Cart

Close

Congratulations! You are now on the waiting list, please check your inbox for our confirmation email!

Register Account

Sign In

Crew 3-in-1 Water Meter - Light pH and Moisture Soil Meter - Green

$12.90 NZD

Another member of the Crew Essentials range is the Crew 3-in-1 Water Meter combining a soil moisture meter, pH and light meter all in one. I nicknamed it the Cheat Meter because it's just that. I'm not talking exact science here though (specialist, super-accurate meters can get very costly, think $100+), so think of this super-affordable tool more as a peace-of-mind back-up for your own common sense, and for checking what you can't reach (like the moisture level down at root level).

I've given it a good go on my jungle and despite it's super affordable price, they do actually work. Sure, they're not crazy accurate, but still a really good guide, especially to check moisture levels down where it really matters to avoid causing root rot. Great for peace of mind to help you avoid over-watering.

PS: No batteries required, the meter itself is like a battery without water. The 2 probes are 2 different types of metal. When you add an electrolyte (the moisture in the soil), it works like a very weak battery, but with enough 'voltage' for the sensor to read. The less water in the soil the less voltage goes through the meter (so you'd get a reading on the moist to dry side). Pop it in and wait 5 minutes for the moisture reading.

How to use:

To check soil moisture
(hydrometer mode) 


Push the switch far left to the MOIST setting. Push the sensors deep enough in the pot to reach the bottom of the plant's root level. Wait a few minutes and the needle will indicate the moisture level. 

Results: There are 3 zones: 1 to 3 is the red zone (dry), 4 to 7 is the green zone (moist), and 8 to 10 is the blue zone (wet). Water according to your plants preferences. Getting multiple readings is normal as water won't be evenly distributed, so take a couple of readings. 

My tests in real life: This is the most helpful setting and the main reason I use this tool. I tested a range of plants, a few I'd recently watered, and it's pretty accurate providing you know how these work. I know they look so simple, but there are still simple things to do (and not do) to get the best readings. I pay attention to the zone on the dial (dry, moist, wet) rather than the exact number. Keep in mind these work on indoor and outdoor plants in a range of soils (more about substrates below), so unless you've got an indoor plant growing in the same high water-holding soil you would use outdoors, you should worry if you get a 'wet' reading on an indoor plants.

I've had it happen lots of times where plants I thought were dry, and would have watered, turned out were still wet down at root level, because these probes go down deeper into the pot than I can possibly test with my finger. I find these super handy if you're not 100% sure and worried about over-watering. I did find the probes need to go down at least 10 to 12cms or more for better readings (the length of the probes is 17.5cms), so if you mainly have plants in small pots, get the shorter Soil Sensor instead.

 

As a light meter


Move the switch to the middle setting above the word LIGHT. There's a small light sensor panel at the front of the meter. Face that towards the light source in the same spot you plan to put your plant. 

Results: 0 is Dark. From 200 to 1000 indicates low to medium light. 1,000 to 2,000 is the medium to bright zone (direct sunlight registers over 2,000).

My tests in real life: The gauge has a range 0 to 2,000 lux but I found that what I'd call medium light areas still register in the dark zone, likely because this meter is made for both indoor and outdoor use, so allow a bit of leeway with this setting and use it more as a guide.  

 

As a pH meter


Move to switch to the setting on the right, by the letters PH. Put the sensors quite deep in the soil. Wait a minute or two for the result to show on the pH gauge.

Results: A reading greater than 7 is alkaline, and below 7 is acidic.

My tests in real life: Most of my plants tested the same, between 6 and 7.5, which is the ideal range for indoor plants. Again, I use this primarily for the moisture meter setting, so wasn't expecting amazing accuracy from this or the light settings. Somewhat accurate, and good to alert you if your soil swings too far acidic or alkaline, which can turn nutrients toxic, but there's a reason pH meters cost far more than this meter.  


Want to know more? Here's how a water meter works plus some trouble-shooting do's and don'ts >


Does the substrate type matter?


