Best Soil pH Tester - Buying Guide (Updated 2021)

 Gardening is a science, luckily, the information is abundant. You may not always be successful in growing some plants due to the soil pH, which is why you need the best soil pH testers.

pH in full is the ‘potential of hydrogen’ and it is a measure that is used to test how many hydrogen ions are in the soil against hydroxyl ions. Many plants require land that is a bit acidic, so in many cases, you want a pH of less than seven. This allows the plants to have access to the nutrients in the soil, which are usually in the form of ions. The wrong soil pH means that your plants can’t access nutrients so they will die.

What is Soil pH and Why is It Important?

The main reason soil pH is so important is that it determines the availability of all the plants needing the nutrients.

A pH of 6.5 is usually optimal but this number varies depending on the species of the plant because they all have different needs.

If the pH is too low, the soil is acidic and there are fewer nutrients, such as phosphorus, available while other things can accumulate and become toxic. Soil that is too acidic for beneficial bacteria is not a good house, either.

On the other side, high pH soil is alkaline, which removes access to iron, manganese, copper, phosphorus, which zinc from the plant. Iron is of great importance to all plants, but especially important for evergreens.

Why Do You Need A Soil PH Tester?

A soil pH tester tells you just how acidic or alkaline your soil is so you know what plants you can grow. There are three types of soil pH testers, namely electronic, paper strips, and chemical color dyes. Among these, I have known the automated tests to yield more accurate results, although the other options are high and can give you an idea of what you’re working with.

The best pH tester for soil will tell you the current state of your land so that if it is wrong, you can work on improving it using fertilizers and pH adjusters if needed. This ensures that the earth has the correct pH for your choice of crop. Knowing the pH allows you to have a better chance that your plants will thrive and that you will get a good yield.

ECO Farm PH/TDS/Temp 3 in 1 Test Meter

Features:

This is a light and portable device that measures three different parameters. You hold the LCD display in your hand and place the measuring probe in your sample, which is connected by a cable. It offers automatic temperature compensation and easy calibration. Multifunctional water quality test It can test the pH value, TDS and temperature of any liquid. Large liquid crystal display, the display value is clear at a glance. With its advanced microprocessor technology, it is efficient and accurate. The lightweight and portable design is convenient for indoor and outdoor use. There are a few small features that aren’t crucial but are useful to have. These include an auto-off function, a low battery indicator, and a successful pH calibration indicator. This pH tester provides accurate readings and displays them on a bright LCD screen. This seems to be quite a reliable gadget and should last well over time.

VIVOSUN pH and TDS Meter Combo

Features:

Weighing just 50g, this pH tester pen is small and compact so it can be moved and used with ease. It is marketed as a cheaper option to appeal to a wider audience. Even though you’re paying less, you still get high-resolution readings and a lit digital display. This is a very convenient little pH tester. It is among the cheapest on the market so it’s accessible to far more people. Anyone can use it. The setup is simple and the digital display shows high-resolution readings clearly. You can fit it in your pocket and use it for a range of purposes.

Dr.meter 0.01 Pocket Size pH Meter with ATC

Features:

This is a portable device that gives you precise pH readings quickly. It boasts a high resolution compared to some other products available. It also has automatic calibration that works at the touch of a button. Couple this with the digital display, it becomes very easy to use in your aquarium or other liquids around the home. The device is simple to calibrate so you can start using it quickly. It comes with enough calibration solution for two calibrations. The digital display is very clear which makes it easy to see the pH reading. The readings are given to 0.01 pH resolution which allows you to monitor any changes in pH very closely. You’re not limited to using it in the aquarium. It can be used all around the house for testing things like tap water, food, and wine.

HM Digital pH / TDS / EC / Temp meter

Features:

This device combines the simplicity of cheap pH testers with the reliability of more expensive ones. It measures both pH and temperature to a high resolution but remains lightweight and hand-held for easy handling. It has an automatic calibration function that just needs a button press. Parameter readings are shown on a digital display. The fact that it measures temperature, as well as pH, is very useful for aquarists. Maintaining the right temperature is crucial for keeping your fish happy. The HM Digital PH-80 pH Meter is one of the most reliable for its price range and should last for many years. It is just as easy to use as other hand-held testers; the automatic calibration is particularly convenient.

How to Test Soil pH with pH Meter?

Every tester functions a little differently, but they do have a lot in common. Since most of these meters are using probes, a general process for how to use them is here.

1. Clean and Calibrate
Turn on your meter, and let it get a little warm. This usually takes approximately 30 minutes but to be sure, you should test the specific instructions for your meter.

First, clean the electrode by removing it if possible from the storage solution, and rinse it with distilled water.

Once the electrode has been rinsed, blot dry. Don’t rub it because you might damage some delicate membranes or scratch the surface of the metal. If it’s not enough to clean the distilled water, check your tester ‘s manual and use the cleaning solution they recommend.

2. Using Your pH Meter
It’s not always as easy to use your tester as just to push the probe into the soil. While the instructions that come with your meter should always be followed, here’s one way to get good results.

Begin by digging out the top two inches of soil from different locations around the planting area. That includes different parts of the bed and different depths of soil. The pH in any garden will vary widely from place to place and from one layer to another.

Place all the samples you collect in the same bowl, thoroughly mix, and be careful to avoid any rocks as they may harm the sample. Measure around two tassels of mixed soil in a clean tub.

Fill the soil with distilled water and seal it into the tub. Turn on the meter, and insert it into the soil using a clean probe. Twist it to ensure you have good touch all the way around and keep the probe away from the container ‘s rim.

Next, you need to let the probe settle down. How long depends on the manufacturer but can range from 60 seconds to 10 minutes or more anywhere. Note the read after the allotted amount of time has passed.

If you are using a test kit with test strips or capsules encoded in color, be sure to obey the instructions with care. For some of these sets, various color control media are applied to the soil and triggered with a couple of drops of water. You’ll be given the pH amount by comparing the final color to the included chart.

3. Clean up
Proper cleanup is important because next time, it makes everything easier. In distilled water, rinse the electrode and blot dry. Then, keep it away till next time. Consult your manual for best practices on storage.

Conclusion

Proper pH is important to ensure your plants grow to their full potential. If you find the leaves turn yellow or any other irregularities, a good place to start troubleshooting is to test the pH of the soil.

It ‘s important to use the best available soil pH meter to get the most accurate results, particularly if the soil is being treated to correct the pH. If you’ve done treatments to raise or lower pH, make sure you start with an accurate reading of the foundation. Then, after diagnosis, test regularly to make sure you are having the right results. This can prevent any over-corrections that may lead to other problems.