Watering indicators avoid under or over watering

In the past, I have underwatered or overwatered our houseplants a time or two. I think no houseplant fan can deny this happens sometimes. The result was withered shoots, drooping plants, a pest infestation by fungus gnats caused by overwatering or even root rot.

To avoid this, of course, I used conventional watering indicators. You simply stick these firmly into the flower pot and the manufacturers promise that you can read the water level at any time. In reality, it often looks different. I rarely get a clear picture at the display unit. A red indicator means too little water, a blue indicator means too much water. But how do I recognize enough or even the right amount of water? This is where the blurring of conventional watering indicators begins.

These conventional indicators make use of the principle of capillary action. Moisture rises in a moisture-conducting material to the display, where it then creates a chemical reaction that sets off the discoloration to either red or blue. This is already inaccurate. Because there may actually be enough moisture in the soil, but not enough to rise all the way up to the display. If only little moisture arrives there, the display is in an indefinable state between red and blue, but does not necessarily reflect the reality in the potting soil.

In addition, the capillary action is delayed. It simply takes time for the moisture from the potting soil to reach the indicator. More accurate watering is therefore only possible to a limited extent, as this is a long-term indicator.

Accurate soil analysis with a soil tester

Recently, I have become a big fan of soil testers that determine the moisture level based on soil conductivity rather than a chemical reaction (Amazon Affiliate Link).

Unlike watering indicators, the soil tester (Amazon Affiliate Link) does not remain permanently in the soil, but is only used immediately before watering. This may be considered a disadvantage by some, since the soil tester has to be used before each watering process. On the other hand, there is no advantage of a permanent watering indicator in the pot, which then doesn’t work. For the watering process alone, I have to go to the individual plants with my watering can anyway. Just using the soil tester before is no big deal if it keeps my plants healthy.

A wide scale allows the moisture level to be read accurately. This is ingenious, because I can regulate the moisture quite granular and get a reliable result and not just a “red – dry” and “blue – moist”. I can read the result as soon as the soil tester is in the plant soil.

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In addition, I need only one soil tester for all houseplants and do not have to buy a separate one for each plant. The soil tester costs only ten euros and works perfectly (Amazon Affiliate Link).

I use the soil tester successfully in regular plant soil and also in planting substrate.

Bye bye root rot – for only about 10 euros

I can only encourage you to give this inexpensive tool a try. For only about ten euros it’s worth the effort. It has changed my life as a plant fan and I could have treated many plants better in the past. I could even have saved a few if I had had this tool at hand earlier. Root rot and waterlogging are history for me now.

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Der Beitrag Reliably determine soil moisture for houseplants – Forget regular watering indicators! erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

Natural beneficial organisms in the soil

Nematodes, are introduced into the soil of the plant with the watering water. In the soil the microscopically small nematodes then eat the larvae of root pests, such as the larvae of the annoying fungus gnat. SF nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) are usually used to control indoor plants. When the nematodes have destroyed all pest larvae, they can no longer find food and die. The nematodes are not dangerous for humans, animals and the plant itself.

Nematodes are also used in organic farming to destroy pests without resorting to aggressive poisons. The big advantage: other insects such as bees are not affected by the useful earthlings. There is no more biological and environmentally friendly pest control. For this reason, more and more beekeepers and environmental protection associations are advocating the use of nematodes instead of poisons.

No danger for humans and animals

Nematodes live in the ground. There they find their food, like the larvae of the fungus gnat, and favourable living conditions. In the plant soil it is dark, constantly warm and sufficiently humid. Outside the plant soil the nematodes die, which is why they do not pose any danger outside the soil. As soon as the nematodes can no longer find food in the soil, they die. For humans, animals and the plant itself the nematodes are therefore harmless. Nevertheless, potting soil treated with nematodes should not be eaten, but due to various ingredients it should not be eaten. It does not taste good either.

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Fight fungus gnats effectively

In private households, nematodes are most commonly used against the larvae of the fungus fly or fungus gnat. The larvae of this annoying mosquito reproduce in wet plant soil and after hatching, countless small black flies fly around the house, similar to fruit mosquitoes. Anyone suffering from such a symptom should first look out for the infested plant. The nematodes are supplied as a kind of powder. This powder is poured into a watering can and the infested plant is then watered with this water according to the enclosed instructions for use.

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Thus the larvae in the plant soil are destroyed, but the already hatched fungus gnats still fly around in the apartment. To catch the hatched specimens as well, the use of so-called yellow plugs is recommended. The yellow, sticky plugs are placed above ground near the infested plant. The fungus gnats then fly onto the sticky surface of the yellow plugs and die there.

After about 3 days there should be a considerable improvement and after about 1 week most fungus gnats and larvae should be history.

Prevent moist potting soil and fungus gnats

Most pests in the soil of indoor plants are due to excessively moist plant soil. The use of plant granulate can help here:

• Plant granulate stores water, but does not release it in excessive quantities to the roots. Plants are not over-watered and pests do not settle.
• Plant granulate does not provide a breeding ground for pests. They cannot move in the plant granulate and cannot find food there.

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All the links in this text are Amazon Affiliate Links, and by clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a percentage of your subsequent Amazon purchases. However, this circumstance does not influence the background of my product recommendation. This product recommendation is independent, honest and sincere. 

Bei allen genannten Links handelt es sich um Amazon-Affiliate-Links. Durch einen Klick auf einen Affiliate-Link werde ich prozentual an Euren darauf folgenden Amazon-Einkäufen beteiligt. Dieser Umstand beeinflusst aber nicht die Hintergründe meiner Produktempfehlung. Diese Produktempfehlung erfolgt unabhängig, ehrlich und aufrichtig.

Der Beitrag Are nematodes dangerous for humans and animals? Is the use of nematodes harmless? erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.