Using a moisture meter to water your fiddle leaf fig plant will save you time and trouble. Too much or too little water is fiddle leaf fig's major problem.
Fiddle leaf fig owners may be confused when reading about plant care because it's hard to know if too much or too little water is causing problems. Moisture meters are great for fiddle leaf fig owners who want to water their plant confidently.
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Soil moisture meters measure soil moisture using electrical resistance. They're inexpensive, simple, and battery-free. You can buy a moisture meter or a three-in-one moisture, pH, and light meter to rule out other fiddle leaf fig concerns.
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Clean your moisture meter before using it and avoid leaving it in the soil between readings to avoid damage. Keep your meter clean and safe after each reading.
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Your moisture meter's gauge shows water content from 1 to 10, with 10 being “wet.” It may even provide a useful reference list of common houseplants and watering times.
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Most moisture meter manufacturers rate fiddle leaf fig (ficus lyrata) as 1, implying you should let it dry out between waterings. This takes weeks and damages my plants from lack of water.
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How you interpret the reading matters greatly. Note that the top 2 inches of the plant will read dry. Sticking the probe halfway down reads wet. It reads moist at the bottom. Gravity and water are like this.
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Your readings will also vary if you measure in the plant's center, where the soil is moist, or outside the container, where it's dryer. Where to take an accurate reading?
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Take your readings in the same place for consistency. I propose measuring halfway between your plant's center and the container, then halfway between the soil's top and bottom.
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Check your plant's root ball. Home Depot plants with dense root balls don't blend in. The surrounding soil may be damp, yet your plant's root ball may be bone-dry and dying of thirst.
If your plant's root ball seems compact, measure inside the edge to measure the soil moisture that contacts the roots.Place the probe midway between the plant's center and the container's edge, then halfway down the soil.
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Your watering technique and moisture meter readings matter. You shouldn't water your plant daily to maintain a moisture reading of 4. This could cause root rot and prevent deep irrigation.
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