How the watering score works
A simple moisture balance, not a mysterious number pretending to know every corner of your garden.
The short version
We start at your last watering, then follow what happened after it. Each recent hour can draw moisture away through warmth, dry air, sun, and wind. Rain can top it back up only when it can reach the plant. The result is a likely moisture reserve, not a fixed “water every X days” rule.
Your moisture reserve
Plant type, pot or ground, root space, soil, shade, age, and how deeply you watered set the starting reserve and how quickly it is used.
Weather since watering
The model adds hourly drying demand from temperature, humidity, sunshine, and wind after the last watering. Two hot dry days therefore count more than two mild ones.
Rain that actually helps
Only rain after the selected watering time is included. Outdoor exposed plants receive more credit than sheltered plants; indoor plants receive none.
Need versus timing
The need score describes likely moisture now. Forecast rain mainly changes the timing advice, especially within the next six to twenty-four hours, rather than rewriting today’s need.
Safety checks
Frost, snow, rain falling now, and saturated clay soil can override an otherwise thirsty-looking score.
Confidence
An uncertain last watering, missing history, or indoor estimate lowers confidence and makes “check the soil first” more likely.
What the score still cannot see
- Your actual soil-moisture reading, mulch layer, drainage hole, or root health.
- Fine microclimates, including a hot wall, a windy balcony, or a rain shadow that differs from the local forecast.
- Exact species needs, disease, transplant shock, or whether a plant has naturally droopy leaves.
If the forecast and the soil disagree, trust the soil. This tool is designed to make that check more informed, not replace it.