It may seem obvious after you read how an analog water meter works but the answer is yes, the substrate type matters, because the probes need to measure the water content IN the substrate. All good for the  majority of your standard outdoor and indoor potting mixes, from fine to medium grades, but when you get into very chunky mixes, like larger grade bark-based potting mix, the probes can't break their way INTO the chunks of bark, so will give you a dry reading (because the probes are measuring the air, not the substrate).  

Customer Reviews

Based on 2 reviews
50%
(1)
50%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
Sue Collier

My purchase of two water meters were a great price and arrived quicker than expected. One of them was slightly damaged but still works fine. Overall , great.

Hi Sue, glad to hear you're happy with the price and functionality, but sorry to hear one arrived slightly damaged. Please pop me an email (hello@lovethatleaf.co.nz) and I'll get that replaced for you. Thank you for letting me know - Anna @lovethatleaf

C
Christine Jessop
Water meters

My plants are already looking better as I now water when it’s required.
Thank you

Shipping and Delivery FAQ's


SHIPPING RATES


Shipping
 is FREE for all orders over $99. For orders under $99: Auckland Standard $5, signature required is $7 or rural is $9. The rest of the North Island and the South Island: Standard $7, signature required is $9, or rural is $11. Plants and fragile or oversize products have their own rates (worked out in the cart based on your order). 


IN STOCK, READY TO SHIP


Stock levels are live. Everything showing in stock online, is in stock right here, right now, in Auckland NZ, ready to ship. No drop shipping from other countries. No delays.

 

SHIPPING EVERY DAY


Orders ship every week-day, Monday to Friday. Orders placed before 7pm Monday to Thursday leave the next morning. Zoom zoom! Fri, Sat & Sun orders leave Monday (or the next working day).

 

FAST DELIVERY


Normal delivery is 1 to 2 working days. Rural and some regions can take a day or 2 longer, depending on where you're based (I'm based in Auckland). 

More about shipping and delivery > 

 

CUSTOMER REVIEWS


"Anna was brilliant. Order placed and sent the next day. Received in awesome packaging. Couldn’t ask for more... will definitely use you again and again and again. Highly recommend." Scott Guthrie 


"I can’t recommend love that leaf highly enough. I’ve bought a couple of times so far and on both occasions Anna has been more helpful than I could possibly wish for. 5 stars! Don’t hesitate to order from Love That Leaf. Excellent service and super fast delivery." Rob Gordon

Why choose to buy from Love That Leaf?

YOU'RE SUPPORTING LOCAL

When you buy from me you're supporting a local, small, family business. Love That Leaf is a registered NZ business, based in Auckland. 


IN STOCK NOW + NEXT DAY DISPATCH 

You'll also get your goodies super fast. Everything showing in stock on the website is right here, in stock, ready to ship to you. I ship daily, Monday to Friday. Your order will be normally be on the courier the same or next working day. Zoom zoom!


I'LL PUT IT RIGHT + CONSUMER GUARANTEES ACT 

I stand by everything I sell and will always help put right anything that goes wrong. When you choose to buy from a registered NZ business (like me), you're also covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act, unlike overseas purchases or private sales, where you can end up stuck with no rights if anything arrives damaged or stops working.


SUPER SUPPORT

I won't go AWOL on you. I'm here for support and advice anytime, even if you haven't bought from me yet. A lot of lovely people helped me along my plant journey, and I want to pay it forward. Please don't hesitate to ask for help. No obligation at all to purchase. 


CUSTOMER REVIEWS


"Super impressed with this business. Something that is lost nowadays, is customer service. This however is not the case with Anna from Love that Leaf. Very happy with my purchase, very happy with the product information provided and very happy with the quick shipping and great packaging. Thanks!" Melayna Anderson


"By far the best customer care I've had in a long time. Website is such a wealth of information and the email with instructions for use after my purchase was fantastic. The pipette for measuring the correct amount was such a great inclusion, and the personalised message on the package was very cool. Definitely my go to shop for plant supplies now. Thanks Love That Leaf! A+++" Karyn Wilson