Ph'n With A Cheap Meter Is Fine...Isn't it?

hydra-glide

Well-Known Member
Finally getting into a good groove of testing the pH on everything going into the plant. My soil pH was running at 6, a couple of times slightly below 6. I've read here that using Up and Down to adjust pH would kill some helpful micro-organisms, but whatchagonnado? So I used UP (it takes a lot more UP to get a result than it does using Down. Down goes fast!)
Using test dye, I've found that a rich honey-gold is about 6.8 which is a good reading to use as a base for all mixed nutes, because the soil buffers the pH down sometimes.
I flood-water my plants at least once a week, enough that there's water run-off. When tested, the run-off ph is about 6.2 after they've been fed 6.8.
Now, that I'm a "1/4 season grow-farming expert", I've quit using the expensive pH color solution to test, and have gone boldly where no one has ever gone before....by foregoing the test-dye and just what? That's right, I just stick the tip of the meter into the test vial and let the needle find it's way in a one-minute pause. Outta my way.... I'm a pot farmer! Hail, yeah. pH.1.JPG
And this pH tester came from Home Depot. It's a GOOD ONE! Yeahhhhh.... buddy!
 

Dr.Nick Riviera

Well-Known Member
soil has ph buffers, the ph should swing as the soil dries, that is how it is suppose to work, better to just test ph to make sure it isn't to high or low, other than that, I haven't ph'd in years
 

hydra-glide

Well-Known Member
Here's my backup to the root zone pH-meter testing. 6.8 going in, and 6.2 draining out.
Sweet & cheap meter. Amz. doesn't sell this brand and brother's this needle free-swings and lands. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Soil-Master-pH-Meter-1230/204373751
GitbackLo-Retta
pH.2.JPG
The best 2" casters I could find. Amz yourself a 4-pk. Those are 3/4x 18" diameter plywood circles, Eugene! Eye-hook and a lead rope, I drag (7) of them in and out daily for sun.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G5Y63OQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
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