seed starting mix

[jillian]

Originally Posted by RayR

Congrats on your new PH probe. A lot of these inexpensive glass electrode PH probes don't come with the accessories needed to maintain it. You need a PH probe storage solution to keep the sponge in the cap wet that hydrates the glass electrode when not in use. A dry glass electrode is a dead electrode. The glass electrode is made of extremely thin blown glass so it is fragile. Do not put the electrode directly into soil, you won't get an accurate reading and avoid any hard particles like sand, perlite or pebbles that could scratch or shatter the glass.
I'm not familiar with that brand but I see it comes with 2 calibration buffers to start with. You need to calibrate the meter regularly to maintain accuracy.

Thanks for this info. I am totally confused. So I need to purchase some sort of solution? And how do I test if I do not insert directly into the soil? I just read over the manual that came with and none of this info is stated. I do not want to ruin it before I attempt to use it so please help!

oh here is the one I have http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Meter%C2%AE.../dp/B00XXU3CDG

[Aerial]

That looks good!! Now I want one too..

[Cole_Robbie]

Lured by the low price, I bought a cheap digital pen off Amazon:


It worked great....for about five minutes. Then it started giving me readings all over the place and refuses to calibrate.

Hannah is a quality brand of ph meter. I'm sure there are others. But it appears one gets what one pays for, or at least I did.

[RayR]

Originally Posted by jillian

Thanks for this info. I am totally confused. So I need to purchase some sort of solution? And how do I test if I do not insert directly into the soil? I just read over the manual that came with and none of this info is stated. I do not want to ruin it before I attempt to use it so please help!

oh here is the one I have http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Meter%C2%AE.../dp/B00XXU3CDG

Yes, you need to purchase a PH Probe Storage Solution as the sponge will dry out over time. The storage solution serves a couple different purposes. Besides the glass electrode that needs to be hydrated at all times there is a ★★★★★★★★ that is made of semipermeable cloth or ceramic, Inside the probe is a gel electrolyte containing Potassium Chloride (KCl). Every time you use the probe a tiny amount of the KCl electrolyte will pass through the ★★★★★★★★. That is why PH probes have limited life span (usually 1-2 years), eventually the electrolyte will be depleted.
The PH Probe Storage Solution is a KCl solution in a more concentrated form. It will keep the electrolyte from leaking from through the ★★★★★★★★ when the probe is stored. The PH Probe Storage Solution will also contain a preservative that will prevent mold from forming on your electrode and ★★★★★★★★.
That brings up another important maintenance tip—keep your probe clean. Rinse your probe in distilled water after each reading you take and before putting the cap on for storage. Any buildup of salts, oils, proteins, soil particles or whatever on the glass electrode can interfere with the probes operation, also buildup can clog the ★★★★★★★★. it's a good idea to rinse your probe in water with a couple drops of a mild dish soap from time to time also. You can buy a PH Probe Cleaning Solution but the dish soap solution can do the job just as well in most cases.
Good maintenance can extend the useful life of your probe greatly.

Doing a Soil Test

First thing to remember is soil itself does not have a PH, Only a liquid has a PH, in this case the soil water. The soil effects the PH of the water by what H+ and OH-ions become dissolved in the water from the soil.
If you are testing a soil-less mix, use a 1:1 ratio of air dried soil to water, say 1 tablespoon of soil and 1 tablespoon of distilled water in a small cup
Mix thoroughly for minute and let stand for 20 minutes or so. You will have some sediment on the bottom and some floating stuff on top. Put your probe in the water in the middle and let the meter reading stabilize, avoid sticking your probe in any of the solids. Make sure there are no air bubbles stuck in the probe, tilt the probe slightly and tap lightly against the side of the cup.
If you are testing a natural soil it's the same thing except you may need a higher ratio of water to soil.

[Ricky Shaw]

I overpaid for the storage solution at $12 for 4oz and it's still a cheap proposition considering the price of good replacement probes and how little of the solution you need to use. The Hanna's have a cap in the cap, and if you're careful and don't tip it, you're only adding a couple drops to top off.

Also, on media PH sampling, I've seen it recommended to sample the first fluid to drain as you pure water flush. Done this, pretty simple, but no idea if it's truly representative. Still, I felt good with the knowledge.

[RayR]

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

I overpaid for the storage solution at $12 for 4oz and it's still a cheap proposition considering the price of good replacement probes and how little of the solution you need to use. The Hanna's have a cap in the cap, and if you're careful and don't tip it, you're only adding a couple drops to top off.

Yep, I don't have pen style PH meter, but my hand held portable meter has a storage bottle, no sponge involved, I've tipped it over a few times spilling the solution. Other than that I just need to top it off once in awhile. I still have the same 4oz. bottle of storage solution that I bought 3 years ago. and it's 3/4 full.

