Question: How good are the moisture meters for determining when it’s time to water my houseplants? How else can I tell?

Answer: Commercial interiorscape maintenance people use sophisticated meters that let them read soil quickly, but many of the home models are really pretty useless. You have 10 of the best moisture meters at the tips of your fingers and thumbs. Learn to stick your finger into the top inch of soil. When it’s dry to the touch, that’s the time to water the plant. The potting soil will probably turn a lighter color, plus the soil may separate ever so slightly from the pot wall. Growers can tell merely by lifting a small or medium-sized pot. Dry soil is light, and they can monitor the differences.