Kitchen Garden Forum

Santa left a PH meter in my stocking for Christmas, so I feel the urge to check what is happening on the lottie. Having looked at the instructions it seems to be very simple - has anyone found them useful? Mention was made of a special cleaning in between readings, how scrupulous does this have to be?

WigBag

Hello Wigbag, I have used one in the past but was not too convinced by the readings. Without wanting to upset Santa, I must admit I find the little test kits with glass tubes and chemicals more precise.

I would have thought a good wash in distilled water (also known as ice box defrostings) would do the trick. If it shows 7.0 in some more of this after washing you are fine.

Sorry to say it, but my experience of these is that they do not work.

Mine read acid in everything I tried - including a paste of garden lime and
water.

I'm not sure how these things stay on the market.

Must depend on the model. Proper pH meters are more accurate than judging coloured strips. Must admit I make up my samples at home then take them into the lab at work and use the regularly checked and calibrated meter.

I cannot say anything about the cheap models but mine is a professional model and it has given exceedingly accurate readings for more than 20 years.
A friend tested his cheap model against my readings and it was actually quite accurate but I feel that you pays your money and takes your chance. His probe was cleaned with a kind of 'Scotchbright' pad prior to every reading.
My meter cost more than £150.00. all those years ago. I'm afraid that I cannot even give you the name of mine as the name was on paper stickers and they first faded then fell off the machine altogether.
JB.