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Ok since I’ve started using this app to help remind me when to water… | Pests, diseases and problems | Planta community

Nicole

Ok since I’ve started using this app to help remind me when to water my plants I’ve had two end up getting watered too much. I got a moisture meter, if anyone uses that, how do you use it correctly? How deep into the soil should I measure? Do I measure close to the roots or off to the side? My ZZ has always been so so so healthy. It’s been one of my star plants, and now it’s dying. I feel like if I hadn’t started listening to the app telling me when to water I wouldn’t be in this position! The roots seem fairly bound in the pot, when do I know it’s time to repot? I can get a photo of the roots in a bit if that helps!

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13 comments

  1. Sunny

    You can’t blindly follow the app watering notifications since the app doesn’t know your environment, soil, water and fertilizer effects on the plant. It’s best to use the app as a reminder to check if the plant needs water. This is the same actions you would take if you had no app or water meter. Use your finger, wooden meat skewer or chopstick to insert into the soil. Cool temperature soil typically has sufficient moisture. Debris sticking to the tools indicates moisture in the soil. Wait another day and check again before watering. Water meters work until they dont. They measure resistance rather than moisture content. The theory is wetter soil conducts electricity better than dry soil. But, these meters are not scientifically calibrated. I’ve had two that contradicted each other. So I stopped using them. The depth of insertion can give different readings. It’s assumed the driest soil is on top. The wettest soil is on the bottom. The meter should be inserted to the bottom of the pot. Use the meter if it gives good results. Stop if it doesn’t. I recommend using 2-3 confirming cues (touch, site, skewers, meter) before watering. I have several clear plastic pots inside ceramic pots. I can see moisture in the pot and delay watering. I also use my finger and skewers to confirm. 🪴🍀

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    • Nicole

      Clear plastic pots sounds like a wonderful idea. I’ll have to find some! I always wish I could see the soil but never considered looking for clear plastic!!

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    • ygraine

      Thanks for this information, as I often use a meter so that I don't overwater. I thought it was more accurate than it seems to be

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  2. Krackelman

    To be honest, I use the custom settings for my plants in Planta where I can specify the number of days between waterings because I don’t trust Planta to figure out the timing to correctly water my plants. There’s too many factors and inputs for the plant and that can cause deviations that could end up with overwatering or underwatering. By using the custom watering settings. I can specify the number of days between waterings, so if I set it for 5 days and the plant still looks a little wet, then I can change the days to 6 days or if it’s getting dry before 5 days or I see stems starting to droop then I can water early and change the custom days and set it to 4 days. For me what this allows is regular watering times for my plants. Using this method, you will eventually get your watering schedules dialed in for your plants, with Planta just reminding you each day which ones need to be watered. I have many plants that are set for a weekly schedule which occurs on Sunday so every Sunday those plants will get watered. When I used Planta telling me when to water, the schedules were all over the place when it would suggest it is time to water. If you go to the plant screen, there is a gear in the upper right hand corner. Click it and when you go into the next screen, you can set the custom watering schedule and set the number of days. Something you may want to consider.

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  3. Demonza

    Hi Nicole… don’t panic. When the app prompt you to water… don’t automatically water… instead take a small stick (I prefer doing it with my fingers) and check to see if the top 2 or 3 inches of the soul is dry and if it’s not dry… snooze the watering schedule on your zz plant… I encourage you ti be mindful of succulents don’t like being in wet soil and they are drought tolerant and I only say that it is better to underwater them than overwater because they are prone to root rot when the ver watered. Also depending on the level of sunlight exposure can impact watering schedule. Feel your zz and remove stems that are really soft and place the plant in part sun exposure to help the plant use more energy but be sure to keep an eye out for how it respond to different level of sunlight to ensure it doesn’t burn I am pulling for you.

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    • Nicole

      Thank you!!

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    • Nicole

      I had no clue they were classified as succulents! That helps a lot, actually!! If I had known that I woulda definitely kept just playing hard to get and ignored it until it was drier! That’s super helpful info for me to have! So again, thank you!!

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    • Demonza

      You are more than welcome. This community has been really good to me and I love to share whatever tid-bits I have. Also, I have learned the hard way to make my own soul mixture to ensure extra drainage. I typically use 50% citrus and cactus soil, 15% perlite, 15% coconut coir, 10% moss, and 10% orchid bark. It keeps the soil really aerated for healthy plant growth. Look at my snake plant soil

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    • Demonza

      No problem. This community has been really good for me and my plants. I have learned the hard way to get comfortable with making my own soul mixture to help with extra drainage because aerated soil makes good for healthy plants. Typically I mix 50% citrus/cactus potting soil, 15% perlite, 15% coconut coir, 10% moss, and 10% orchid bark. It really makes good for observation of soil level of moisture too. Here look at one of my snake plants soil.

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  4. SS

    Sameee for me! Was listening to the app and overwatering 🤷🏻‍♀️ you arent alone lol

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    • Nicole

      I learned early on to play hard to get with my plants because I love them to death. Then I got the app and was like “oh shoot maybe I’m underwatering?” and just followed it like the dumb dumb I am hahaha. Gotta change the settings and just use it as a reminder, apparently! I’ve almost killed a very expensive and beautiful fiddle fig too. And I looooove my ZZ so I really hope I can get it back to health!

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    • SS

      Meh not dumb at all. When you input so many details about positioning of the plants/ location AND the app tracks weather, it makes you think it knows better than you! Which I am a beginner, so was easy to let it lead. Now that i have damaged some leaves, i have learned. We still have time to resuscitate these plants!!

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  5. HJ

    I’m coming to the same realization. I have some basil plants on my balcony and the app suggests watering every 3 days, which seems reasonable. But now it’s telling me to water them every day even in spite of its own recommendations. The robots aren’t winning …

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