Question about Bamboo skewers

[Mothman]

I've read about the Bamboo skewer method of measuring how often you need to water.

My concern is...dont you run the risk of damaging the roots when you stick a shart stick into the potting medium?

How do you avoid that?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Yes, that is a concern. You will probably poke a hole in few roots, depending on how dense they are. So, use a new, unhandled skewer. You don't want to transfer virus to the plant. Then replace it immediatedly into the same hole if you can. This hopefully will go back down the same route and not do any additional damage. I don't like the process some use to feel the skewer with their cheek or lip to see if it is cool, because you can contaminate the skewer before putting it back into the pot. I guess this might be OK if you use a different part of your face for each skewer you pull out in one day. But, particularly, you don't want to share skewers between plants, that is a sure fire way to transfer virus. Always use sterile techniques when cutting into plants and flowers or repotting , clean hands and sterile cutting tools, watch out for poking plants with fingernails, and then otherwise, just don't worry about virus. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[desertgal]

I still don't understand how to 'read' the skewer. I got my first ones yesterday and put them in my resting Phals. The only change I saw was a
little dark residue of about 1/2 inch at the tip of the skewer. Do I leave them in all the time and just remove them to check them?

[Mothman]

Well..I'm pretty sure I made a shishkabob with my skewer the other way cause I felt it go through something.

Actually I wasnt sure how deep to push the skewer in, so I keep pushing until it hit the bottom of the pot. I'm pretty sure I poked a few roots.

Does it have to be the cheeks or lips? what about the palms of your hands or fingertips?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

How clean are your hands? Remember, you don't want to transfer virus with these sticks. My mix is much finer than bark mixes and there is a definite color change from a damp mix to a dry mix. Those growing in bark say that there is not much color change and they have to feel the stick for coolness. I think every one will have to work this out for their type of mix. Cynthia