The pH level readings were also accurate and reflected the various acid/alkaline levels in separate planting beds. Although most meters have aluminum or steel probes, some flimsier and thinner options can bend or dent in harder soils. This model is more limited than others as its pH meter ranges from 3.5 to 8, slightly lower than others. The meter also can take up to 10 minutes to read, but the reading is very accurate. lbs, 1.50 This opens the door to a variety of extra features, like tracking a plants history and progress and making tailored suggestions for each plant. The first feature is how easy it is to use. However, regardless of the meter type, its best not to thrust the meter into soil with a lot of force. 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. Soil moisture meters estimate the water content of soil by using electrical resistance. Also, we would worry that rain might infiltrate the probes housing because the battery compartment is not sealed. While it has a 10-point scale, its a lot simpler to look at the color-coding on the dial. To pick the meter that fits our needs, we need to look at some key factors in what we are looking for. Get the Gouevn soil moisture meter on Amazon, at Sears, or at Walmart. Receive email-exclusive deals, free shipping offers, and head starts. Again, this is a great product for someone looking for a soil moisture meter on a budget. Calibration features also can help with accuracy. 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. Add any text here or remove it. These four small Ippinka moisture sensors dont come with dials or digital displays, but we found them to be quite beneficial at monitoring the moisture level in indoor potted plants. Some models are more durable and therefore easier to use such as the Gain Express. Buyers should look for more durable meters if they have dry or rocky soil. Before using the Reotemp meter, it must be calibrated, which proved simple enough. If you are looking at a multifunction soil moisture meter, you need to see how the meter reads the measurements and how easy it is to switch from one reading to another. Batteries not required, either. The user places it in the ground and uses the simple 10-scale red, green, and blue color system to determine what the moisture level is and what action they need to take for their plants. The Gain Express measures both moisture and pH levels, and we were able to insert it more than 8 inches deep into the soil of the lawn, making it well suited for testing lawns, fields, and raised garden beds. The following models all met or exceeded our expectationsfind out the pros and cons of each one in our reviews. Get the Gain Express soil moisture meter on Amazon or at Walmart. While soil moisture meters are relatively straightforward gardening tools, some are better suited to specific growing situations than others. A longer probe is typically better suited for outdoor use, especially useful for certain jobs, like checking a pile of compost. While pricier than a simple analog meter, they can be more accurate, easier to read, and may have remote or smart connective capabilities. I find that this would take weeks for my plants and leave them damaged from lack of water. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Soil Moisture Hygrometer Detector for Arduino. Probe stability is vitalwe were willing to accept a slight amount of play in the probe, but the meter was eliminated if it was wobbly. House Grail is reader-supported. A very long time. 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. This gave us the information we needed to transplant the bush and replace the non-draining soil at the bottom of the pot with better-draining soil. The probe must be long enough to reach the area to be measured. 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. We tested them in bone-dry soil and then watered the medium to see how well the meters detected additional moisture. It doesnt come with fancy bells and whistles, but it does accurately measure soil moisture levels. 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 display registered the moisture level as a percentage. You can get a moisture meter only or you can get a three-in-one moisture, pH, and light meter, which can be helpful to rule out other issues with your fiddle leaf fig. The back of the packaging also features a handy watering guide for more than 200 indoor and outdoor plants. For example, we checked the recommended moisture level for our mock orange bushthe guide told us it fell within the 45 (green) section of the meter. Many soil moisture meters are equipped for both indoor and outdoor use, but there are a few features to take into consideration. 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. Due to regional shipping fees and product availability, selecting different store may affect the items in your cart. Please select a Home store location and click make this my store, Unfortunately, this item is currently limited to. Smart soil moisture meters connect via Bluetooth to a smart device to display findings. The meter is easy to use and read. 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). Turns out, maybe your plants had too much water. At this location, your moisture meter should read just between moist and dry before you water. 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. It has only the single function, but does it fairly accurately. Short probes are easier to store, and durability is less of a concern with indoor use. When choosing a moisture meter, consider its intended use, display type, growing medium, and any additional measurement or features that might help make maintaining plants easier. Not so fast. If you are looking for the best soil moisture meter for the money, check out the VIVOSUN 3-in-1 Plant Moisture Meter. For the most accurate reading, consider a digital moisture meter. Youll want to fully water your plant so that 5-10% of the water comes out the drainage holes to make sure all of the soil gets wet and the roots get a good soak. Many soil meters are battery-free, but you will find battery-operated machines. Sounds easy, right? Get the Fivota soil meter on Amazon or at Sears. Get the Ecowitt soil moisture meter on Amazon, at Kmart, or at Sears. Probe lengths can range from a few inches to as long as 24 inches. This Fivota meter also features two probesone for moisture and the other for pH. The meter reads information quickly and results are almost instantaneously delivered. Although moisture meters are made to withstand some wear and tear, leaving the device in the soil can cause it to rust and degrade. Meter $10 Soil Moisture Sensor Meter is that it does not require batteries. Like the other Xlux model that took top billing in this lineup, this meter also