Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendations.
If you select links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Not sure if you plants need water?
The Spruce
We recommend prioritizing a soil moisture meter with an appropriate probe length for what you will be monitoring.
Small potted indoor plants likely only need a probe between 5 and 7 inches long.
Our favorite soil moisture meters include those with sturdy probes and easy-to-read displays.
PHOTO: Amazon
Additionally, theres a list of over 150 common houseplants users can reference once they have a soil reading.
Additionally, we only recommend this probe for smaller potted plants.
Those planted directly into the ground may have deep roots, which this probe cannot reach.
PHOTO: The Home Depot
Generally, soil moisture meters are fairly accurate if they areused correctly.
The sunlight and moisture levels will always be displayed at the top and bottom of the screen respectively.
We recommend testing the probe in various soil states to determine the range of moisture for Dry+ and Wet+.
PHOTO: Amazon
This set from Kensizer includes two separate devices: one to read pH and one to read moisture.
They have a color-coded scale similar to ouroverall best, andbest valuepick.
For example, the pH probe’s scale is red for acidic and green for alkaline.
PHOTO: Amazon
The moisture probe’s scale is red for dry, green for ideal, and blue for wet.
With both probes, you get accurate results within a minute or so, and no batteries are required.
The moisture scale runs from dry 1 to wet 8 but is not color-coded as with ouroverall bestpick.
PHOTO: Gain Express
To use the probe, push it a few inches into the soil.
You’ll first get the pH reading.
The pH scale shows alkaline through acidic.
PHOTO: Raintrip
No batteries are needed for this probe, which should be wiped clean after each use.
With this gear, you no longer need to stick your finger way down into the dirt.
Our list includes soil moisture meters with analog and digital readings.
PHOTO: Amazon
We also selected models that monitor sun exposure, soil pH, and soil temperature.
Soil moistureis the most common factor measured by moisture meters.
Our choice for thebest pH meter is theKensizer Soil Tester.
Light intensityis another common metric measured with a moisture meter.
This helps you decide when to fertilize your plants.
Soil temperatureis not a common measurement for a plant moisture meter, but some do include this setting.
This is sufficient for most houseplants, as it is long enough to reach deep down to the roots.
These analog devices are easy to use and read and are generally quite inexpensive.
Typically, digital displays show both the number and a picture representation of the level of soil moisture.
Our best digital display pick is theIrtov 4-in-1 Digital Moisture Meter.
Moisture meters for plants with smart features allow you to monitor soil conditions through an app on your phone.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written byMichelle Ullman, who is a writer specializing in home and garden products.
Her houseplant collection includes around 25 plants of various types.
