Moisture Meters

[David Nicholson]

For ages I have been looking for a moisture meter with a very slim probe, all the ones available in garden centres are, to my mind, to thick and can damage roots. Someone I know told me of one that worked from a watch battery and had a rigid galvanised wire probe. If a plant was nicely damp music played when the probe entered the soil and if the plant was dry no music was forthcoming. Has anyone else heard of these and does anyone know if they are available?

[David Shaw]

This sounds all very scientific, David. What music does it play?

Desert Song            -    too dry
Singing in the Rain    -    perfect
Theme from 'Titanic'  -   too wet

 

[David Nicholson]

This sounds all very scientific, David. What music does it play?

Desert Song            -    too dry
Singing in the Rain    -    perfect
Theme from 'Titanic'  -   too wet

 

 

David it was made in China apparantly (aren't most things these days!) so maybe you order your tunes by numbers

[Maggi Young]

Could it be these ?.......
http://www.virtualvillage.com/Items/003910-003?sck=365220
Singing bird moisture meter   $7.99   one prong

http://www.giftedstore.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1448&osCsid=4025e32c3f4dfda0e094fe912516fb05      $17.50  2 prongs

[David Nicholson]

Could it be these ?.......
http://www.virtualvillage.com/Items/003910-003?sck=365220
Singing bird moisture meter   $7.99   one prong

http://www.giftedstore.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1448&osCsid=4025e32c3f4dfda0e094fe912516fb05      $17.50  2 prongs

Thanks for that Maggi, it came in after the 'witching hour'- I'd gone for a pint! Think I shall carry on looking though as these are in Oz and The States and the postage will probably cost more than the thing is worth.

[Maggi Young]

David, here is a UK supplier  http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/Products/Garden-products/audio-moisture-meter-GB.asp

[David Nicholson]

That's more like it I'll give them a ring and find out about the thickness of the probes. That was really the crux of the matter and I don't really have a singing creature fetish.

[Paul T]

David,

Just catching up with this section of teh forum, so I am a bit behind...... My concerns would be with the thinner probe, not the thicker one.  I would feel that the thicker probe was pushing roots out of the way, whereas a thinner probe would just puncture stright on through anything it encounters?  I think I'd be preferring the occasional broken root rather than holes punctured through a series of roots (or bulbs or whatever)?

Just a thought.