LaType Soil Tester, 3 in 1 Soil Moisture/pH/Light Meter Soil Test Kit for Gardening, Home, Lawn, Indoor and Outdoor Use, No Batteries Required

does not work. the needle moves around wildly if you barely touch it. for the PH test, it "tries" to move, but takes 5 minutes to react to the sample. even after that there's no significant information you get from it since the needle moves like an old 1980's chevy pickup gas gauge....lol. not worth it.

It is useful to have all three of these sensors, and this meter does not require any batteries. The first meter I got arrived damaged. The middle switch that allows you to set between the three sensors was broken. Fortunately I was able to get it replaced.The meter feels like it undervalues the actual value. Like the moisture meter feels to underestimate how wet it actually is (as compared to the finger test). Also, the moisture level decreases by the second after the initial insertion, making you question whether to trust the first measurement or when the measurement stabilizes.I also use this probe for my house plants, and I find that the light meter is too ranged very well. the light barely gets above 500 most of the time, which barely moves the needle in this meter. I wish I had more sensitivity in the lower range.Please note that you cannot leave the probe in the soil.

Works fine. No problems. Of course you have to trust it a little on the ph and moisture stuff.

I fine these meters very helpful. I have a bad habit of overwatering plants. I find sticking your finger in the soil a little tedious and difficult. After touching the soil of so many plants, I find I really can’t tell at some point what I feel. Also, you can’t tell by using a finger if the soil has moisture in the bottom of the pot, which can indicate that the roots haven’t grown long/healthy enough in a new pot, and/or that the pot is too large for the plant. I have lost a lot of plants due to putting them in too large of pots too. This tool helps so much with my plant care.I have used moisture meters for years. They detect the humidity level of the soil, which varies according to how moist it is. I find them to be very accurate. I have an older pack of this same brand of meters, just two of them. I have one of my older ones right next to this item in the same pot in one of my photos. They have worked very well. They match the readings of other brands of moisture meters I have owned, including one battery operated one. The battery operated needs you to replace the battery of course. I find that a little irritating. Those battery operated ones (not this type) stop being accurate when the battery is low. I much prefer these. I had a cheaper moisture meters that stopped being accurate pretty quickly and it took me a while to notice (that cheaper one starting reading low moisture no matter what plant it was in). This price range is best when choosing moisture meters.I never use the light and pH part of the meter. I know my soil is Alkaline and don’t need to recheck it. Most plants do fine despite the pH in my soil. Light is easy to tell without a meter. To tell the light level of an area, you have to take different reading during different times of the day and probably different angles. I haven’t ever tried that feature.I prefer the meters that are designed to only detect only moisture, because those have only one prong. The double prongs are difficult to slip into smaller pots. If the plant doesn’t have the best roots, or deep enough roots, the meter can pull it out of the soil, if you aren’t careful. I have done that with succulents before. In pots that the plant probably needs to be transplanted out of soon and thus full of roots, it is difficult to insert two large prongs. I have trouble inserting it into my rubber tree’s pot because the roots are so large and woody. If soil has too much bark, it can be difficult to insert double prongs.These meters can’t be exposed to moisture and if left in soil, the tips will rust too. That is the same with any soil meter, in case you aren’t familiar with using them. There are tips of different moisture levels to look for depending on the plant. I honestly just water my plants when they are on the lower end. Then if they remain on the upper/most moist end for too long, act to save the plant. It makes watering easier, more accurate, and quicker.I have two cons with this item. First is the fact that it has two rather thick prongs that make it more difficult to insert into certain pots/soil. Second, since it has a little switch that you move to switch between the three settings on the meter, it is possible to have that on the wrong setting and not notice. Then you get the wrong reading. I have accidentally knocked the switch over to a different setting a few times. Most of the time it stays where it is, because it takes a little pressure to move. I have a good habit of checking once in a while to make sure it is set to the moisture setting, too.The pros are these are accurate in my experience and compared to other meters. They give you consistent readings, are easy to use, made well enough where they won’t break easily. I have dropped mine a number of times and they still work fine. These last a long time. The older ones (same brand) have been used by me regularly for over a year, and they still look and work great.

If you are buying this to test the oh on your dirt, grass, save your money. It does not work