Moisture Meters

Chappy56

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kingkong

great idea esp with finicky trees like jbp that must dry out...it is the only way to get a reading from the core of the root ball

Rock Chester

I use the flesh colored meter on the end of my hand to check ...

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Of interest to bonsai lovers

SlapSlapSlappy

I remember reading that these are not as effective on bonsai due to the soil mixture inside of the pot. Since the soil in bonsai has to be a free draining mix, you will have pieces of soil that are larger and therefore spreading each other apart. The moisture meter then can't give you an accurate definition of the moisture content because it's not able to really calculate the moisture because of the larger pieces.

kingkong

It is accurate. Not sure what the probe has to sense moisture but it does. Often times a pot with dry surface soil will fool you. The only way I know to check the moisture level in the root core is with a probe. My fingers are too fat and hairy.

eeiko321

i heard they cant be accurate......

but why would you want one?
in time, you will be used to what your tree needs..

e.g a pine, is said to be benifited by letting soil dry nearly to drought-like dryness
then water througly. & Ficus trees are needed to be watered to a moist state.

so sstick your finger in the pot about an inch deep and check it.

i recon its a waste of money but its up to you.......your preference, your money

soltan

I would think it would not even matter that much if it was acurate only that it was consistent. I can figure the rest
I have been having alot of trouble getting my hornbeams at the right miosture level. It is somewhat too hot for them here and they hate to dry out. I find it quite tricky to get them just right.
I mad it through 90 precent of this summer with minimal leaf burn only to drop the ball at the last.

Can you tell us wich meter you use Kong it sounds like yours works well.

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kingkong

It just says moisture probe. I like it because it works on affordable plants and expensive ones..just kidding. No matter what soil type it seems to figure it out...the magic little probe with no batteries. Interesting thing is happening...of all the pics I took, the see-thru face where you read the meter opaques out...weird

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GavSol

Generally try to judge it myself, but after getting a couple of JBP's I've been using the "chopstick method" lately whenever I'm not sure (I think this was a tip from another post here on BT).

Slide it in near the rootball and see if any soil sticks when you pull it out, indicating moisture (the cheap ones work best as thier slightly absorbent).