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PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
This water moisture meter is totally useless when growing cuttings, reading totally dry when its not and if you go by this meter, you will probably kill your newly rooted cuttings.

Waste of money....
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

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PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
I bought as a foolproof in not overwatering, especially at this crucial stage. I should return it but for $15.00. It's not worth it.

I dipped the tip into water and it read "moist" instead of "wet" totally inaccurate.

I went by the highest reviews, guess that is all faux too.
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Hi alanmercieca, can you show me the one you have?  I just returned this to Amazon
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
smatthew

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
For cuttings isn't the most accurate moisture gauge a scale?
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PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Quote:
Originally Posted by smatthew
For cuttings isn't the most accurate moisture gauge a scale?


I would say yeah, but for some reason judging by feel of weight does not work for me, I dont have a scale either.

For the experience fig grower, seller, maybe. From what I learned, when you think it looks like it may need water, wait a few more days. I lost many last year from root rot.
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Quote:
Originally Posted by alanmercieca
I have not tried yet I have been wrong trying to guess the weight in order to decide when to water a plant. Does not work well for me.


thanks, I will order this tonight
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Yes, I remember buying my PH meter years ago, it came with a small piece of green scotch brite scour pad, after every use, you are suppose to clean that tip well with it.

thanks again for the help!
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
TorontoJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
The only moisture meter I've found to be remotely trustworthy is my finger. I've thrown more of these out than I wish to admit. In the end I realized that even if these cheap devices were not pieces of feces, (they are) they arw limited by the one tiny spot they were measuring. Of course moisture is not spread evenly. In my estimation these units are less reliable than a 58' Edsel.
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PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
I always worried about crushing delicate new roots with my big fingers when testing in a small cup or quart container. I am sort of paranoid until I get them to the next level lol

The small probe is ideal for this.

Hey alanmercieca, after remembering about the scotch brite pad, I just tried the meter I have and it did work a little better, it works better after scrubbing the tip with the pad after each test.
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
That was my whole issue, my rooted cuttings in Coco coir , Perlite and my potting mix.  When I used it in my container trees in the garage, the meter works decent.

So the lesson learned and people should know is that if you are starting rooted clippings of in anything but dense soil, extreme caution should be made as the moisture meter may not accurately display the factual reading.

And here is a another tip:   Clean the tip with scotch brite pad, it works real well!
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
definitely learned THINGS from this post and I thank you guys for achieving this!
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
I have been having great luck with a 70/30 Coco Coir & Perlite mix, once I up pot it, I use the entire mix from the original cup and then add promix in its surrounding.
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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
PeterC

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 

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Growing: Sal's Corleone, Brooklyn Unknown, Peters Honey, White Kadoda, Brown Turkey, Black Mission,  Deanna, Green Irchia, Hollier, Sals E

Wanted: A very cold hardy fig, Hardy Chicago or Celeste

Zone 7  Long Island
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