roots of your plant are below the probe. Some models are more durable and therefore easier to use such as the Gain Express. Digital soil moisture meters will require batteries or USB charging. Users can then connect to the sensor device via an app to check on soil conditions. The Luster Leaf is definitely more hands-on because the user places the prong in the ground and then has to hold the meter. As any soil moisture meter can handle the looser potting soil used for indoor plants, the probe is a greater concern for outdoor plants. If it did, the plant had plenty of moisture. We discovered that one of our potted perennial bushes wasnt draining well: The soil at the surface seemed dry, but a foot down, it was sopping wet. If you have dryer, more rocky soil, a great durable buy can be found with the Gain Express Soil pH and Moisture Meter. It depends on the model, but most meters on the market should not be left in the soil. Yes, you need to have some patience, but the accuracy of the information is worth the wait. Also consider the appropriate probe length for the intended use. Before buying a soil moisture meter ask yourself if you want just the moisture level or if you want more. Of course, dry environments and more sunlight cause your plant to use water more quickly and fiddle leaf figs use more water in summer when there is more light. This is another dual-pronged meter, which helps determine results with accuracy. The switch to toggle from the different settings is easy to navigate and the readings are very visible to see. As Tom Petty once sang, The waiting is the hardest part, and the VIVOSUN takes its time to generate readings, so users have to be patient. Get the Ippinka soil moisture meter pens on Amazon or at Sears (with white pen color, rather than green). The meter is easy to read and ranges in scale from 1 to 10. Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2022, Buyers Guide Choosing the Best Soil Moisture Meter, Our reviews of the best wood moisture meters, Pinned vs Pinless Moisture Meters: Whats the Difference. It has only the single function, but does it fairly accurately. Get the Gouevn soil moisture meter on Amazon, at Sears, or at Walmart. Turns out, maybe your plants had too much water. The Fivota is another simple analog meter, but it comes with a nice-size rectangular dial that makes it easier to see all the different readings than some of the smaller dials that had us squinting. Multifunctional soil meters can include a range of measurement features. If you are operating under the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) method, and only want to test the moisture of the soil and nothing else, the XLUX T10 Soil Moisture Sensor Meter is what youre looking for. in, 1.500in Soil moisture meters estimate the water content of soil by using electrical resistance. Other meters tell you specifically that the ground needs to be wet in order for it to work properly like the iPower Soil pH Meter. The moisture readings were spot-on, and they fluctuated as expected when we tested the meter in various soils with different moisture levels. While it has a 10-point scale, its a lot simpler to look at the color-coding on the dial. The soil in the rhododendron bed measured 6.5, which is overly alkaline for the shrub, so we now plan to take steps to help acidify that soil. It doesnt get any simpler than that. Again, this is a great product for someone looking for a soil moisture meter on a budget. Although most meters have aluminum or steel probes, some flimsier and thinner options can bend or dent in harder soils. This model, for simply being a soil moisture meter, is also priced on the high end of the scale for these meters. Youre in luck! The issue with this meter is it will not register any data in dry soil, requiring the user to wet down the soil to begin reading. By Steph Coelho and Jasmine Harding and Glenda Taylor | Updated Apr 20, 2022 11:07 AM. The only slight downside was that one of the copper probes seemed a bit loose, so we had to take care when inserting the probes in the soil. If the user switches between readings too quickly, they may have to remove the meter and start over, so our advice is go slow when switching functions. Both the moisture and pH level meters seemed very accurate, and the Gain Express comes with a guide on the back that details optimal pH levels for more than a dozen common plants, including veggies and flowers. Water is vital to thriving plant lifeplants would shrivel up and die without itbut ensuring that you provide the right amount of H2O can be difficult. We measured moisture levels, light levels, and soil acidity with this multifunction analog meter from Trazon. Add any text here or remove it. Stick the probe halfway between the center of the plant and the edge of the container, then go halfway down the soil. The way you water in conjunction with your moisture meter readings is important here. Again, it really does come down to if you want to have and use other functions or not. We found one major issue with this product. Update Privacy Preferences While the most critical function in our tests was moisture meter accuracy, since we were testing specifically for dampness, we found the added functionswhich give a broader picture of soil conditionsquite beneficial. Learn more. Any of the moisture meters that earned a spot in this lineup are well suited to detecting and determining moisture levels in soil, but the Xlux soil moisture meter ticks all the boxesits simple, easy to use, and highly accurate. If the reading was lower than 5, we added water; if over 5, we allowed the compost to air out a bit. Smart soil moisture meters connect via Bluetooth to a smart device to display findings. While the probe was still in the soil, we poured some water into the potsure enough, the percentage of moisture increased on the display. Watering tall potted plants can be problematic when gardeners cant tell if the soil deeper in the pot is consistently as moist. