u/softstatic21

I've killed a couple plants from overwatering so I'm considering a moisture meter instead of just sticking to the finger test. I usually do the finger method for pothos and snake plant and it works fine, but fussy succulents and peat-heavy mixes always trip me up. I tried a $10 meter once and it gave weird readings that didn't match what the soil felt like, so idk if it was junk or I was using it wrong. Anyone who actually uses a meter regularly, what models work and for which pot types does finger fail you?

I just pared my indoor jungle from about 25 pots to 9 after hitting serious plant burnout and giving a bunch away at a swap and to friends. My place feels calmer and I water way less, but I keep thinking about the big Monstera I handed off since it was my first real success. Curious if anyone actually regretted certain plants and ended up wanting them back or replacing them soon after. Share which ones you missed and whether you ever brought them home again or moved on.

Just moved into a tiny north-facing apartment with basically zero natural light and tried to turn it into a jungle to cheer myself up. I stocked up on "low light" staples—pothos, ZZ, snake plant, peace lily—and only the pothos and ZZ actually hung on, snake plant got leggy and the peace lily sulked. I tried a cheap full-spectrum LED for a few hours a day and rotating pots, humidity tray helped a bit but also encouraged mold. If you managed a true indoor jungle in a dark place, what exact species survived and what was your light/humidity routine and schedule?