SOIL pH METER REVIEWED BY A SOIL SCIENTIST. HOW TO USE A SOIL pH METER PROPERLY REGARDLESS OF BRAND

I have been using the litmus paper strips (the color changing ones) to check the pH. They are cheap and reliable, but a bit more work is needed than this meter. If it's not too much trouble, would you consider comparing these two methods? Thanks for the video, this is very helpful information 👍

Before you stick it in make sure you wash your prong

Wrong. The sleeve and tip are the electrodes for the measurement mode. The two rod systems are for each of the PH and moisture testing modes.

Forgive me for being blunt/direct (the best way for a scientist to be IMNSHO), why did you settle for using (and shilling for) such a low end and innacurate model, instead of covering an assortment of models, ranked worst to best in terms of accuracy price and service life ?

My advice to onlookers: For gardening, and especially for indoor hydroponics and/or longer grows of more pH sensitive plants (ex: tomatoes, hot peppers, cannabis, garlic and verious berries, in increasing order of acidity), you really want a DIGITAL readout with a minimum resolution & accuracy of +/- 0.1 ph, which typically costs at least $50 and often $100+, and even then the sensors are only good for 1-2 years, so you'd want an upgrade to something with a replaceable sensor, so figure $100, min. I know, because I just did it.

If instead of that you see a price of under $20 and/or a teeny tiny analog meter with 10x worse scaling (whole units), RUN AWAY, because the resolution is fustratingly poor at best, and more often than not they barely work at all. This is just one of those things where you tend get what you pay for, and aiming lower just sets you up for frustration and failure. If all you want is a piddly resolution of +/- 1.0, you're actually better off just buying a pack of disposeable 5-pad test strips for $9 ... at least those are accurate and reliable for their stated resolution.

Hii . I have a question. Does the deepness that u barry the prove in to the ground affects the readings?

Your info helped me answer several questions about this type meter. Thanks & keep up the good work !

You have a bachelor's. You are not a scientist. Lead me to your research.

getting the important info out of this video was like getting a tooth pulled. Youre beautiful though and I enjoyed that part. I wish this video was about 2 minutes long because thats how long it takes to sum up what you just said in 18 minutes.

Or maybe a better question would be how do you recommend testing soil in your backyard?

Do you recommend any ph meter to test in the ground?

I live in Campeche Mexico, part of the Yucatán peninsula which is a huge slab of limestone. Would this type of PH meter work for me?

Easiest method to check if plant needs watering is look under the pot. You'll know if the soil is damp/wet or not. (Brent Wigand advice to cactus caffeine) . Should come in handy for shallow rooted plants tho. It's annoying knowing it's not going to work as i thought it would lol. I assume damp or dry soil it gives no reading so there's that in which case a wooden chopstick & under the pot method will make it certain grrrr lmao

This video is so great for many reasons. Thank you for spreading the word about the importance of knowing your soil! I'm just learning and you've made this so damn digestible. I would love to see a video on an easy way to test pH using red cabbage. Thanks and kudos, from Gatineau, QC~!

How, Hi are you? 🥰 Love this channel.

These are the PH instructions from my meter:

pH meter function
Slide the switch to the 'pH' setting
Collect soil below 2" of the surface. Remove stones and
other debris from the sample sample. Mix the soil with distilled water
until it turns to mud.
Gently wipe the tester probe with a soft, dry cloth
Insert the meter 4-5" into the sample and make sure the
probe is in contact with the sample for one minute; then note
the reading
In order to achieve the adequate pH level, you can raise it with
lime or lower it with peat moss. For best results you should use
a pH Up or Down solution available from your retailer
This 3-Way Meter is not waterproof; only the probe tips can safely
be submerged in liquid. For best results, carefully clean and dry
your 3-Way Meter after every use.

Can you use that to test a sample of soil?

I NEVER end up watching only one of your videos. Just like tonight, I came here and found the info I was looking for and kept watching one video after another…

I was hesitant to buy an inexpensive meter because I’ve heard others say they aren’t worth it and I’ve been trying to cut down on buying things I feel might end up in a landfill sooner rather than later. I’ve been planning on getting a meter that can be calibrated but yikes they’re $$$! At least now I understand the pros/cons of the $10-20 devices.

I did have a thought when you talked about the salt buildup and corrosion. I’ve worked with metals when I used to make jewelry and my instinct would be to clean the probes with an acidic solution or just sand the surface clean.

I know you’re not the manufacturer of the device and I don’t expect you to necessarily know why that would or would not be an advisable solution. But if I have a meter that was past its prime and bound for the garbage bin anyway, I would try using fine sandpaper or 000 steel wool before tossing it. I would love to know if you or anyone who is knowledgeable about this kind of meter has feedback on this idea.

