Appendix i — Soil Drying Steps

Dry soil is required before performing the moisture sensor calibration in Tutorial 5. Follow these steps to dry potting soil using a standard oven. You will need enough dry soil to fill your gardening pot(s).

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Step 1. Pour the potting soil into a large baking pan and spread it into an even layer.

Step 2. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.

Step 3. Place the covered pan into an oven preheated to 200°F (93°C).

Step 4. Bake for 1 hour.

Step 5. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the soil to cool completely before using it in the calibration steps.

Safety Note

The pan and soil will be very hot after baking. Use oven mitts and allow the soil to cool on a heat-safe surface before handling.

Image 30 — Drying soil in an oven