Use of Soil pH probe

[4d-Rock]

Hey all,
I've just picked up an Apera PH60S soil probe (Similar to the Bluelab soil probe i believe) but haven't really used one before. I've watched some videos and read the instructions on the calibration and how to use it, but what I'm not sure of is how often to test or how people use this tool throughout a grow.

For example, do people only use it when a problem arises? Or is it something to check daily/every feed, weekly, or bi-weekly so you can stay on top of the pH and change your input pH to prevent issues from occurring? I would think daily is too often as you wouldn't want to disturb the soil constantly.

Also, if anyone has any tips or good resources on implementing this tool I would be appreciative of the help.

Thanks and Happy growing!

 

[neal]

Hey all,
I've just picked up an Apera PH60S soil probe (Similar to the Bluelab soil probe i believe) but haven't really used one before. I've watched some videos and read the instructions on the calibration and how to use it, but what I'm not sure of is how often to test or how people use this tool throughout a grow.

For example, do people only use it when a problem arises? Or is it something to check daily/every feed, weekly, or bi-weekly so you can stay on top of the pH and change your input pH to prevent issues from occurring? I would think daily is too often as you wouldn't want to disturb the soil constantly.

Also, if anyone has any tips or good resources on implementing this tool I would be appreciative of the help.

Thanks and Happy growing!

I contacted that company and this is what they sent me
Hello!

I hope that you had a good weekend!

The best meter that we would recommend for you would be the ph850-SL or the PH8500-SL if you are going to do soil tests. With these meters, the soil will not clog the probe. I have linked them below for you! Here are some highlights:

The equipped Swiss LabSen 553 3-in-1 PVC pH/Temp. Electrode adopts Polymer electrolyte, Long-Life reference system, and a unique blue spear sensor tip, making precise direct soil pH measurement easier than ever.
This pH meter has a ±0.01 pH accuracy in a range of 0-14 pH, and Temperature Range: -5 to 80°C (23 to 176°F), Auto Calibration with auto-recognition of up to 12 kinds of buffer solutions, Auto. Temp. Compensation, and supports stable reading/auto-hold display mode. The meter's digital filter technology improves response time and accuracy.

https://aperainst.com/ph850-sl-port...easurement-equipped-with-labsen-553-electrode
https://aperainst.com/apera-instrum...-labsen-553-electrode-plastic-lead-free-glass

Please let me know if you have any other questions and I will be happy to help!

Cheers!

Ticket: https://support.aperainst.com/helpdesk/tickets/1996

 

[WildBill]

I think the type of grow has an impact on the usage of it. Living soil.....not so much............unless you're OCD. LOL!

 

[WildBill]

I contacted that company and this is what they sent me
Hello!

I hope that you had a good weekend!

The best meter that we would recommend for you would be the ph850-SL or the PH8500-SL if you are going to do soil tests. With these meters, the soil will not clog the probe. I have linked them below for you! Here are some highlights:

The equipped Swiss LabSen 553 3-in-1 PVC pH/Temp. Electrode adopts Polymer electrolyte, Long-Life reference system, and a unique blue spear sensor tip, making precise direct soil pH measurement easier than ever.
This pH meter has a ±0.01 pH accuracy in a range of 0-14 pH, and Temperature Range: -5 to 80°C (23 to 176°F), Auto Calibration with auto-recognition of up to 12 kinds of buffer solutions, Auto. Temp. Compensation, and supports stable reading/auto-hold display mode. The meter's digital filter technology improves response time and accuracy.

https://aperainst.com/ph850-sl-port...easurement-equipped-with-labsen-553-electrode
https://aperainst.com/apera-instrum...-labsen-553-electrode-plastic-lead-free-glass

Please let me know if you have any other questions and I will be happy to help!

Cheers!

Ticket: https://support.aperainst.com/helpdesk/tickets/1996

Whew! Das a LOT!

 

[4d-Rock]

Cool Thanks for the replies @neal and @WildBill . I guess I could have gave a bit more info.
I already had the regular PH60 model and then bought an extra soil probe as they can be swapped out. So this is what I have

PH60S Premium Spear pH Pocket Tester Kit for Solid/Semi-Solid Sample Testing (Cheese, Meat, Sushi Rice, Soil, Canning)-Apera Instruments

The Apera Instruments PH60S Premium Spear pH Pocket Meter/Tester is simply the best pocket pH meter/tester in the market designed for food (cheese, meat, fruit, sushi rice), canning, direct soil testing, and other semi-solid's pH measurements.

aperainst.com

The two you linked seem similar in the capabilities, but has the handheld meter with a tethered probe. Mine is just a handheld meter and probe in one.

I'm not running living soils, I currently grow in Pro-mix HP peat based medium in fabric pots and use Greenleaf Nutrients line of products including MegaCrop, sweet candy, and bud explosion. I try to keep my feed/water ph in the 5.8-6.0 range, but have run into deficiency/lockout in a number of my grows (may be overfeed or nutrient imbalance too, but I'm trying to eliminate soil pH issues as a possibility). It was suggested to get a soil probe to get more info on what the soil pH to help diagnose and guide my feed ph, hence the question here on how to implement this tool effectively in the growing process.

 

[neal]

That is the pen that i asked about and this is what they sent me i am trying my hand at autopots with soil and i feel your pain will be watching your comments on this pen will be my next purchase

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Follow the instructions from the vendor for maintaining the tool. Check the root zone PH once a week before you change the reservoir. If the PH is wandering too far in the wrong direction just make your reservoir 2/10ths lower or higher to provide a gentle nudge in the direction you want to go. In peat I would shoot for 6.3.

 

[4d-Rock]

Thanks @Mañ'O'Green . I'm not using Autopots or a reservoir. Just Pro-Mix in fabric pots and hand feeding. Would you then recommend similarly checking once a week, and then ph-ing the next few feeds .2 in the direction you'd like to go in?

I've been ph-ing to 5.8-6.0 for Pro-mix as the company has a video that specifically mentioned that this was its ideal ph. However, prior to seeing that video I ph'd to 6.3-6.5 and ran into issues (Which very well may have been over-feeding issues and not ph issues). That being said, I've also seen other people on the forums growing in peat just fine in both ranges of ph.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Thanks @Mañ'O'Green . I'm not using Autopots or a reservoir. Just Pro-Mix in fabric pots and hand feeding. Would you then recommend similarly checking once a week, and then ph-ing the next few feeds .2 in the direction you'd like to go in?

I've been ph-ing to 5.8-6.0 for Pro-mix as the company has a video that specifically mentioned that this was its ideal ph. However, prior to seeing that video I ph'd to 6.3-6.5 and ran into issues (Which very well may have been over-feeding issues and not ph issues). That being said, I've also seen other people on the forums growing in peat just fine in both ranges of ph.

Yes control the PH in the root zone with small nudges. Remember the roots may change the PH to enhance a microbe trigger for something it wants. So do not overreact to changes just trends.

This is like deja vu

 

[4d-Rock]

Indeed, I know it's been gone over before and the video linked over in the Greenleaf Forums. The difference for me this time around is now I have a tool to check my soil pH. But that makes sense that a plant may change its growing environment to allow for the update of nutrients it needs at a specific time. I will shoot for small adjustments and keeping it steady, and keep an eye out for crazy swings.

Thanks @Mañ'O'Green