---
title: "My new favorite tool!! 🌿"
description: "My new favorite tool!! 🌿"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/L2DlRMV4QJyNv3J38y1V5w"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "J-Mo"
published: "2024-07-12T14:11:00.538614Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/TWrHcAsR9SqL_7cyg1AvUhdDJc5KoET1DO58fkXVslQ/GAxy5Zc1QxueMYWMfYi5Vw.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# My new favorite tool!! 🌿

_Posted by J-Mo on 2024-07-12_

My new favorite tool!! 🌿

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/TWrHcAsR9SqL_7cyg1AvUhdDJc5KoET1DO58fkXVslQ/GAxy5Zc1QxueMYWMfYi5Vw.webp?size=large)

## 12 comments

### Moriah commented on 2024-07-12

People will trash these in here but I’m OBSESSED with mine and it works pretty damn well cause all my plants are thriving! 💁🏻‍♀️

#### MummaDeb replied on 2024-07-12

Ditto

### J-Mo commented on 2024-07-12

Well I love mine too and to each their own! So haters, never mind! ✋🏼

#### Moriah replied on 2024-07-12

Preach

### MummaDeb commented on 2024-07-12

I won't water a plant without one. I've been using them for years. One word of advice, when you're checking whether or not the plant needs water make sure the meter is set to set to moisture. I didn't check mine and it was on light and I killed a 15-year-old Christmas cactus by overwatering it. Hard lesson learned but I look at that thing every time I use it now. ☹️

#### J-Mo replied on 2024-07-12

Sound advice!

I have only had my meter a couple weeks but I actually did that this morning 🙄 it’s the first time I played with the light meter on it. I had watered 2 plants before I realized what I did.

So definitely check your settings!!! ✅

### Myr commented on 2024-07-12

This might be a dumb question but I’ll post it anyway. When using the finger technique to see if a plant needs water the recommendation is to go up to about the second knuckle which is approximately 2”. So does that mean that the meter should be inserted only about 2” as well?

#### GreenLeaf replied on 2024-07-12

The meter should always be inserted to basically the bottom of your pot.

I hate the finger test 😂

Personally, I started with that moisture meter and quickly found wooden skewers much easier and quicker to use. You can get them at the dollar store and the pack will last forever. You can also put a bunch out to be checking multiple plants at one time.

But thats 100% just my personal preference. I absolutely do not have a hate on for moisture meters! Lol

#### Debbie replied on 2024-07-13

How exactly do you use the skewers?

### Miranda commented on 2024-07-13

Where did you get this?

#### J-Mo replied on 2024-07-13

I got this at my local garden center

### Ray commented on 2024-07-14

During botany class these were LIFE savers for testing my plant health overall. It’s so much better than a finger test, you’ll question yourself and it leads to overwatering SOOO MUCH. I bought one and am sitting here waiting for it to be shipped😭

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_