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. The main difference is that this version has a slightly over 12-inch-long probe for deep insertion into the soil of our potted plants. Regardless of the moisture meter type, a clear and easy-to-read display is helpful. This meter is powered by one AAA battery, which is already in place inside the meter box. The issue with the XLUX T10 Soil Moisture Sensor Meter is one thin prong that goes into the ground is not durable and should not be used on dry soil. The following models all met or exceeded our expectationsfind out the pros and cons of each one in our reviews. Some plants thrive with very little moisture (as low as 1 or 2 on a 10-point scale), while others prefer very moist soil (8 or higher). This 3-function soil meter tests moisture, light, and pH levels, and it does all this for a great price. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Soil Moisture Hygrometer Detector for Arduino. The best multifunction meter is the Sonkir Soil pH Meter and the VIVOSUN 3 in 1 Plant Moisture Meter. You can see that if you take a reading at the top 2 inches of the plant, it will read dry. Some plants from Home Depot have very dense root balls that do not integrate well with surrounding soil. A simple switch allowed us to select from among the three options, and the results of all three are available on the single dial readout. If it remained white, it was time to water. You gave them water, what more could have been done? An analog meter is a cost-effective pick for the average gardener. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Learn to water your houseplants with confidence. The probe on the Gain Express is nearly a foot long and fully inch in diameter. You will lose all items in your cart. All rights reserved. Theres no need to take off gardening gloves or dig around in the dirt; just insert the moisture meter probe into the soil. Get the Xlux soil moisture meter on Amazon or at Walmart. I find that this would take weeks for my plants and leave them damaged from lack of water. The Ruolan meter is fairly-priced and requires no additional add-ons such as batteries. The Gain Express Soil pH and Moisture Meter is at the top of the price range as far as moisture meters go, but it has several features that make it worth the buy. For fiddle leaf fig owners who want to be totally confident in watering their plant, a moisture meter is a fantastic tool. After you take each reading, clean your meter, and put it in a safe place. That depends on whether theyre indoors or outdoors, as well as temperature and humidity levels. So where is the right place to take an accurate reading? Additional sensors can measure pH levels, light levels, and ambient temperature. The unit has a button on the front we could switch to select from the three functions, and the readings were near instantaneous, which was impressive. The best soil moisture meters are accurate and sturdy, providing precise information in nearly any soil condition. Buyers should look to see if the soil moisture meter needs any type of extra power source. For the most accurate reading, consider a digital moisture meter. This Fivota meter also features two probesone for moisture and the other for pH. If you stick the probe halfway down, it reads moist. For ease of use, these smart devices often have a sensor that sits inside the plant at all times. 13.200 The design is slightly different from other meters in that we had to push and hold a button on the side of the unit to get a moisture reading. The iPower Soil pH Meter is another dual-pronged 3-in1 function soil meter that measures moisture, pH, and light. 4.000 Theres no need to spend a lot for a good soil moisture meter, as we found when testing this simple, inexpensive analog model from Gouevn. Upon opening the box containing the Ecowitt Soil Moisture Tester, our first thought was how different the probe looked compared to all the other tester probes. Please set a location to see pricing and to order online. To judge their ability to detect moisture differences, we tested numerous soil moisture meters in various growing mediums, including potting soil, dirt from the garden, peat moss, and compost. Watering your fiddle leaf fig properly is only half the battle. Buyers should look for more durable meters if they have dry or rocky soil. Large plants use more water, but large containers retain more water, so how fast your fiddle leaf fig uses water depends on the size of your container and the size of your plant. A moisture meter with a short probe may be suitable for indoor potted plants, which are usually not very deep. It is an easy to use, just place in the ground, and read the results meter. Having an accurate moisture reading is essential, but knowing whether the soil is too acidic or overly alkaline is also vital for some garden plants. We subjected the meters to a range of soil mixes, including garden soil and different potting soil mixes, and we tested them on bone-dry soil as well as sopping wet soil. The wide-faced dial is easy to see and read so there is no guessing. We tested it on various types of soil and dampness levels, and it responded accurately. As the founder of House Grail, Pete's primary goal is to help consumers make educated decisions about DIY projects at home, in the garage, and in the garden.