pH Meter for Soil

[Traveler]

I have an inexpensive 3 in 1 meter that I believe is giving me incorrect and also very imprecise pH readings. Can anyone recommend a pH meter or pH test for home use for measuring my potting mixes, soil and compost?

[Cole_Robbie]

Soil ph meters are notoriously sketchy. Hannah makes one for 30 bucks that might be worth a try. You will need to get the calibration solutions to keep the meter reading accurately..

[Paulf]

Most pH meters are designed to measure pH in liquid. Some of those are OK, but soil pH meters are notoriously inaccurate since the soil needs to have a fair amount of moisture. Most scientifically sound meters made for soil pH are in the $50 to $300 range. Fairly accurate to find a general pH level are pH strips. They include instructions for how to use them and prepare a sample. Most of these home kits need to be calibrated quite often, if they can be calibrated at all.

I have given up on home testing and rely on the soil test lab and their $1500 units, but then I am only testing the garden and not individual pots or compost.

[mama_lor]

I have one of those very cheap chinese kind, older yellow model, I think I payed 10 on aliexpress. Works ok but you need to check it from time to time against something of a known value. You take samples of soil, add equal amount of distilled water, let it sit, measure. Rain water will work ok, most river water also should be close enough.

[brownrexx]

Don't waste your money on a home pH tester. They are not accurate.

I can get a very reliable soil test by mailing a soil sample to the testing lab at Penn State. It only costs $9/sample plus postage which is around $4.

You will get a reliable pH as well as a lot of other information at a soil testing lab.

I worked in chemistry labs for years and our pH meter cost about $2500 and was calibrated twice a day.

[Tormahto]

If it's only for tomatoes, why bother? My soil likely has a pH of 5 to 5.5, and the tomatoes taste great ('cept most of the red ones, which just might be sensitive to low pH).

[worth1]

If it's only for tomatoes, why bother? My soil likely has a pH of 5 to 5.5, and the tomatoes taste great ('cept most of the red ones, which just might be sensitive to low pH).

That's a perfect pH for peppers and tomatoes in my book.....

[Traveler]

I took brownrexx's advice and sent a sample mix to my state. My pH is 6.1 so I am good to go!

[GoDawgs]

I gave up on meters a long time ago. A waste of money. I have 16 beds and UGA charges $8 per test so that's not going to happen. The beds get a three year rotation between legumes, cucurbits, brassicas, alliums, potatoes, carrots, corn, flowers and herbs so taking a combined sample might not work. Since leaf mulch is used, when prepping beds I usually incorporate a very light sprinkle of lime and so far I haven't run into anything I'd call a pH problem.