Spent $80 on a soil moisture meter and I'm not sure it was worth it

I bought the meter online after killing a fiddle leaf fig from overwatering. The idea was to take the guesswork out, but the readings seem to jump around a lot and I still end up checking with my finger. On one hand, it did help me save a pricey monstera that was actually too dry. On the other, I feel like I could have just learned to water better for free. Has anyone else found these gadgets helpful, or are they just a crutch?

3 comments

3 Comments

thomas_martinez1mo ago

Honestly, have you checked if your pot has good drainage? A meter can't fix soggy soil trapped in a pretty container. Maybe the gadget is fine, but it's reading a problem it can't solve. You might be fighting the wrong battle there.

jamie_white29d ago

Figured out the hard way with a fern I was trying to save... turns out the pot had drainage holes alright, just painted over and completely clogged. My fancy moisture meter was screaming DRY while the roots were basically swimming in a mud bath. Makes you feel real smart when you've been blaming the tool for your own oversight. Guess I'm still learning the basics.

daniel_lane301mo ago

@thomas_martinez makes a good point, have you actually tried repotting it into something with better holes?