Do skewers skewer the roots?

[silken]

Skewers have saved many of my chids from root rot. I find the pot can feel feather light and still be damp in the bottom. I use clear pots with lots of holes but a skewer is in almost every one. I leave it there so that it is truly as wet or dry as the bark or moss is when I pull it out to test. You can always see the hole it came out of if you pay attention so it goes right back into the same spot. No roots get harmed I am sure as they don't grow where the skewer is sitting.

[Kailyn]

put the skewer in with the blunt side down and wiggle it in gently like someone else said. I use skewers in some of my pots as they can often feel light while they are still quite damp in the middle. Others I can tell by weight or just know.

[Paphluvr]

I think the Consumer Electronics Show had some doppler radar guided skewers on display that avoided the roots as they were inserted. Might be worth checking out!

[OCRC_Dir_China]

I do believe at one time all of us orchid enthusiast; in our beginning days tried all the different ways of judging when to water.
For my 45 years of growing orchids, pot weight and finger works for me. As your plants survive over the years you develop the knack for when to water or not.
The plants environment humidity changes will govern water schedules, this must be watched carefully.
I am in North east China and the winters are long and cold, the relative humidity can easily drop to 5 percent quickly, so humidification is a must. If we don’t use humidification the pots could dry out in a day easily.

[blackvine]

Originally Posted by OCRC_Dir_China

I do believe at one time all of us orchid enthusiast; in our beginning days tried all the different ways of judging when to water.
For my 45 years of growing orchids, pot weight and finger works for me.

Good to know a long time grower uses the ol' finger method, too! Although, I do like one of the suggestions of leaving the skewer in place . . .

Anyway, thanks to ALL for your input!