Moisture meter

I must remember to check my moisture meter on a regular basis. I bought a agastache red fortune a few weeks back and it's been doing well until a few days ago, the leaves started to wilt, it's in a good draining mix so I gave it a water but nothing changed so i thought I'd test with my moisture meter and it still showed dry. So after a few more waterings I tested again and once again it showed dry, I wasn't convinced by now so I popped my meter in a glass of water and yes it showed dry, fortunately I had a spare popped that in and had wet show up straight away, just in time.

 

Don't like all these gadgets personally, think they stop people developing good gardening instincts. I'm guessing the wilting was due to it being in such a small pot, they're usually bordering on drought-lovers here but something that small soon dries out!

Nick

 

It's in the process of " moving on up" as M people would say a smaller pot when it came and moved to the next size up. It was being over watered hence the wilting although the top was dry I was actually adding to the problem. The use of the meter was because my instincts were saying it's wilting I'm watering something's not right.

 

Well at least you've located the problem and solved it now, that's something you've done today to make you feel proud...

Nick

 

I bought a moisture meter many years ago when I started collecting cacti, but since cacti don't mind being dry I didn't use it much. After it broke I didn't bother to get another one but I have often thought of doing so.

 

I've never used these things, don't think I would trust them to be honest.
Quite often, with smaller pots, the weight gives some idea how wet it is, especially if water logged.
Also the finger test, poke your finger in the pot .

 

My father bought me one when I lived in Bucks. Had to buy another a few years ago. I have only used it in pots which I believe is what they are for, especially large pots.

 

Just for interest we built one of these low cost moisture sensors with a simple micro controller that also shows and logs the temperature as well as the moisture level , which if used with a pump can be used for a fully automatic system.
The little temperature sensor also records the Humidity, though not yet displayed on the screen.

As can be seen it did work ok over the couple of weeks we tested it. though we never set it up for a long term test / use in the greenhouse, though may do soon ..

Could be good when you are wanting to care for one special plant or control a larger area with multiple pants.

 

That's really neat.