Have you tested the PH in your soil?

[Muse]

I've been into vegetable gardening for decades but never tested the PH in my soils. Have you and how? I've checked out some stuff online and see no clear answers. PH meters can be bought for as low as $10, but they and even ones costing 5x more appear to be questionable.

 

[mindless1]

There are many pH meters on amazon with reasonable good reviews, what info makes you feel that they are questionable? Granted if you can get one for $10 on Amazon, you can probably get the same thing on Aliexpress or Temu for 1/3rd that, if you can wait a few weeks for delivery.

No I don't test, because there's nothing around that would substantially change the pH much. Bacteria make my soil slightly acidic breaking down organic matter, and the rain here is slightly acidic, but then most of the water the plants receive is tap water that is slightly alkaline.

Overall I know it has enough moments of acidity because I fortify the soil with eggshells and they are completely broken down at end of season when I till in more compost and fall leaves to break down over winter into spring when it's time to start over again, and by then, all compost besides the denser woody pieces of old plants, have turned back into soil.

 

[Muse]

I guess I mostly read customer reviews at Amazon and all the ones I checked had some harsh reviews.

There's a reddit thread on it and at least two posters suggested getting a pool PH testing kit and testing water that had been filtered through soil samples as a very accurate means of testing PH. So, I'm considering purchasing a pool water PH testing kit.

 

[bbhaag]

We use the HM Digital PH-200 Pro at work. I'm not going to say it is the industry standard but for a handheld unit it is fairly accurate and the price is right. You should absolutely be testing your pH by filtering the soil samples with water. It is the best way IMO.

Here are a few links:

There is a YT link on this page to show you how to use it.

PH-200

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hmdigital.com

This is the owners manual if you prefer print vs video.

https://hmdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/PH-200-Manual-VER3.0E.US_.BKW-US.pdf

Here is were I purchased it from but they are a horticultural wholesale supplier. You can Google to find a retailer.

Product | BFG Supply

 

[pete6032]

I've been into vegetable gardening for decades but never tested the PH in my soils. Have you and how? I've checked out some stuff online and see no clear answers. PH meters can be bought for as low as $10, but they and even ones costing 5x more appear to be questionable.

Check if your local university offers soil testing. Mine does for $10 when I drop it off.

 

[Muse]

Check if your local university offers soil testing. Mine does for $10 when I drop it off.

Mine probably does (I live about 1 1/2 miles from UC Berkeley, and they have an Extension that services gardening, etc., I've gone there a time or two in the past). But I figure the PH will vary, maybe a lot from place to place in my yard because the history of use is much different. Having my own soil testing method, if accurate, would be most helpful.

 

[Muse]

We use the HM Digital PH-200 Pro at work. I'm not going to say it is the industry standard but for a handheld unit it is fairly accurate and the price is right. You should absolutely be testing your pH by filtering the soil samples with water. It is the best way IMO.

Here are a few links:

There is a YT link on this page to show you how to use it.

PH-200

/*! elementor - v3.11.5 - 14-03-2023 */ .elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block} Waterproof...

hmdigital.com

This is the owners manual if you prefer print vs video.

https://hmdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/PH-200-Manual-VER3.0E.US_.BKW-US.pdf

Here is were I purchased it from but they are a horticultural wholesale supplier. You can Google to find a retailer.

Product | BFG Supply

Thanks. I'm seeing accessibility online but am confused. Amazon has it for around $56. I see (Google searched) 2 different offers at Aliexpress, one for ~$22 and the other ~$53. Are they all the same? Seems impossible that Aliexpress $22 one is the same or legit. Free shipping on it too. I bought an item off Aliexpress January 2020, it came 10 days later. OK, I suppose, just earbud tips for ~$5.

What do you make of this?

 

[mindless1]

The $22 link is just for the electrode, not the whole meter. Meter on same page is $49.

This is the issue with Chinese merchants. It might be the exact same meter, or a very good copy, or a poor copy. The very few dollars saved makes me suspect it's the same but also not worth the bother to save less than 10%.

It would be more worth the wait to try this one at $34,

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807191456359.html

... or amazon warehouse resale has one for $28 on same amazon link you posted. No idea if it's really like new or has been used for a year to test monkeybuttpoxy, but could be returned for refund if not spotless.

 

[bbhaag]

Thanks. I'm seeing accessibility online but am confused. Amazon has it for around $56. I see (Google searched) 2 different offers at Aliexpress, one for ~$22 and the other ~$53. Are they all the same? Seems impossible that Aliexpress $22 one is the same or legit. Free shipping on it too. I bought an item off Aliexpress January 2020, it came 10 days later. OK, I suppose, just earbud tips for ~$5.

What do you make of this?

@mindless1 is correct the $22 link is just for the probe replacement not the entire unit. For this type of product I would purchase it from Amazon only because it is also shipped and sold by Amazon so if there is an issue a return would be easier. I don't use Aliexpress so I don't know what their return policies are and the price difference is only $3 anyway.

The Amazon page you linked to has a very helpful review of the product. It is the first one listed and even though it is older it is the truth about this pH tester. You need to RTFM to understand how it works, how to use it correctly, and how to store it properly after you are done using it. If you do that it will last for years.

 

[Muse]

@mindless1 is correct the $22 link is just for the probe replacement not the entire unit. For this type of product I would purchase it from Amazon only because it is also shipped and sold by Amazon so if there is an issue a return would be easier. I don't use Aliexpress so I don't know what their return policies are and the price difference is only $3 anyway.

The Amazon page you linked to has a very helpful review of the product. It is the first one listed and even though it is older it is the truth about this pH tester. You need to RTFM to understand how it works, how to use it correctly, and how to store it properly after you are done using it. If you do that it will last for years.

Thanks, I'll order it from Amazon. I already printed out the manual you linked. I'm in the habit of printing manuals.

 

[Muse]

The $22 link is just for the electrode, not the whole meter. Meter on same page is $49.

This is the issue with Chinese merchants. It might be the exact same meter, or a very good copy, or a poor copy. The very few dollars saved makes me suspect it's the same but also not worth the bother to save less than 10%.

It would be more worth the wait to try this one at $34,

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807191456359.html

... or amazon warehouse resale has one for $28 on same amazon link you posted. No idea if it's really like new or has been used for a year to test monkeybuttpoxy, but could be returned for refund if not spotless.

The one I linked at Amazon says made in Korea IIRC, the one I linked at Aliexpress says made in China. I'll try to spock out what you're referring to at Amazon... thanks!