features an easy-to-read analog dial and color-coding for determining moisture at a glance. We measured moisture levels, light levels, and soil acidity with this multifunction analog meter from Trazon. Even better, we took the time to do product reviews of different makes and models to save you the hassle. Please set a location to see pricing and to order online. Readings are produced quickly so the user can move on and test other areas if needed. Youre in luck! We found the Xlux Long Probe Soil Moisture Meter was just the ticket to solve this problem. Your readings will also differ if you measure close to the center of the plant, where the soil is wetter or towards the outside of the container, where soil tends to be dryer. Sign up now and getFREE SHIPPINGon your first order.Receive email-exclusive deals, free shipping offers, and head starts. The store you are switching to cannot currently accept online orders. We found the 7.7-inch probe to be highly sensitive and accurate when we tested various soil moisture levels. All in all, we were satisfied with this Gouevn as being budget-friendly and built to last. Red for dry, green for moist, and blue for wet. A soil moisture meter can be a helpful tool for growing any plant, from a potted fiddle-leaf fig to a burgeoning vegetable patch. 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. You will lose all items in your cart. That being said, it is fairly easy to use and read. in x 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. Multifunction meters offered an additional test or two, usually pH levels or light intensity. These handheld devices are a small but useful tool for gardeners, providing a tangible measure of soil moisture levels. It also doesnt require batteries or charging, making it ready to use right from the box. If compost material is too dry, the material could take a long time to decompose, but if its soaking wet, it might attract pests. After that, we were able to take readings of both shallow and deep compost piles. Models that have a switch are nice because the user gets to select the reading they want to see. We inserted a AA battery into the base of the probes handle and another one in the back of the small display screen. All we had to do was insert one of the sensor pens into the soil in a potted plant and wait to see if a tiny core inside a transparent window turned blue. in, 1.500in Either type of meter will cost less than $13 at Home Depot or on Amazon. You can change operational settings with a switch and the meter quickly can change gears to give a reading. In our blueberry patch, where weve added a high amount of soil acidifiers, the Kensizer gave us a reading of about 5.5, which is right in line with what we expected. 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. The best soil moisture meters are accurate and sturdy, providing precise information in nearly any soil condition. This meter is powered by one AAA battery, which is already in place inside the meter box. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing. So where is the right place to take an accurate reading? In general, indoor plants need 1 inch of water per week. A soil moisture meter is worth the investment for the following reasons: Aid your green thumb with a soil moisture meter. 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. Getting near the end of our picks, the dual-probe multifunction soil moisture meter from Kensizer Soil Tester is, again, easy to use. Believe it or not, but not all sand is the same. If users detect considerable resistance in any soil type or texture, remove the meter and try a different spot. This is the three-in-one moisture meter that I recommend on Amazon. If the reading was lower than 5, we added water; if over 5, we allowed the compost to air out a bit. Selecting the right soil moisture meter often comes down to the old adage, you get what you pay for. Its both easy to use and gives accurate readings. The moisture readings were spot-on, and they fluctuated as expected when we tested the meter in various soils with different moisture levels. Some digital meters show soil moisture levels to a decimal point or percentage, making them more accurate than an analog meter with a 1-to-10 scale. Our selection of best Products . A probe thats at least inch thick is a better choice for these soil textures. Pete has been working in the trades since high school, where he first developed a passion for woodworking. Stay in the know with exclusive deals and event updates. Yes, you need to have some patience, but the accuracy of the information is worth the wait. The Sonkir MS02 is a 3-in-1 meter that will test soil moisture, pH value, and sunlight levels. You can see that if you take a reading at the top 2 inches of the plant, it will read dry. A user-calibrated meter allows the calibration to be adjusted for different conditions, such as for gardening or composting, humidity conditions, or to the specific moisture needs of certain plants. The downside of the Kensizer Soil Tester is that it is less durable than other meters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address. All rights reserved. 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. 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. These features give a better overall picture of conditions to help take a garden from surviving to thriving. x Copyright 2022 House Grail. 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%. Digital soil moisture meters will require batteries or USB charging. Then, youll want to wait a week or more for your plant to dry out again. Download our free Moisture Meter Chart: Copyright 2022 Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource, Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food Moisture Meter, a good liquid fertilizer for fiddle leaf fig plants. Facebook: Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Group. This was helpful, and we considered laminating it to keep as a guide. Learn to water your houseplants with confidence. The iPower Soil pH Meter is another dual-pronged 3-in1 function soil meter that measures moisture, pH, and light. Its kept out of our top 2 because it takes a long time to get a reading. 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. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. It only reads moisture, but it does so accurately, and the dial is located on the top of the meter, so its easy to see. We awarded points based on a 0-to-4-point rubric system for various aspects. Also keep in mind that high levels of sodium in soil can cause inaccurate readings, and it may be helpful to test soil salinity if plants are failing to thrive. 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.

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