GrowProbe Soil Moisture Tester

GrowProbe Soil Moisture Tester

Take the guesswork out of watering

The GrowProbe couldn’t be easier to use. Insert the probe into the soil of your plant. Remove and at the end of the probe you will have a mini soil sample. You can then check the sample to see how the soil is doing.

The design makes it easy for you to physically check and feel the soil for moisture. The GrowProbe scoops out soil at four different levels of your plants.

Soil indicators

Bone dry soil – if the soil is dust and falls off the GrowProbe.

Dry soil – if the soil is crumbly and doesn’t hold together.

Moist soil – If the soil holds together.

Wet soil – If the soil clumps together and stays on the GrowProbe.

Soaking soil – if the soil appears muddy and you can see moisture on the GrowProbe.

Tips when using

• It is best used on pots 12cm (diameter) and up.
• Push the probe into an empty space in the pot – near the edge, avoiding the base of the plant.
• Avoid using it on root dense plants such as Bonsai.
• If it doesn’t go in easily, don’t push it.
• If the GrowProbe is used on a diseased plant, sterilise the probe with isopropyl alcohol after using to avoid transmission to your other plants.
• Best suited for soil based media so the soil settles into the notches correctly. (It is able to pick up larger materials such as bark.)
• Unless the soil sample is obvious that it is either wet or dry, feeling the sample between two fingers is always the best practice, as going off colour alone can be deceiving in larger pots, probe several times in different areas to confirm the soil moisture.

Common Questions

Will the GrowProbe damage the roots?

The GrowProbe is designed with a conical point that is rounded to push past roots rather than pierce them There is a change you can snag a root on a not. Avoid using on plants with dense root networks – such as bonsai.

How can I tell when to water?

Most plants are best left to dry, so wait until no moisture is felt when the soil is rubbed. Although this varies between species. Some prefer for their soil to be kept moist such as Peace Lilies.

What type of Plastic is it made from?

The GrowProbe is made using recycled industrial plastic – polypropylene, which gives it rigidity. Although it is made from recycled plastic it can’t (as yet) be processed in your normal recycling.

The GrowProbe Soil Moisture Tester Specifications

• 29.5 cm long
• Probe: 23.5 cm