---
title: "I’m still learning to use this moisture meter, and have a question…"
description: "I’m still learning to use this moisture meter, and have a question regarding its use. I’m noticing when I put it in the soil, I was told by one member, to push…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/QsudgJQRzsDFaJCGIpkISm"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Lynda"
published: "2025-01-29T03:01:37.440751Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ogsS0GJIvWBzx7CvItnCsicGb0YTD2umkWf-CRAbvzU/NYJ1PaqQT_CZTdZnCsZIkg.webp?size=large"
---

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# I’m still learning to use this moisture meter, and have a question…

_Posted by Lynda on 2025-01-29_

I’m still learning to use this moisture meter, and have a question regarding its use. I’m noticing when I put it in the soil, I was told by one member, to push it all the way down to the bottom. When I do that, I notice if I wait a minute or two, this meter continues to drop in regards to moisture content. Is this the way I should be using this meter; do I really push it all the way to the bottom and then wait for the reading, which will take a minute or two or what? TIA!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ogsS0GJIvWBzx7CvItnCsicGb0YTD2umkWf-CRAbvzU/NYJ1PaqQT_CZTdZnCsZIkg.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### Phil commented on 2025-01-29

Hmmm….interesting. I never waited for the reading but had to try it. Mine went down a minuscule amount. My other meter stayed the same. But the depth you insert depends on the plant. Some will say top inch should be dry, others may say the pot should be dry half way down. So you need to go by the plants need. I almost always weight till soil is on the dry side. I also have a second meter that gives you other readings too. I’ve come to like it better. It gives percentage of moisture. I’m sure it’s not extremely accurate but a little more precise than the green one.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/yAyl5astRKKzu0rRP8ocpQ.webp?size=large)

### c.cat commented on 2025-01-29

some people love these things, some people hate them. i was gifted one and found it wasnt accurate at all, so i kept to my other ways of measuring dryness (weight, droopy/soft leaves, chopstick method, etc).  
therefore i am one of the people that will tell you these things are not very accurate. however, i encourage you to keep experimenting with it and compare it to other methods like the chopstick/skewer method. find what works best for you!!

### Mr Variegated commented on 2025-01-29

Learn to know your plant. Don’t be scared to dig your finger or hand into the soil to see if it’s dry. Lift to feel its weight. By the time you learn to use this thing, your plant will have root rot from it telling you it’s dry. And depending on your soil mix, it will give different readings.

### Phil commented on 2025-01-29

That’s why I use the white one in the pic. The green meter will give me a dry reading, while the other says moisture is at 35%. To me dry is more like below 20%. At least that is what I have worked out.

#### Lynda replied on 2025-01-29

I’ve always wondered at what point “dry” actually is; TXS for clarifying it! So if the white moisture meter shows around 20%, do you omit using the wooden stake method? TIA!

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