PH Calibration Question?

Does every pH meter require me to use a buffer calibration solution? Sorry if this is a stupid question, Im new to growing. It just seems like a hassle that I would have to do the buffer calibration just to pH my water everyday before I water my plants. I have to keep buying buffer solution just to use my $150 hanna meter? Can't I just eyeball it with the color chart? Or is it not good to do it like that? Please help..

i only calibrate when i dont trust the readings, i can go a month between calibrations

You do want to check it a few times a year at least juat to make sure your ph readings are correct.

I recalibrate mine every month. It's 8.00 for a bottle of 7.0 solution, and takes 2 mins. If it's too much work for you to calibrate your pen, don't bother growing.

Learn what the pH of your feeds generally is... If you see something different then usual or doesn't make sense, calibrate.

It's usually not something you are going to have to do on a daily basis.

Exactly what resinhound said.

Ive also been wondering this. I have a tester solution and a ph pen. Whenever I ph my water my pen always seems to read much higher than the solution. The solution will be reading 6.0ish and the meter will still be reading at 6.8-7.0. I tend to just find a happy medium as Im growing in soil (FFOF) so as long as its between 6.4-6.7 I think Im fine due to natural buffers and they have all seemed fine. I am going to calibrate again just to be sure the pen is accurate though.

Thanks. Just need to remember how much water with how many drops of pH down. I guess that'll eliminate me having to calibrate every single time. I guess it's not that much of a hassle.

Oh one more question. The directions on the storage solution for the electrode say to change the Storage Solution in the cap of ph meter every week. Do I really need to remember to change the storage solution in the cap every week? Does it get damaged if I don't or if I forget?