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How to use PlantDoc

Insert PlantDoc

Insert PlantDoc firmly into your houseplant's dry soil, white side facing out. Water your plant as usual.

Watch the color change

PlantDoc will turn from white to green (or any color!) when wet. PlantDoc will slowly return to white as the the soil dries. Check out our houseplant watering guide to customize your routine!

Water as needed

As PlantDoc returns white, water you houseplant according to its needs. Repeat these steps and watch your houseplant thrive! Compost when it starts to break down or bend then replace with a new one!

The Story of PlantDoc

Ever since arriving to the lush landscape of Portland, OR from the concrete jungle of New York City, our family has become true plant lovers, obsessed with having greenery in the home. In our journey to learn the nuances of watering care for houseplants, we discovered a need for an easy way to understand when to water an indoor plant.

Combined with our research thinking caps, and inspiration from our baby's color-change bath book (yes, the idea occurred to us while bathing our child!); we created our earth-friendly PlantDoc to help all plant parents alike to visually see when to water their houseplants.

Who is PlantDoc for?

PlantDoc is the perfect moisture indicator tool for anyone who wants an easy reminder for plant watering. It's a great fit for new plant parents and plant experts alike!

Just stick the PlantDoc into your plant's soil and let our smart tool do the rest.

The color change is also a great learning tool for educators, allowing for an intuitive and engaging display of plant water needs over time.

What makes PlantDoc special?

Unlike other moisture indicators, PlantDoc is:

  • So easy, a toddler can understand it!

  • Affordable, budget-friendly 5-packs last for months.

  • 100% Biodegradable, leaving o footprint on our beautiful planet.

  • A great gift for all of the plant-lovers in your life.

Does PlantDoc work with all Plants?

Yes! You can use the PlantDoc moisture meter as a guide to your regular watering routine for most houseplants.

The way to use PlantDoc depends on the moisture preference of your houseplants! 

  • Peperomias and succulents like soil to dry completely before re-watering: make sure PlantDoc is completely white down to soil level before watering again

  • Ferns and peace lilies want consistently moist soil, so watch the base of the PlantDoc and water again before PlantDoc fully returns to white
How to read PlantDoc

Q&A

How does PlantDoc work?

Just like your plants, PlantDoc absorbs water, changing from white to green in approximately 30 minutes.

PlantDoc measures the top 2” of your plant’s soil. It works best in pots less than 8” wide.

As the soil dries out, PlantDoc turns back to white from top to bottom; soil  colorful and is still wet  if you can see some green coloration at the base of the PlantDoc.

What is PlantDoc made of?

PlantDoc is the only 100% plastic-free houseplant moisture meter! Our patent-pending design is made of sturdy paper-based fiber with non-toxic inks and paint.

How many plants does one PlantDoc work for?

We recommend one PlantDoc per plant. PlantDocs should not be moved from their initial location because their stem softens after it has absorbed water.

How can I tell if my plant needs water?

How green PlantDoc is tells how dry your soil is!

For example, if PlantDoc is completely white, that means the soil is mostly dry. Click here to learn more!  

How long does PlantDoc last, and what happens next?

PlantDocs last about 2 months of use before the biodegrading process becomes noticeable, but will last longer in drier, rockier soil. PlantDoc still functions while biodegrading, it may just look a bit... biodegrady

PlantDoc will last longer if you avoid applying water directly onto PlantDoc. With proper care, PlantDoc lasts 3-6 months depending on frequency of watering and soil wetness.

After several months, PlantDoc may begin to pick up a tint from the soil or biodegrade, but it has lots of life left!

The right time to compost PlantDoc is when you can no longer see the color change effect after 30 minutes of watering.

PlantDoc doesn't need any special industrial composting to biodegrade. You can toss it right into your backyard!

Got a PlantDoc question?

We definitely want our customers to be happy and appreciate any feedback... because we are always working to improve our product and process for you!

Contact us

Customer Reviews

Based on 6 reviews
67%
(4)
17%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
17%
(1)
M
Mary Fjellstad
Happy Plants

Love these moisture sticks. They work best on larger pots. Smaller pots don't allow the stick to be inserted far enough. They stay fairly firm provided you don't over water.
Over all very happy!

J
Jenè b.
Helpful!

These are so helpful when it comes to the plants that are out of reach. I hope in the future they create the stem part a little longer so it can go further in the soil for those plants that need to be around 50%+ dry. Keep to the suggestions, too much water can make the product weak and need to dry out itself. Great tool to have on hand as gifts as well.

C
Charles Vincent Celeste
Amazing

works like a charm. now i know if my tropical plants need water.
it stains if the water is brownish.

J
Juliana Chung

Love that you can bottom water your plants & know when it's watered

J
Jeanette Williams
Moisture meter

I previously gave a three star rating. But once I read the literature provided. I’m changing my rating. To 5 stars I’m completely happy with performance of the moisture metter