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

Also, on media PH sampling, I've seen it recommended to sample the first fluid to drain as you pure water flush. Done this, pretty simple, but no idea if it's truly representative. Still, I felt good with the knowledge.

Always a lot of different recommendations out there. Some say do it this way, others say don't do it that way. Whether the PH of run off is in the same ball park as doing a slurry test with a soil sample I think depends on what the growing media is and the type of nutrients the gardener is using. So do it both ways and see what results you get. I've seen some notable difference from each method, so I tend to trust testing a soil sample before I would trust the run off results.

[Gardeneer]

For the gardeners use, a pH meter needs not to be super accurate. I think any reading with a +/- 0.3 can be useful and accurate enough , IFF it does not fall in the border line. Tomatoes will do ok ( according to the experts) in pH range of 5.4 to 7.2 , 6.2 to 6.8 being good. So if you are getting a reading in 6.1 to 6.9 range, that is a good ball park range, even if it is off by 2 tenths.


On Starter Medium:
For seeds germination , the medium plays the role of maintaining a near constant moisture level. For this purpose , a plastic bag or a glass jar is fine or event better than anything else. BUT if you want to germinate dozens of seeds, or more, all at once, those methods are not practical. I know it, I have been there, done it. That is why starter cell / tray system is a practical approach.
Gardeneer

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

For the gardeners use, a pH meter needs not to be super accurate. I think any reading with a +/- 0.3 can be useful and accurate enough , IFF it does not fall in the border line. Tomatoes will do ok ( according to the experts) in pH range of 5.4 to 7.2 , 6.2 to 6.8 being good. So if you are getting a reading in 6.1 to 6.9 range, that is a good ball park range, even if it is off by 2 tenths.

Gardeneer

I totally agree.

My cheapo meter works just fine for what I use it for.
Most of the people that have complained about them do not use them correctly.
Even if you get a soil sample or read about some other Ph reading some place how accurate is it?
The way I use mine is to make a gravy/slurry out of the soil with RO water.
So far with my comparison test I am getting pretty close.

Worth

[OmahaJB]

I've used seed starting mixes and regular potting mix and they've all worked ok. Miracle-Gro seed starting mix though I've found less than ideal due to all the sticks and other garbage I've had to pick out. The seedlings seem to grow in anything I use, they haven't been very picky. Yesterday I was at Menards so purchased what they had, Planter's Pride for $2.77. Should get my seeds in the mail today or tomorrow and will start them out right away.

[RayR]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I totally agree.

My cheapo meter works just fine for what I use it for.
Most of the people that have complained about them do not use them correctly.
Even if you get a soil sample or read about some other Ph reading some place how accurate is it?
The way I use mine is to make a gravy/slurry out of the soil with RO water.
So far with my comparison test I am getting pretty close.

Worth

What I can't wrap my head around is how these cheapo PH meter's are supposed to calculate PH with any reliable accuracy. They functionally look like a EC meter with their 2 metal electrodes. They can't be ion selective like a glass electrode probe is designed.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by RayR

What I can't wrap my head around is how these cheapo PH meter's are supposed to calculate PH with any reliable accuracy. They functionally look like a EC meter with their 2 metal electrodes. They can't be ion selective like a glass electrode probe is designed.

Me neither but it has been working for me some how and my plants grow like weeds that is all I care about.
Worth

[Ricky Shaw]

The PH and EC meters are important to container growers serious about getting the full potential out of their plants. The smaller the containers, the more vital.

For anyone who's put off by the technology, I will say the meters are much easier to use than I thought. The Hanna instructions could certainly be better, but once you learn a few basics, new stuff makes sense quickly. It's fun science, appreciate AKMark and RayR for putting me on it.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

The PH and EC meters are important to container growers serious about getting the full potential out of their plants. The smaller the containers, the more vital.

For anyone who's put off by the technology, I will say the meters are much easier to use than I thought. The Hanna instructions could certainly be better, but once you learn a few basics, new stuff makes sense quickly. It's fun science, appreciate AKMark and RayR for putting me on it.

Agree. Probably it is even more important when/where one is growing hydroponically.
But in the garden / beds pH does not change much over time, especially if you have a soil that is rich in organic matter and the water that you use in not highly basic.

Gardeneer

[jillian]

Okay, help me please. Is this what I need?

http://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-STSOL1...3A9EX3H8PS2J06
or
http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydrop...K5ZDRH89DNZ4AS

Would either one of these work? And do I keep the probe in the solution between uses? Sorry for my ingnorance, I am not familiar with this at all.

[Ricky Shaw]

The Blue Lab is the one I have for storage. I also have bottles of 7.0 and and 4.0 for calibration. So, not sure if you can use the 7.0 for storage. I asked my hydro guy and he sold me the BlueLab one.

I keep solution in mine, it's Hanna pen. On mine there is a small inner cap, a few drop in there and avoid tipping it.