To provide your houseplants with the right amount of water, it is advisable to use a moisture or water meter. With a water meter, you can easily see when your plant needs water again or when it is better to wait a while.
There are different types of water meters for sale, but how do you choose the best one for your houseplant? Here is an explanation of the possibilities.
Analogue moisture meter
The analogue moisture meter consists of a long pin that you can stick into the soil. After you push the pin of the moisture meter into the root ball, you can immediately read the result of your measurement on the display. The meter immediately indicates whether the soil is dry, slightly moist or wet and so you can easily determine when it is time to water your houseplant.
You can use this moisture meter for all your indoor plants standing in soil. The meter can be used in pots up to a depth of about 40 cm, after which the reliability of your measurement decreases. Last but not least, you don't need batteries and it can be used for all houseplants.
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After use, just wipe the pen of the moisture meter with a cloth. Even if you want to measure several plants, you should clean the moisture meter in between. This way, you prevent any diseases being transferred from plant to plant.
Water meter Zeoponic/hydroponics
The water meters for Zeoponic/hydroponics work with a float. In fact, it is a tube with a diameter of approx. 4 cm which you place with its foot flat on the bottom of your planter. The moment there is water at the bottom, the float starts to float and the red dot at the top of the window will rise.
There are a few things you do need to take into account with this water meter. For instance, the base of the water meter needs to stand flat on the bottom of your planter, to ensure proper measurement. In addition, the water meter has a diameter of about 4 cm, which means that the water meter also runs along the root ball of your plant. If your plant has a 20 cm grow pot and you want to use this water meter, leaving the plant in the middle of your planter, your new planter will have to be at least 28 cm (both sides +4 cm) in diameter.
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Analogue moisture meter for small and medium-sized houseplants
For houseplants with a root ball of potting soil and a growing pot up to about 30 cm, we recommend using an analogue moisture meter. Even if you have made your houseplant with Zeoponic instead of potting soil. This is because you measure in the root ball of the plant itself and not in the Zeoponic.
Water meter for large houseplants and hydroponics
Does your plant have a pot that is deeper than 40 cm? Then it is best to switch to a Zeoponic water meter. Do you have a hydroponic plant? Then use this Zeoponic water meter as well.
How much water should I give my houseplant?
This is a question we get very often, but with no ready-made answer. Room temperature, season, location, plant size and humidity, for instance, play a big role in how much moisture a houseplant needs. This is also exactly why we recommend using an analogue moisture meter or water meter.
In spring and summer, most plants produce new leaves and the amount of light they receive increases. At that time, the plant will also start demanding more water. After summer, the amount of water your houseplant needs will slowly decrease again. From autumn onwards, most plants go into dormancy and require less water.
Our
care page lists almost all species of houseplants, so you can find out per plant whether your houseplant likes to be dry, slightly moist or wet.
Measuring is knowing
Unfortunately, we still too often see plants being overwatered out of enthusiasm. As a result, after a while the soil becomes saturated and water remains on the bottom of the plant. As a result, roots can rot and your plant slowly dies.
Measuring is knowing and do not be seduced by the colour of the soil at the top. Water sinks to the bottom, so if the soil on top looks and feels dry, it may be soaking wet at the bottom of the pot.
Do not give your houseplant cold water
When you water your plants, make sure the water is at room temperature. If you give cold tap water, you risk clogging up the roots. Some houseplants are also sensitive to calcium-rich water. If lime-laden water bothers you a lot, you can boil the water first or use rainwater.
Do not forget to water your plants every now and then
Most houseplants originate from a tropical environment, which means they are used to high humidity. In our living room or office, humidity is often a lot lower, which means leaves can sometimes develop brown edges and/or leaf tips. But curly leaves can also indicate too low humidity. Therefore, spray your plants regularly with a plant sprayer to keep your houseplant's leaves beautiful for longer.
