Houseplant survival, even in summer heat, aided by £3 Amazon watering indicator.
Wetting Your Whiskers: A Peek into the Soil Moisture Game
If you're as plant-challenged as I am, you'll love the Westland Watering Indicator. Available on Amazon for a laughable £3, this nifty tool aims to simplify watering your rugrats - I mean, houseplants. Curious? Here's how it fares with my monstera.
First off, the Westland Watering Indicator is as basic as it gets - a no-frills green plastic stick with a viewport at the end. Jam the tip into the soil close to the roots, resisting the urge to twist or pull it out once inserted. The rules remind us not to mess with Mother Nature, keeping any potential disruptions in check.
In its virgin state, the watering indicator reveals a fiery red - a screaming call to action, announcing that your plant is parched and ready for its daily hydration fix. As my indicator decisively plunged into my monstera's soil, it stayed resolutely red, prompting a well-deserved drink. Remember to wait two hours, though, because once it transforms into a serenely calm blue, you'll be aware that your baby has had its fill.
I've had a few discussions with the cynics who think the indicator doesn't always hit the bullseye. Mind you, chances are they might've acted on their urge too soon, before the blue wave swept through. After an initial blue line appeared along the red, a clear indication of mixed reviews, the indicator took on a life-giving blue hue entirely, and any lingering red disappeared by morning.
So, yes, it may not toe the line with the two-hour update on the instructions, but for £3, a few extra hours of patience is pocket change. After a week of the scorching heatwave we've experienced, the indicator began its torch song of red again. I'm planning to give it a good run before adorning my windowsill with a new model in 12-18 months, as Westland suggests.
Houseplants have their thirst quenchers at different frequencies – some prefer a dribble, while others need a deluge, like a peace lily versus a succulent. If you're into meticulous care, go for the Elho Smart Pebble, my review buddy for this year. It's like having a garden guru standing by your side, doling out tips on watering, feeding, light, and temperature based on your plant's species.
Truth be told, Westland's watering indicator is a stellar investment for those who aren't ready to shell out for a smart monitor. With the ever-demanding weather leaving our babies parched with thirst, this affordable tool is a lifesaver. And don't worry - it'll save you from winter houseplant woes, too, as overwatering and underwatering are common culprits in those chilly months.
But if you're convinced that this humble indicator can't keep up, remember it's better to be wet than to end up in a quagmire. So, try it out; it doesn't claim to break the mold or reinvent the wheel, but at £3, it sure does simplify the watering game.
Sophie KingHailing from the green thumbs of our platform, Sophie arrived on our team as Gardens Editor in June 2024. Graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London with a degree in English, she found herself turning over soil and cultivating her affection for gardening. From roses to dinnerplate dahlias, she's given almost every vegetable aTRY.
With her keen eye for garden trends, Sophie's always on the hunt for the next big thing. She enjoys sharing gardening hacks, tailored for every space, from lush herbaceous borders to petite balconies.
The Westland Watering Indicator, costing just £3 on Amazon, is a valuable tool for novice gardeners who want to simplify watering their houseplants, making it a suitable addition to a home-and-garden lifestyle. On the other hand, for those seeking a more advanced gardening solution, the Elho Smart Pebble, offering insights on watering, feeding, light, and temperature tailored to specific plant species, might be a better choice.
