Within a greenhouse environment, the temperature and humidity make the difference between plants thriving and plants dying. This difference can occur with just a degree or two temperature differences for particularly sensitive plants. The good news is that by using a product like the best greenhouse thermometer, you can consistently check that a plant is in the right environment to help it thrive.
In this guide, we have collected the top products of this type, looked at their durability, accuracy, and other important details, and collated real customer feedback. With that information, you have the best possible chance of buying the best thermometer for greenhouse use, avoiding expensive duds that simply don’t meet the mark. Whether you need a thermometer with comprehensive temperature tracking or looking for the smartest option on the market with a Bluetooth connection, you will find those that suit your needs.
Other features: humidity sensor; backlight & LCD touchscreen; auto turn-off; multiple mounting options; battery status indicator; water-resistant
The Vauno Humidity Gauge Meter is a wireless thermometer suitable for use both indoors and outdoors (covered) displaying temperature and humidity ranges, trend arrows, all time and 24 hours, maximum and minimum records. It has a built-in sensor in the main unit, one remote sensor, and the ability to purchase additional sensors. With an outdoor temperature range of -40 to 158 degrees F (outdoors), a temperature accuracy of around 1.5 degrees F, humidity accuracy of around 5%, and an indoor temperature range of -4 to 158 degrees F, there is a lot of information to be gained from the Vauno. Customers will also love that the sensor works up to 200 feet away from the main unit, with both units showing a battery level for easy battery replacement planning.
This product is ideal if you’re looking for a fantastic all-around gauge of any particular environment. You can use the meter in the greenhouse, nursery, garage, self-storage unit, and more. In the greenhouse, it is particularly handy because you can easily act on the displayed levels to make sure your plants are in the perfect growing environment. If you have multiple greenhouses or polytunnels, you can also buy additional remote sensors (up to three) which will synchronize with the main unit, which is really helpful as a management tool.
Other features: backlight LCD screen with touchable button; cold-resistant; waterproof; multiple mounting options
If you’re looking for a fantastic greenhouse meter that does it all, the Thermopro TP63B could be a great choice for you. It has a huge 500-foot range, ideal for larger houses and gardens. It is also cold-resistant, waterproof, runs on rechargeable lithium batteries, and has fantastic accuracy with humidity and temperature (indoor and outdoor) even in really cold weather. Customers will love that the large, easy-to-read LCD screen displays current levels as well as trends and all-time records and min/max records, which is helpful when you’re looking to track your greenhouse environment at a glance.
You can compare the Thermopro TP63B with similarly priced items. What does it have to offer that other products don’t? One of the key differences is that it is waterproof, which not all greenhouse meters are. It is also more accurate than comparable products with a range of around 2% or 2 variations of humidity when some units are at least double that either way in their ranges. If you’re particularly keen to have an extremely accurate unit, this is the right option for you. The Themopro is also great in very cold weather, so if you do live in a climate with a variable weather system, it is also a really great meter to consider.
Other features: calibration; comfort level meter; multiple placement options; area-specific monitoring
The AcuRite monitor is a compact meter designed to measure the temperature and humidity in greenhouses, nurseries, home offices, and other suitable locations. It uses batteries to work and isn’t suitable for outdoor use. When used indoors as directed, it offers highly accurate readings (plus or minus 2 degrees temp, 3 points humidity), as well as offering air comfort indicators letting your know if humidity is OK or in the lower or higher ranges. If you are likely to place the hydrometer in different locations, you will love standing or hanging the product, depending on your needs.
You can compare the product to meters which come with a separate sensor. This item is more of a ‘clock’ feature in that you glance at it in the space that you expect to know the conditions. This area-specific aspect of the product does not diminish its usefulness, but it is worth considering if you want to be able to check the levels in a space without traveling to that location.
