A TDR matrix suction sensor measures the matrix suction exhibited by a porous medium surrounding the sensor. The sensor is constructed from a TDR matrix suction sensor probe, which includes two or more elongated conductors and a jacket that encases the conductors. The jacket is made of a hydrophilic, non-conductive, porous (HN-CP) material. In operation, a pulse delay time is computed for an electrical pulse injected into the proximal end of the conductors and reflected when reaching their distal ends. The pulse delay time and a delay-to-matrix suction profile of the HN-CP jacket material are used to compute the matrix suction exhibited by the probe jackets. An indicator of the current value of the matrix suction exhibited by the porous medium is then established based on the matrix suction computed for the HN-CP jackets.