If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Gardening This Handy Device Will Tell You If You're Over or Under Watering Your Plants, and It's on Sale It’s earned more than 38,100 five-star ratings By Lauren Taylor Lauren Taylor Lauren Taylor is a Shopping Writer for Better Homes & Gardens. She has been writing shopping content for over two years and focuses on trends, sales, and product launches. She frequently covers home decor, furniture, organization, and kitchen topics. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on May 5, 2024 07:00AM EDT Photo: Better Homes & Gardens / Tyler Roeland One of the keys to a thriving garden is providing just the right amount of water to your plants. But it’s not always easy to tell whether you’ve watered them enough or too much, especially if you have multiple plants with different watering needs. The solution? A soil meter like this best-selling Xlux option from Amazon. It’s insanely popular, with more than 38,100 five-star ratings, and it’s only $11. Thanks to the meter’s easy-to-read dial marked with wet, moist, and dry indicators, determining the moisture level requires no guesswork. Using the device couldn’t be simpler: Just stick the probe 2 to 5 inches into the soil, wait for the pointer to stop moving to check the soil reading, and wipe the probe after using it. Plus, it doesn’t require any batteries, so it’s ready to use right away. According to one shopper, the gadget is so easy to use that their grandson was able to tell which plants “needed a drink.” Just be sure you don’t use it in hard soil or liquids to keep the meter running smoothly. XLux Soil Moisture Meter Amazon Orig. $13 $11 at Amazon The slim 7-inch probe causes minimal disturbance to the soil and roots to avoid damaging your plants. Reviewers also appreciate that it helps them determine the moisture level at varying soil depths. “If it [has] high moisture at the bottom, I might just spray the top of the plant,” they shared. “It’s really helped me control how much I water my plants and therefore how they survive.” Instead of wasting time (and water) on plants that don’t need watering, shoppers are now able to only tend to the plants that are too dry. Weeding Takes Minutes Instead of Hours with This 'Genius' Gardening Tool That's Finally Back in Stock Even if you don’t have a large garden, the soil meter will come in handy for indoor plants, too. And it’s a useful tool for new gardeners who might have trouble determining when and how much to water their plants. One beginner gardener said, “I have a whole new confidence in how to take care of my plants.” Whether you’re new to gardening or a plant pro, the XLux soil meter will become your new favorite tool. Grab it for just $11, and shop more gardening tools from Amazon below. Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears Amazon Orig. $21 $14 at Amazon Grampa's Weeder The Original Stand-Up Weed-Puller Tool Amazon $45 at Amazon Fiskars Ergo Trowel Amazon Orig. $13 $8 at Amazon Grenebo Nine-Piece Gardening Tools Set Amazon Orig. $42 $36 at Amazon Esow Three-Piece Garden Tool Set Amazon $21 at Amazon Edward Tools Hoe and Cultivator Hand Tiller Amazon $20 at Amazon Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit More Must-Shop Products Our BHG Collection of Comfy Patio Chairs Is Deeply Discounted During Walmart’s Huge Sale Our Editor Swears By This Mosquito-Repelling Device—Plus 6 More Summer Products We’re Loving 10 Clothing Items Under $50 That Won't Wrinkle When Packed in a Suitcase or Thrown on the Floor