Westland When to Water Plant Watering Indicator

Product Information

Piper, J.; Pelc, R. Consumer Versus Dedicated Digital Cameras in Photomicrography. In Neurohistology and Imaging Techniques; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2020; pp. 379–401. [ Google Scholar] Accuracy is obviously of value in a moisture meter. For the most accurate reading, consider a digital moisture meter. 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. Dwevedi, A.; Kumar, P.; Kumar, P.; Kumar, Y.; Sharma, Y.K.; Kayastha, A.M. 15—Soil sensors: Detailed insight into research updates, significance, and future prospects. In New Pesticides and Soil Sensors; Grumezescu, A.M., Ed.; Academic Press: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2017; pp. 561–594. [ Google Scholar] The probe's analog face has four separate scales—one for each type of test—and it's fairly easy to read, although the scales are close together. For soil fertility and soil moisture, the scale reads from low to high, while for light the scale indicates dark through light. The pH scale shows alkaline through acidic. You can angle the face of the probe up to a 90-degree angle, which makes it much easier to read while inserted into the soil. No batteries are needed for this probe, which should be wiped clean after each use. The grow pot height is standardised (normally 12cm or 19cm) and shown on the size option for each hydroculture plant. Ensure the external height of your decorative pot is at least 2-3cm higher than the grow pot height of the hydroculture plant.

Chang, N.-B.; Bai, K. Multisensor Data Fusion and Machine Learning for Environmental Remote Sensing; CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2018. [ Google Scholar]Keep reading to learn more about selecting a soil moisture meter and find out the pros and cons of the following models, which all earned a spot in our roundup of the best soil moisture meters on the market. Made of weather-resistant cedar, the CedarCraft Self-Watering Elevated planter makes it easy to water outdoor plants without having to kneel, bend over, or reach up to take down a hanging planter. You can use it for seedlings all the way through most mature plants. It requires some assembly, but its tongue-and-groove construction minimizes the need for tools. Most homeowners will have what they need on hand to put this handy planter box together. Sometimes the symptoms that a plant presents can be indicative of a number of problems. Instead of looking for just one sign that the house plant needs water, take an overall look at the plant and its condition.

Miner, G.L.; Ham, J.M.; Kluitenberg, G.J. A heat-pulse method for measuring sap flow in corn and sunflower using 3D-printed sensor bodies and low-cost electronics. Agric. For. Meteorol. 2017, 246, 86–97. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] If you want a reliable moisture meter that’s very easy to read, comes with a listing of optimal moisture levels for many common plants, and has a single probe for less chance of damaging delicate roots, then we recommend the XLUX Soil Moisture Meter, which is an analog device. But if you prefer a digital display, as well as remote monitoring abilities, then the ECOWITT Soil Moisture Meter With Digital Display is a great option, although relatively pricey. What to Look For in a Moisture Meter Indoor versus Outdoor Use Huo, H.; Li, Z.-L.; Xing, Z. Temperature/emissivity separation using hyperspectral thermal infrared imagery and its potential for detecting the water content of plants. Int. J. Remote Sens. 2019, 40, 1672–1692. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef]The ideal soil moisture level depends on the type of plant being grown. 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). Q. Can I leave my moisture meter in the soil?

Lee, Y.-S. Principles of Terahertz Science and Technology; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2009. [ Google Scholar]

Reading Your Plant’s Watering Needs More Accurately

The probe is on the thin side, so we didn’t try to insert it into hard ground for fear of bending it. But it proved plenty strong enough for inserting into pots with commercial grow mixes. In addition to being able to assess when a houseplant needs water, it’s important to understand the factors that influence how much water they need. Pot size, soil type, temperature, humidity and airflow are just some of the factors that make a huge difference. I’ve written another article all about this aspect of houseplant watering over here. Last Word Most self-watering planters use a reservoir system to collect extra water and store it for later use. The plant takes in water by direct absorption from the soil and roots, or from a rope or other material to bring the water up. The reservoir's water capacity varies from a few ounces to more than half the size of the planter. The amount of time the water lasts depends on the plants and growing conditions, but most hold the water from a few days to a few weeks. For example, our best window box option, the Mayne Fairfield Window Box Planter, has a reservoir that can hold up to 3 gallons of water.