Other features: 3 wireless sensors; comprehensive temperature tracking; backlit display; max/min record
The Smartro SC92 hydrometer is a professional piece of equipment designed to give you highly accurate information on the humidity and temperature of the space you place it or up to three wireless sensors in. As well as information on the main unit, which has a large HD LCD backlit screen, you can place up to three sensors up to 200 feet away, giving you the ability to track the conditions in four different spots. Customers who want extremely precise readings will appreciate that the comprehensive device has a temperature accuracy of within 0.5 degrees F and a humidity accuracy or within 2 units.
This product is perfect for anybody who wants an exceptionally accurate and extremely reliable product. It uses a built-in Swiss sensor that can show even the slightest changes in the environment. It is designed to surpass other items on the market with the precise reflection of temperature and humidity. Perfect for situations where you need to be sure of the exact conditions your treasured items and loved ones are in at any one time.
Other features: Bluetooth connection; Alert function; 2 secs data refresh speed; portable size
Are you the kind of gardener who loves to use the latest technology to make your life easier? If that sounds like you, the Govee Bluetooth thermo-hydrometer is a great idea. Instead of using the primary information station, it transmits vital home and greenhouse environment from a small sensor that is indoor suitable only. This sensor sends information to an app on your phone via Bluetooth both when you interact with the app and also through alerts. It measures humidity and indoor temperature range and transmits to within 230 feet, helping you provide your plants the best possible living environment.
The Govee Bluetooth is the perfect product for people who love to mix their hobbies and technology. Houseplant parents will particularly appreciate the ability to consistently measure their plant baby’s environment with the information going straight to their phone. With 230 feet range, it is also perfect for polytunnels and greenhouses, only the data doesn’t have to be read on the main station, but instead, it goes right to your phone. What’s better than switching between different social media pages, checking your emails, and then checking in on how snuggly and moist your plants are all from the same place?
When it comes to buying advanced apparatus needed to do a specific job, it can be tricky to know which product to buy. It is so easy to get something that doesn’t get the job done right. With greenhouse humidity and temperature, accurate readings are essential. For those reasons, we have added this buying guide to help you get an idea of what to look for when you are browsing products. What is the temperature range, and why does it matter? How important is it that the sensor is waterproof? How important is the price? We’ve got answers to those questions and more in this buying guide:
Humidity and temperature are very important factors when it comes to growing plants successfully, which is why monitoring those factors Trusted Source Instruments for Monitoring the Greenhouse Aerial Environment | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Air temperature can be measured with a common thermometer. Not surprisingly, the thermometer indicates the temperature of the exposed sensor tip, or bulb, which has reached equilibrium with the surrounding environment. horteng.envsci.rutgers.edu in your greenhouse is essential.
Humidity is important because it influences how the plants open the part on the underside of their leaves, called stomata. It is essentially how the plant breathes and cools itself down. When humidity is too high, a plant cannot get rid of excess water through evaporation, and instead, it collects water and rots. The plant may struggle to absorb nutrients it gets through the air. Pests can also be attracted to very moist and rotting plants and substrates.
Plants that need humidity in high levels, such as tropical fruits and plants, will also struggle if the air is not moist enough.
Temperature is important to plants in many ways as warmer temperatures (relative to the plants’ needs) allow photosynthesis, respiration, flowering, germination, and fruiting. Colder temperatures can cause dormancy or may actually kill the plant.
It all depends on the different plant types, but overall, having the ability to protect plants from the cold, to add more moisture to the air, ventilate more, or add shade to cool an environment are all decisions that can come from information about the environment the plants are in. This is why thermometers and hygrometers are essential for a greenhouse – so you have full control over how you care for your plants.
To give you an idea of some of the fantastic greenhouse thermometer and hygrometer products out there, we’ve given you in-depth reviews of five currently available to buy. To help you decide which product to buy, here’s a look at key aspects of those products and why they matter:
Some sensors, like the AcuRite, are standalone units that do not enable you to place a sensor into the greenhouse, which you can track from indoors. Overall, this is a matter of convenience for most people. However, if you have multiple growing areas, going to the growing area to check the conditions could be a little annoying and time-consuming. For better remote access, you can choose the Smartro SC92, which comes with three remote sensors, or the Vauno, which comes with one.