As always, I’m so grateful for your videos and the fact that you bring science to the discussion when so many others are going on hunches and hearsay.

Pretty sure I need a new one, Was trying to dilute ph down to 6.5 and tbe needle never wavered from 8 Then iI placed it in household vinegar and the needle still didn't budge.

Thank you for emphasizing thag the soil must be saturated and tbe i portance of everything being the same temperature to get an accurate reading.

Good video, full of important info, which isn't always pointed out in products sold. You suggested taking a plant to adjust to room (25°C) temperature, before taking a measurement. However, if possible, you could take a sample of soil (which is simpler and less heavy, add water, and then take a measurement.

Thanks

I like ur info. I’d ReEEALLY like more data, charts, actual info instead of u mostly talking directly to the camera, referring to things.
Like DO, don’t just talk about how ur “a soil scientist”.

Hello , I just purchased one of these type of meters, I think the way I will try to measure my PH will be with the run off water in the pan under the pot, test the run off might be an easier approach than the really wet soil, the run off will contain the PH, same as the soil I believe. Should be pretty accurate, what is your opinion on this?

You talk to %^_ much.... period

Umm, that’s copper not gold lol

Hi Ashley! thanks for the advice! I just have a question... What exactly is room temperature?

Your ability to not stay on topic without digressing again and again and again drove me nuts. Gotta stay on topic. Short sweet and to the point.

Wow not only is this woman beautiful but has an awesome personality and intelligent.

Instantly subscribe and I have a lot of videos to watch.

Hello Ashley. I was just wondering if you can use this just to ph water?please let me know

You shouldn't be making educational videos if you don't understand basic redox chemistry taught in high school. The practical application, how to use the probe, immediately follows from the theory.

That "gold" colored probe is copper colored, because it's copper, a known reactive metal used in batteries. The probe appears to be a comparison between a zinc copper battery and zinc aluminum battery, both of which have a different electropotential which can be compared in a simple meter

I have never had one that worked. My current one shows max alkaline. Even if i put it in vinegar. Vinegar reads about 7.5 everything else reads 8.

I used the hydrometer feature today on a Loropetalum taking multiple tests around the base at 2",4",6" and got wildly different results each time. How should I interpret this?

So the term Scientist seems to not mean much anymore. You worked as a Lab Rat for some piece of paper and now spew on the one site that's full of Scum. Very telling.

How would you test soil PH in the field? How on earth would you change the temp of soil out in the field?

I can't imagine having to lug all my container plants into the house to wait till the soil reaches a certain temperature, then water it with distilled water, and immediately test the soil .
This seems to be a very inefficient way to test soil PH. Kind of wishing I had some purple cabbage right now.

There's too many crappy testers on the market it's hard to find a good one.

Yoooo this video was SUPER helpful. I just ordered a digital soil meter and the reviews are all over the place. Some people love it, some say it’s complete garbage, but what you said about needing to water the soil to get an adequate reading made so much sense. I feel like most of the people who were writing angry reviews were probably sticking their meter in relatively dry soil and not getting a good reading. I think if you did reviews on those kinds of tools you’d get lots of views. I’d love to see you review that 4:1 multi meter I just ordered. I’m growing blueberries which need an acidic soil so I really need a testing option that works. Appreciate the video. Thanks a bunch.

From day one I found it SUPER difficult to get a PH lower then 7....under any condition. I takes adding a cup of vinegar to 1gallon of water to get soil below 7 ANYWHERE. Even under a pine tree under heavy needle after a heavy rain. I know pine tree soil acidity is totally a myth but still, It's better for light and water.

I found it- thanks again!

In summary, all the ph testers available at the big box stores are $30 inaccurate pieces of shit. Good to know.

My tap water is pretty hard - how would this impact the reading on the PH reading?

I would agree they work. My problem is that the handy-dandy little chart on the back of the meter package isn’t helpful at all for vegetable gardeners. For instance, I cannot find anywhere what the moisture level should be for tomatoes, nor what the Ph level should be. For that reason the meter is disappointingly useless for me. Can you point me to a chart that I can use for my vegetables with moisture and Ph information? Thanks!

I just got one of these and I'm unimpressed so far. 30 some bucks and the ph is way off. My soil is around 7.5 and it reads around 4.5 when wet as you mentioned.

Ashley you have all the best tips 🤗

Zinc anode and copper cathode iirc (yay batteries!)

Yes

Just found and subbed

I really appreciate your content. Very informative. Please zoom out a little bit to give yourself some head space, the top of the frame cutting through your head and your movement is distracting. (Just gives me a headache).

Thank you so much for sharing your expertise in such an understandable way.

Get it wet and shove it in, got it!

Show us how to use it.