W wrote:
Does anyone make a digital meter that can be left in a small plant
and show the water saturation of the soil around the roots 24x7? I
have played with the "Thirsty Light" and find it to be inaccurate and
toyish:

http://www.amazon.com/Thirsty-Light-...rometer+plants

I find plant moisture meters, but they are intended for occasional
use, not designed to be left in the plant all the time.

I am imaging something that looks like Thirsty Light, but simply
reflects a number 0 to 100% (or whatever scale is most meaningful) to
reflect current water saturation at the depth the probe has been
inserted. Then you can on an ongoing basis try to target particular
saturation levels.

Such are used in agriculture, for example by orchardists to continuously
monitor soil moisture. Some have radio links to a computer that records the
data (along with weather observations etc). This can be as sophisticated as
you like if you have the money.

Strange that the link refers to a hydrometer whcih is another instrument
altogether for measuring liquid density.

Or you can save a whole lot of money and learn to interpret your finger
poked into the soil.

David