It is handy to have a product that stands well and can be mounted in multiple ways. Most products can be hung, attached by a magnet, stood on a table, or placed in other useful ways. If you know that you have a specific mounting need, check that the product is compatible before purchase.
For some people, the best digital greenhouse thermometer is a high-tech one, like the Govee Bluetooth. Instead of working with transmitters to a base unit, the best remote greenhouse thermometer – the Govee – uses one small sensor that then relays information to your phone via Bluetooth or WIFI. This is incredibly useful if you want your gardening device to be integrated with your overall home technology. It’s not an issue for those who don’t want growing information on their phone, but if you’re one of the 33 million Trusted Source U.S. houseplants participation 2019 | Statista The statistic shows indoor houseplant gardening participation in the United States from 2010 to 2019. According to the source, an estimated 33.1 million U.S. households participated in indoor houseplant gardening in 2019. www.statista.com and counting houseplant parents who want to monitor the conditions their plant babies are in, the Govee Bluetooth is an easy pick.
The bigger the temperature range, the better the product is at dealing with weather fluctuations. This is important if you grow sensitive plants or if you live in a climate with very changeable weather. The product needs to be able to handle the lowest and the highest temperatures it may be faced with. If the environment you are in faces extreme temperatures, you may want to consider the Smartro, which lists its ability to deal with extreme temperatures, or the ThermoPro, which is cold-resistant.
The temperature accuracy is essential in all thermometers, but mainly if your growing projects cannot handle large temperature changes or inaccuracies. Most products don’t vary more than 4 degrees above or below 0. An excellent general inaccuracy is about 2 degrees above or below 0. The best products, like the Smartro have a 0.5 above or below inaccuracy, so if you need the exact temperature, this could be the right product for you.
Humidity accuracy will always be a little more than temperature accuracy on either side of the base RH rate. Despite that, the range should not be more than around 4 on either side of that base rate, ideally. The more information you can get regarding humidity, the easier it will be to adjust the humidity in your greenhouse for happier plants.
Both the ThermoPro and the Smartro have water-resistant sensors, which, although listed as waterproof, need some cover to avoid losing their ability to work properly. This is important to consider if you know that the item will get wet while you water your plants, if you use humidifiers or if you want to monitor the outside temperature for outdoor growing. If this is not important to you, be aware that you don’t need to pay extra for a water-resistant product then.
The screen will usually display the temperature and humidity. It could also display information such as all-time highs and lows, a humidity comfort meter, trends, and further helpful information. The Vauno is an excellent example of a product that shows lots of handy info.
The screen can also be important if you need it to be backlit. Low light or no light can make the product challenging to read at dawn or dusk, or if you garden in winter.
The screen should also have writing on it that is large and comfortable to read, ideally at all angles.
Be aware that backlit thermometers will use more battery, so you can get more battery use out of it if you do not need a light on the item.
It is also important to be wary of features like rechargeable batteries that are generally not very long-lasting on average in products like a greenhouse thermometer. They are handy, but they can be more of a nuisance than changing batteries over, which is quicker, and it is how most greenhouse thermometers are powered.
From the best remote thermometer for the greenhouse to the best greenhouse thermometer and hygrometer combined, we particularly loved the Vauno, Smartro, and AcuRite.
The Vauno is the Editors Pick and has all the features you need to be a great gardening buddy with one sensor and a great range of information on the Home Screen. We also loved the Smartro – our Digital Greenhouse Thermometer nomination – because it is so accurate and makes it easy to keep plants in the best possible environment. The AcuRite is the most accurate device that also comes pre-calibrated.
We hope that you can get the very best greenhouse thermometer for your needs with all our handy information above. With the accurate and insightful information they provide, you can ensure your treasured plant projects get the right environment to thrive day after day.