Sorry to laugh Gloria, but after seeing your question, I Googled "garden...moisture...tester" and found pages of products; they range from $3 - $20.

Personally, I never found a need for one, but they can't hurt. They look like a meat thermometer with a probe and just meter the moisture level of soil to help prevent under/over watering of your plants.

Bestbudsgarden.com has one that looks like a bird (12.95), and chirp when the soil is dry....thanks to you, I'm actually getting one of those for my Mother.

The top pictured costs less than $4 and I provided a link below the birds for you.

Happy gardening!

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Moisture Tester

No doubt, overwatering is worse than underwatering; I've lost countless plum cuttings from overwatering....they wrinkle and get mushy. I gave up & purchased potted ones from Lowes. I rarely water during winter.

My Plumerias are established enough so when the leaves droop a little bit, I water them. They react within 30 minutes. Luckily, I'm close enough to the coast that we don't see triple digit temps.

I don't know if that's the wisest method, but you can't argue with success.

May I also add....to avoid shocking the roots (even during the heat of the day) I alway use "tepid" water!!!!!!

I never water Plumerias or any "tropicals" from the garden hose.

Am I the only one who has never bothered with a water meter? I've never lost a rooted plumie to overwatering and I use water from the hose all the time. The only plant that gets distilled water is my Sarracenia and I'm sometimes lazy about that and give it tap water.
Karyn

Hi Scaldude,
Tepid water? So you have a big container that you keep water in. I haven't got there yet, so far using hose. Last summer got ridiclous where I live, think ws 109 or something like that. Everything fried. So far its been nice, below a hundred. Yes on the coast is nice, you are cooler.

Plum cuttings, never tried to root them. I have never grown fruit trees, had a plum tree when we moved into this house, but it split and was taken out.

I root some of my sage plants, ones that put out flowers. Some root, others don't make it. great plants to attract humming birds. I always have something stuck in a vase with water.
Karen B.

Funny.....

My plumerias are potted; I use a watering can & just fill it from the sink. I'm sorry for the $2 words, tepid just means WARM WATER. When I say tropical.....I mean, like, zone 10-11 plants. You know, like my Hawaiian Coconut Palm...LOL

I'm no expert, I just pass along tips I've received from others....try it.....I'd be interested to see if you experience a growth & bloom increase like me.

Scaldude. If you like that method I suggest buying a big plastic trashcan from Home Depot. Fill it with water and let it set overnight. The next evening you can dip your watering can in and have over thirty gallons of chlorine free tepid water to use. You can also add a little superthrive and seaweed extract for that cocktail effect. Bill

Wwwwoooooaaaaa Trigger, I only use 2-3 gallons a month on my Pluuuums!!!!! We're talking 4, 2'-4' plumerias.

No wonder K&K reacted to my suggestion as if I were from Roswell.....LOL

Hi Karyn,
I think you are more relaxed than me on watering. Until it gets hotter, When to water>>>have to put the plumies on the tomato, gardenia, hydrangia in the ground and other flowers watering mentally. Those in cans, depends on how hot. So for me using the moisture meter tells me who is dry. I have used this for years, even inside my house to check my indoor plants.
Karen

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying to, "not use moisture meters", I admit that my situation is lucky; my Plumerias seem to be very forgiving & I can underwater them without fear.

If you have techniques for the use of moisture meters to pass-on to Gloria, please do....you might convert me in the process!!!

Hi Scaldude: Can I really live w/o a chirping bird water meter? LOL. Thanks for the descriptions and pix.
Hi KarenB: Probably a good idea to meter, esp. here in So Cali; soo Hot and no rain, the top soil dries, but there may be moisture down below. If I see one on "Sale" will probably get one!
Hi Karyn: Thank you for not making me seem one of the few people gardening for all these years w/o a water meter!!
So glad I asked this question ... thanks to all of you for some great info and ideas. Blessings, Gloria

Hi Gloria,
Yes the moisture meter works here in So. CA. I wanted to water everything tonight to feed tomorrow all at the same t ime
Used the meter, part of my canned plumies were moist to wet, no water, some were dry. So will wait tomorrow and check again. Ground is always dry it seems watered them, will feed them tomorrow..
Karen B.

I bought one today at Lowes for 10. I wish I would have thought to buy one weeks ago. I am new to Plumeria's just a few months., and have lost 4 to root rot. The meter works well. Now I can see I have a few I need to adjust due to over watering.