The problem
Houseplants often die from too much water, not neglect. Might a moisture meter help?
The hack
For around £10, a probe promises to tell you exactly when to water.
The method
Moisture meters measure electrical conductivity in the soil, which roughly correlates with moisture. Push the probe into the pot, around the root ball, read the dial and water only if it dips into the dry zone. Cross-check with the old tests: feel the soil, lift the pot to gauge the weight, and look at the plant itself. If the meter says dry but the soil feels cool and damp, trust your senses.
The test
I compared a moisture meter with a finger test on a cheese plant, a snake plant and a couple of spider plants. In larger pots, it was broadly accurate, but in small nursery pots, the needle swung wildly. One reading suggested the soil was bone dry when it was clearly still moist.
The verdict
A moisture meter can be a handy confidence-booster if you tend to overwater, but it is not an oracle. Use one as a guide, to build your confidence, but in the end nothing beats learning to read the plant and the soil yourself.
