Soil pH tests are simply carried out by placing a small amount of soil taken from between 5cm – 10cm (2-4in) below the soil surface you wish to test in the test chamber of the comparators (Rapitest pH tester). Once switched on, pen calibration is easy using the buffer solutions pH4 & pH7 combined with the ‘calibration’ button on the unit. Simply dip the probe in the preferred solution and press the CAL button until CAL appears on the screen, it’s as simple as that. Simply follow the manufactures instructions to ‘ set’ the perfect calibration every time. Once calibrated though, the Essentials pH meter works by dipping the pen into any solution, waiting 20 seconds for pH ‘stabilisation to take place, then simply taking the pH reading from the pen screen.

It is important to note that not all models offer every single test detailed above. Testing requirements vary depending on the installation and its environment so not all tests are always necessary. Using just 4 x 1.5v button batteries (included) the Essentials meter will last for about 150hrs of normal use on one set of batteries, or about 350 tests.Other methods employed are coloured dyes and dip-in indicator strips, all of which are methods employed to provide the user with the soil pH reading. This waterproof versatile pen tester is suitable for soils, coco coir, potting mixes, solutions, and a variety of other growing media. This technology strongly enhances the speed and accuracy of detecting and analysing soil moisture and pH acidity in both outdoor and indoor soils. Lastly, testers that provide ‘whole’ number ranges 1,2,3,4, etc… would prove to be the least accurate due to the fact you have a 10x factor of ‘inaccuracy’ between ‘whole’ numbers as mentioned above.

Below I have provided some of the best soil pH testers currently on the UK market that use these various methods to provide you with visual pH results. When you insert the probe into the soil, it completes an electrical circuit that allows it to measure the conductivity of the soil. This information is then displayed on the screen in the form of a numerical reading. Now that is out the way let’s try and see if anyone type of ‘tester’ is more accurate than others. To understand accuracy we should perhaps understand the pH scale a little deeper. The meter is fairly lightweight, robust, and portable measuring only 29cm (11.5in) long. The letters and numbers are easily legible on the screen.

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This ‘solution’ can and should be used for all pH testing methods irrespective of the tester used in your garden or allotment. There are 3 main types of soil pH testers on the market that employ various methods to provide you with a visual reading of the soil pH in your garden. A soil pH tester is a device that measures the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. It helps gardeners and farmers to determine the pH level of the soil so that they can select appropriate plants, apply the correct fertilizers, and control pests effectively. Soil pH testers can come in different types, including electronic meters, test strips, and liquid indicators. With the digital/analogue probe devices, many of the cheaper meters suggest that the probe is placed directly in the soil. While this may be an easier option I would advise that this method will not provide accurate results. Once the soil sample has been added, add the provided ‘powder’from one of the 10 pH test capsules to the soil in the soil chamber of the comparator.

Cleaning, storing, and calibrating the Bluelab pen is fairly straightforward and easy to undertake. Calibration and re-hydration should be carried out every 30 days as per the manufactures recommendations using the Bluelab probe care kit.Finally, it is essential that you store the pen in a cool place and not allow the ‘cap’ to be removed during storage. The pen’s ‘probe’ needs to be stored in a ‘storage solution’ which fills the ‘cap’. It is difficult to say which soil tester is best there are many, I would suggest the best soil pH tester is the one that suits your own needs, and budget and that provides the accuracy that you require, based on your own growing requirements. This could be a simple test strip carried out at home or a professional soil test and report from a laboratory. Several options for pH testers The Essentials pH meter is an electronic digital soil pH meter, ideal for professional and amateur gardeners alike. The pH scale measures acidity on a logarithmic scale. Each whole number on the scale is 10 times more acidic than the next highest number. For example, 5 is 10 times more acidic than 6. Therefore understanding this, let’s look at the actual tester’s accuracy. The most accurate pH tester