Moisture Meter

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32127, 24 October 1969, Page 6

Moisture Meter

A major problem which owners of pot plants have to face is that of wateringhow often and how much. It may not be an exaggeration tO say that over«watering or dryness at the roots is the cause of a very high percentage of all troubles and failures. Apart from the fact that different kinds and even I species have varying needs for waiter, the amount given ‘ is dependant on the moisture level of . the soil. Until now thefe have not really been satisfactory or readily available means of determining the moisture content, although squeezing a handful of soil and pot tapping do help in making an assessment. A home-gardening device, developed by a New Zealand, company, should greatly help in determining soil moisture. Called a moisture meter, it is of simple but effective design. It works without batteries and utilises the electricity naturally present in the soil. The instrument is fitted with a probe which consists of two dissimilar metals, one of which accepts a positive charge and the other a negative. When the probe is pushed into the soil—2in to 4in is sufficient—there is an immediate flow of current which varies according to the soil’s moisture content. This is registered on a graduated scale on the meter in terms of dry, moist or wet. I have tested this device in pots, lawns and gardens and it might prove of considerable help in determining moisture content, with consequent saving of time and reduced plant loss.