For those of you that are looking for an accurate soil PH meter and don't mind paying a bit more. This is the Kelway soil PH meter and I have been very satisfied with its accuracy and ease of use over the past 4 months. I make my own soils and use it to check that the soil PH is where it should be. It retails for about $135 at Amazon.
Kelway Soil PH Meter
- Thread starter The3rdMan
- Start date
MustangStudFarm
Well-Known Member
I didn't realize how important those little green scrub pads are, but they are. I wasn't getting accurate readings until I cleaned the probe with them.
The Kelway uses a conditioning film. However, I seem to be having good results with the Majic Eraser too.
NewGrower2011
Well-Known Member
I keep looking at those over the years thinking it'd be so much less hassle than the bluelab pen & replacement probes plus having to fret about them drying out and keeping the probe happy in the right solution. For me I don't use them that frequently and the upkeep sort of sucks.
Over time I've seen claims that people have taken the Kelways and compared with good pens (i.e. bluelab) and lab tests and several were claiming it was way off. So I've never pulled the trigger on picking one up.
Since the time of my last probe purchase bluelab came out with their soil pen which I've eyeballed a few times, but I have a combo meter and the last probe was a soil version, so can't justify the cost until that unit needs replaced.
I also found them for considerably less elsewhere in the past iirc.
Over time I've seen claims that people have taken the Kelways and compared with good pens (i.e. bluelab) and lab tests and several were claiming it was way off. So I've never pulled the trigger on picking one up.
Since the time of my last probe purchase bluelab came out with their soil pen which I've eyeballed a few times, but I have a combo meter and the last probe was a soil version, so can't justify the cost until that unit needs replaced.
I also found them for considerably less elsewhere in the past iirc.
NewGrower2011
Well-Known Member
$63 here without films=> http://cspforestry.com/products/kelway-soil-phd-home-and-garden-soil-ph-tester-sph.html
Stay away from anywhere selling as hydro, cannabis or even gardening as you know they jack the prices up.
Stay away from anywhere selling as hydro, cannabis or even gardening as you know they jack the prices up.
NewGrower2011
Well-Known Member
well, Out of stock... but still shows how much other places hike their prices.
Renfro
Well-Known Member
The bluelab soil pen comes with a cap that holds plenty of KCl and you can leave it alone for a long long time without worry of it drying out.
I'll do a post on the PH pen that I have. It is accurate and seldom needs calibration. It has a cap for solution also, but it will dry out. I keep my pen in a larger reservoir of solution so that it never dries out.
Renfro
Well-Known Member
Does it test both soil and liquids?
No.