Permanent Digital Moisture Meter for Plants
 

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.

--
W

Permanent Digital Moisture Meter for Plants
 

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

Permanent Digital Moisture Meter for Plants
 

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
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.

Any specific manufacturers or models to recommend?

--
W

Permanent Digital Moisture Meter for Plants
 

W wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
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.

Any specific manufacturers or models to recommend?

i don't use them and the chances are I am half a world away so retailers
will not be relevant.

D

Permanent Digital Moisture Meter for Plants
 

replying to W , RGrandall wrote:
persistentone 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 use this soil moisture meter
http://www.vegetronix.com/Products/VG-METER-200/. Although I don't know if
it was originally intended to be left in a pot continuously, I have left
it in there for days on end, and it hasn't done any damage to the device.
Although it is a little more expensive than the cheapo devices you get at
home depot, it is a lot more accurate (believe me when I say I've gone
through my fair share of meters...). I finally reached this meter, and
have been happy with it for the 3 years that I've had it.

Hope this helps!

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