Haven’t been PH testing my water. I was wondering if you can point me in the right direction of which PH tester I should buy to start testing my water before giving it to my plants
It took me a bit before figuring out pH is absolutely key. I believe the whole idea of "learning to read your plants" is greatly aided in reliably monitoring pH. I will add to the chorus of "I used the cheaper yellow pH pens at first and for 2 whole grows over 6 months never got the plants 100% because I was always chasing issues. Yes, it had storage solution and was not dry. It was over a point off"-
Point I want to make is this- It doesn't matter what light you use, what tent, or even what nutrient line you feed with, if your pH is out of line, your plant is not eating. Period.
Please, for gosh sakes, if you are looking at a pH pen, quality ones like Hanna, Apera, Bluelab, I hear Milwaukee makes a good one are what you need and not the cheap ones. Why risk ALL of your garden investment to cheap out on the ONE thing you need despite your grow style, size or cultivar?
Support @Mr. Grow It and the forum if you want- here is a great option for an Apera-
I agree with all that you said and the Apera PH Meter is one I would choose. It is just having to pay for the calibration solution and cost of the meter sways me to buy 2- $12 PH pens and use a PH drop test kit, periodically is just as good, for now.
$12.00 ESYNIC Water Tester Digital Water PH Meter. (Sold, manufactured and shipped from ESYNIC) Another yellow PH PEN, but i use ESYNIC Water Tester Digital Water PH Meter. I just dropped it upside down and it got water inside it, ugh. But, last one lasted a year, testing using distilled water, typically I think these are made for tap water. I switched to tap water and my new pen works just as great. I ordered 2 more because I got my new one wet. Take notes on amount PH up, down, PH water averages, PPM'S, nutrients, etc., so you can use as a reference without a PH meter. I got a Yellow PH pen from a different manufacturer and it was no good.
I was using a cheap $20 amazon meter. After tons of set backs and problems I purchased an Apera meter and discovered my cheap one was off by more than 1.5 points. You get what you pay for, be careful.
While the cheaper pH meters can certainly work, I recommend a quality pH meter From a reputable instrument company. Hanna, Milwaukee, Apogee, BlueLab, etc…. I use the MW101.
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Calibration fluid comes with the Apera PH20.
It took me a bit before figuring out pH is absolutely key. I believe the whole idea of "learning to read your plants" is greatly aided in reliably monitoring pH. I will add to the chorus of "I used the cheaper yellow pH pens at first and for 2 whole grows over 6 months never got the plants 100% because I was always chasing issues. Yes, it had storage solution and was not dry. It was over a point off"-
Point I want to make is this- It doesn't matter what light you use, what tent, or even what nutrient line you feed with, if your pH is out of line, your plant is not eating. Period.
Please, for gosh sakes, if you are looking at a pH pen, quality ones like Hanna, Apera, Bluelab, I hear Milwaukee makes a good one are what you need and not the cheap ones. Why risk ALL of your garden investment to cheap out on the ONE thing you need despite your grow style, size or cultivar?
Support @Mr. Grow It and the forum if you want- here is a great option for an Apera-
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ENFOHN8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mgi-equip-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01ENFOHN8&linkId=c5e6a183b510ddd56fb2f82f7eb79bf4
$12.00 ESYNIC Water Tester Digital Water PH Meter. (Sold, manufactured and shipped from ESYNIC) Another yellow PH PEN, but i use ESYNIC Water Tester Digital Water PH Meter. I just dropped it upside down and it got water inside it, ugh. But, last one lasted a year, testing using distilled water, typically I think these are made for tap water. I switched to tap water and my new pen works just as great. I ordered 2 more because I got my new one wet. Take notes on amount PH up, down, PH water averages, PPM'S, nutrients, etc., so you can use as a reference without a PH meter. I got a Yellow PH pen from a different manufacturer and it was no good.
I was using a cheap $20 amazon meter. After tons of set backs and problems I purchased an Apera meter and discovered my cheap one was off by more than 1.5 points. You get what you pay for, be careful.
While the cheaper pH meters can certainly work, I recommend a quality pH meter From a reputable instrument company. Hanna, Milwaukee, Apogee, BlueLab, etc…. I use the MW101.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HLXBBK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_6XC3TAG33ZKN83HMH6YP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1