Best Moisture Meter For Plants (no more guessing when to water)

analog moisure meter in plant's soil

Keep your plants alive longer with one of these best moisture meter for plants

The most common reason people struggle to keep houseplants alive is they either overwater or underwater their plants.

To help you know when to water your indoor plants, we strongly recommend purchasing a plant moisture meter.

In this post, we’ll cover the 5 best moisture meters for plants so you can stop guessing if your plant needs water and start knowing exactly how much water to give your plants, keeping them alive longer.

This site features affiliate content. As an affiliate partner of various brands, we earn commissions on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclaimer for more information.

What Is A Plant Moisture Meter?

Before we dive into our top moisture meters for indoor plants, it’s important to understand what a moisture meter actually is.

A plant moisture meter is a tool used to measure the moisture content in your plant’s soil.

You can use a moisture meter to determine if your plants need water or if they have been given too much water.

Moisture meters are excellent for testing the moisture level of your plant’s soil right down to the root area where you can’t always reach by hand.

Benefits Of Using A Moisture Meter For Indoor Plants

  • Know when to water your plants
  • Measure moisture content at the root level
  • Won’t damage plant’s roots
  • Makes caring for indoor plants easier
  • Saves money in the long run (not replacing overwatered plants)

Know when to water your plants: Moisture meters take the guesswork out of knowing when to water your plants.

Measure moisture content at the root level: It’s important to know how much water is actually getting to the root level. Some soil may be retaining too much water, while other soil types may be preventing water from soaking all the way through. A moisture meter will help you determine if the water is getting to the bottom root level or if too much is staying at the top. This will also help you know if your soil needs adjusted.

Won’t damage the plant’s roots: Many plants have fragile roots. You want to do your best not to damage your plant’s roots which can happen when you poke and prod your finger around trying to determine if the soil under the top layer is wet. If you hear a ripping sound when poking around, you are most likely breaking that plant’s roots. If too many of the roots get damaged, especially on a plant that hasn’t matured yet, your plant may die. A moisture meter has a thin probe. Once it’s inserted into the soil we recommend leaving it there, allowing the roots to grow around it.

Makes caring for indoor plants easier: As mentioned earlier, one of the most common causes of death in houseplants is over-watering or under-watering. You may be tempted to water your plants if the top feels dry but this could end up having an adverse effect if the bottom of the pot is still heavily soaked. By placing a moisture meter in your plant’s soil, you’ll be able to better monitor the soil content from day to day making it easier to care for your plants, knowing when they need to be watered.

Saves money in the long run: Plants can be expensive and it’s super disappointing when your new plant dies within weeks of bringing it home. Knowing when and how much water to give your plants will help keep your plants alive longer, saving you from spending money to constantly replace your plants.

Purchasing a moisture meter for plants has made caring for plants much easier, especially for new plant owners.

The 5 Best Soil Moisture Meter for Indoor Plants

1. XLUX Soil Moisture Meter

q? encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B081DLVGC8&Format= SL450 &ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en USir?t=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en US&l=li3&o=1&a=B081DLVGC8

Why We Love It:

  • High level of accuracy
  • Easy to use
  • Excellent quality

The accuracy and reliability of this soil moisture meter have made it a favorite amongst plant owners for good reason. Not only is the large display easy to read, but you’ll also get instant results once the meter is inserted into the soil. The color-coded system will let you know the moisture level of your plants at the root level and is a more accurate test than using your finger.

Simply stick the probe into the soil when you want to measure the moisture (do not leave the meter in the soil when you’re not testing it). The probe of this plant measures approximately 6.5†in length making it suitable for measuring the moisture level in most houseplants.

Although this soil moisture meter is made of good quality material and can be used on outdoor or indoor plants, it’s not to be used in hard soil.  

#2 Sustee Aquameter

q? encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07B6GTM4C&Format= SL450 &ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en USir?t=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07B6GTM4C

Why We Love It:

  • Compact design
  • Measures all the way to root level
  • Can be left in for continuous monitoring

These convenient sticks have been saving plants for both seasoned and new plant owners for years. The compact design makes this plant moisture meter easy to hide amongst the foliage of many houseplants or blend into the greenery. The Sustee Aquameter comes in both white or green in three different sizes (small, medium, and large).

We love these sticks even more since they introduced their award-winning design that now allows for the core measuring piece to be replaced; making them more environmentally friendly. We’ve had our sticks for about 7 months now and they are still measuring the soil’s moisture level accurately making them excellent value for your money.

Check out this video on how to use a Sustee Aquameter to monitor the moisture level in your plant’s soil.

HOW TO USE THE SUSTEE AQUAMETER

3. North Connected Home Plant Monitor (Smart Monitor)

q? encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07L491F8K&Format= SL450 &ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en USir?t=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07L491F8K

Why We Love It:

  • Measures water, light, fertilizer and temperature
  • Makes suggestions of what your plant may need
  • Excellent for new plant owners
  • Will help you identify what type of plant you have if you’re not sure

While most moisture meters use an analog display, North has stepped up their game with this Smart monitor. Simply connect the monitor to your smartphone via Bluetooth to get water, light, fertilizer, and temperature measurements from your plant right to your phone.

This moisture meter goes above and beyond by making suggestions on what your plant may need for optimal health. For new plant owners, this information is extremely helpful while teaching you how to care for your plants.  

If you’re unsure of what type of plant you have, there is a plant identifier available on the app to make sure you’re following the proper plant care instructions.

This is hands down our favorite all in one soil tester kit to track our plant’s soil conditions and know when our plant needs water. Not only will you love the results, but you’ll also love the price!

#4 Atree 3 in 1 Soil Tester Kit

q? encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07R4RPS54&Format= SL450 &ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en USir?t=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07R4RPS54

Why We Love It:

  • Does not require batteries
  • Can be used indoors and outdoors
  • High level of accuracy
  • Measures light and pH levels

Not only is the amount of water your plants get important, so is the amount of light and the ph level of the soil. The Atree 3 in 1 Soil Tester Kit measures all of those components, making it a best seller amongst plant owners.

This soil tester kit will help you determine if your indoor plants need water, if they should be moved closer to or away from light and if your plant requires additional fertilizer, all key to keeping your plants alive and healthy.

You’ll appreciate the ease of use this tool brings with its analog display and the ability to measure soil up to 6 inches deep. Always test your soil in a few different areas and remember when you water your plant to water all the way around the surface, not in just one area.

#5 AM Conservation Indoor Outdoor Soil Moisture Meter

q? encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00KOBAYPG&Format= SL450 &ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en USir?t=plantmoisturemeter 20&language=en US&l=li3&o=1&a=B00KOBAYPG

Why We Love It:

  • Adorable design
  • Measures soil ph, moisture and light
  • Single probe; less invasive to roots
  • Great for teaching kids measurements and plant care

Not only does it accurately measure the moisture in your house plant’s soil, but it’s also a great way to involve your kids in the process. You can use this tool to teach children how to care for plants, reading measurements, and deciding if more water should be added.

For more plant care tools and accessories to keep indoor plants alive and healthy check out these articles:

Must Have Indoor Plant Care Tools
Best Greenhouses for Indoor Plants

Using one of the best plant moisture meters takes the guesswork out of when you should water your plant.

xlux moisture meter in pot of soil