Is it worthwhile to measure moisture in soil?

Arcadios

Arcadios

Member
Hello everyone!

I'm on my first grow and I'm super paranoid that I'm going to mess up the watering. I don't mind spending a little cash, but I already have a moisture meter used for uh, less heady gardening, and was wondering if checking moisture is a good way to prevent overwatering. Most guides I read say just stick your finger in and if it's dry, add water. I don't have feeling in my fingers, so this won't work for me. :( Okay, not really :D But I do want to try and be a bit more precise about it.

Does anyone recommend testing soil with a moisture meter and if so, what should I be aiming for? I currently have this :) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032WFD4G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
HydroKid239

HydroKid239

Well-Known Member
Arcadios said:
Hello everyone!

I'm on my first grow and I'm super paranoid that I'm going to mess up the watering. I don't mind spending a little cash, but I already have a moisture meter used for uh, less heady gardening, and was wondering if checking moisture is a good way to prevent overwatering. Most guides I read say just stick your finger in and if it's dry, add water. I don't have feeling in my fingers, so this won't work for me. :( Okay, not really :D But I do want to try and be a bit more precise about it.

Does anyone recommend testing soil with a moisture meter and if so, what should I be aiming for? I currently have this :) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032WFD4G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Click to expand...
I have the same ph meter, but I can't remember the last time I used it. I just keep track of what I give the plant. as far as watering..
Are they in fabric pots? If so use the wet weight of the pot as reference. Let it get light. You will be able to tell easily when she is dry without her wilting from needing water. 2-3 gal pot I would Check once a day. 4-7 gal check every 2-3 days.
 
Wizzlebiz

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
Its fine. All you need to do to get it right, is when you need to water wait for the plant to droop a little. Once that happens check where your meter reads. Then you will know what too far is and can now guage using that meter when to water.

I still do it with my outdoor plants to this day. Its easiest for me.
 
GeneBanker

GeneBanker

Well-Known Member
Your temps might climb a degree or two. If you have fabric pots you can gently squeeze the sides and tell if there’s moisture in there. As stated above you could wait for a little droop. And understand it’s not a static interval. The further along you get it usually gets faster, or more.
 
go go kid

go go kid

Well-Known Member
i thaught i read somewhare that letting them go dryish between waterings is good for the plant. would never let it happen on purpose myself. any truth/logic to this practice
 
Arcadios

Arcadios

Member
Thanks for the tips! I am using fabric pots. I like the idea of weighing them because that at least gives me something reliable to go back on. I'm on like hour 5 of my first grow, so I'm still waiting for the seeds to come up. :p Since I hear overwatering is a common problem at this stage, I'm probably more worried than I should be. I was hoping I could shove a probe in and know I need to water when it hits 1.0 or something. :D
 
GeneBanker

GeneBanker

Well-Known Member
I feel like you’re right. I think it depends on the level of dry. If they hang over like a dog tongue I think no. But growing naturally they wouldn’t always have water, wouldn’t always be in 75 all day with 60% rh. I try to stay in a range and let things kind of happen like they would in a normal day.
 
Wizzlebiz

Wizzlebiz

Well-Known Member
Arcadios said:
Thanks for the tips! I am using fabric pots. I like the idea of weighing them because that at least gives me something reliable to go back on. I'm on like hour 5 of my first grow, so I'm still waiting for the seeds to come up. :p Since I hear overwatering is a common problem at this stage, I'm probably more worried than I should be. I was hoping I could shove a probe in and know I need to water when it hits 1.0 or something. :D
Click to expand...
Thats exactly it. Say the plant droops at a 2.5. Now you know to water when it is at a 3.0. Really simple.

But this won't work for a seedling. You need to be careful what you are doing water wise with them.
.what size pot is it in?
 
Cappuchino

Cappuchino

Well-Known Member
OP, you will be fine with your moister meter. For the seedling just don't push it to beep.
go go kid said:
i thaught i read somewhare that letting them go dryish between waterings is good for the plant. would never let it happen on purpose myself. any truth/logic to this practice
Click to expand...
I think that depends on the medium you are growing in. If you grow organic/semi organic (using bottled nutrients) letting soil dry out will kill micro life in that soil and make nutrient uptake very hard for the plant. If you use mineral nutrients, on the other side, letting soil dry out once will not do a lot of harm to the plant.
 
go go kid

go go kid

Well-Known Member
i never let it happen to keep the goodies in the soil alive and rewetting dry soil is a real pain and not good for the roots.
 
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