HILTEX introduces the 61127 Dirt Moisture Hygrometer. This small plant tool measures how much moisture is present in soil and dirt. For those who struggle with watering their plants appropriately, a moisture meter is a handy tool that can help prevent overwatering or underwatering. Soil moisture meters are small handheld devices that can be used to measure the moisture content in your plant's soil in order to give you an indication of whether it's time to water your plant or not. No need to stick your fingers in the soil of your plants in an effort to guess whether the soil is dry or not anymore—a moisture meter can give you a definitive answer. Plus, a moisture meter reads more than just the top few inches of soil. The reading given is accurate for up to a foot below the surface. Moisture meters use the principle of electrical resistance to measure the conductivity of the soil. Simply put—because water conducts electricity well, high moisture content in the soil is measured by higher electrical currents, whereas lower electrical currents indicate drier soil. Step 1. Push the metal probe into the soil Step 2. Wait 30 to 60 seconds Step 3. Read the results