Share The Seeds
Gardening Area => Growing questions and answers => Topic started by: Shpongle Lover on September 29, 2013, 01:04:16 PM
-
There's a dizzying array of (mostly very cheap) moisture meters on the market (E-bay, Amazon and locally). I tend to be a "Jewish mother" when it comes to watering, and sometimes provide far too much water - to the detriment of my plants. I know over-watering is the single most common gardening mistake.
So...does anyone use a moisture meter? Do you have any recommendations for a brand or model? NGR makes a cheap ($7.00 at Amazon) moisture meter...was thinking of trying that one as a first meter. It got pretty good reviews (and a lot of them). Apparently, so long as you keep the oxidation off the probe it gives very accurate readings.
Thoughts?
S.L.
-
I use my right inxed finger with no problems and it was free :)
-
I use ones called "Soil Master 'Moisture, Light and pH Meter' ".
The model I use can be seen http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Soil+Master+meter&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=soil+master+meter&sc=0-11&sp=-1&sk=&id=865B3A78B6FA72F6BF873E829682A7F87675A851&selectedIndex=0#view=detail&id=865B3A78B6FA72F6BF873E829682A7F87675A851&selectedIndex=0 (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Soil+Master+meter&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=soil+master+meter&sc=0-11&sp=-1&sk=&id=865B3A78B6FA72F6BF873E829682A7F87675A851&selectedIndex=0#view=detail&id=865B3A78B6FA72F6BF873E829682A7F87675A851&selectedIndex=0)
these are commonly available, and I do recommend removing the meter from the dirt, and possibly wiping it off with a cloth- to prevent oxidation, like you mentioned.
-
I use my right inxed finger with no problems and it was free :)
If that was an option, I'd do it. It's not, for two reasons. The seedlings of concern are in small pots, and were I to dig down as you suggest, the damage I'd do with my finger would be far greater than the thin probe.
Secondly, on my cacti and other plants, I top dress the pots with small, decorative gravel. I'd be disturbing that and I'd get soil on top or mixed in with the gravel every time I checked for moisture.
@ Seed Collector. Thanks for the suggested tool. Do you find the Ph meter accurate and useful ?
S.L.
-
I think its fairly accurate for what the soil pH is, however I've heard that testing runoff is a better indication (but I don't usually do that).
-
I use ones called "Soil Master 'Moisture, Light and pH Meter' ".
The model I use can be seen http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Soil+Master+meter&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=soil+master+meter&sc=0-11&sp=-1&sk=&id=865B3A78B6FA72F6BF873E829682A7F87675A851&selectedIndex=0#view=detail&id=865B3A78B6FA72F6BF873E829682A7F87675A851&selectedIndex=0 (http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Soil+Master+meter&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=soil+master+meter&sc=0-11&sp=-1&sk=&id=865B3A78B6FA72F6BF873E829682A7F87675A851&selectedIndex=0#view=detail&id=865B3A78B6FA72F6BF873E829682A7F87675A851&selectedIndex=0)
these are commonly available, and I do recommend removing the meter from the dirt, and possibly wiping it off with a cloth- to prevent oxidation, like you mentioned.
Surely some models like this can give you a rough idea of some parameters, specially if you do not require precision, but I personally got one very similar once and it's been collecting dust for some time. Nothing wrong with them considering how cheap they are, but I don't think they are very reliable.
For soil pH I ended up getting a decent water pH tester with some calibration solution, costing 50$ as a bargain. You need to use percolation to measure the soil pH, but the good direct soil sensor pH meters are a bit pricey.
As for soil moisture meters, I've never used one... I'm used to estimate following a watering schedule, weighing the pot, touching the soil, and in the case of small containers with fragile seedlings I use transparent containers so any excess/lack of moisture will be visible. If substrate is not sterile and light in the lower parts is a concern, cover the sides with some tin foil and uncover for checking. When in doubt regarding excess moisture and in case of no drainage holes I apply a paper towel wig to suck up excess moisture through capillary action.
Kind regards,
Mandrake
-
tooth pick or wooden chopstick, the cheapest ones work best.
-
Ha! That's a good idea! My wife does that to cakes to see if they're done.
S.L.