
Planting flowers and other types of plants and seeing them grow is quite exciting. As much as watering our plants is crucial for their growth, other aspects are in play too. These factors include Soil pH. Some plants require high pH, while others require low pH for healthy growth. So how do you check the soil pH? Using the soil pH testers.
These devices detect the levels of alkalinity and acidity of the soil and give a reading based on the soil pH range values. The results are reliable, and they help you know the exact adjustments to make to ensure your plants are growing in the right conditions. Generally, a pH of about 6.5 is ideal for most plants. However, some plants may require a higher or lower pH.
We’ve rounded up the best pH testers, as well as a buying guide to help you choose the best one for your plants. Let’s get you that garden you’ve always wanted.
Soil pH Tester Reviews
Best Overall
This garden tool not only allows you to test the pH, but it also allows you to check the moisture and sunlight. It’s also an easy to use tool that guides you in making the necessary adjustments for proper plant growth.
Our Verdict
We recommend this soil pH tester, for it’s easy to use, affordable, and accurate. There are complaints about getting the wrong readings, but all you need to do is give it enough time. Let the soil pH tester stay in the soil for about 10 minutes. By doing this, you’ll always record accurate readings.
Premium Pick
The Kelway soil pH tester is a premium garden tool, but it’s worth your time and money. It offers the accuracy that matches that of soil labs.
Our Verdict
This soil pH tester is quite costly when compared to other models that we’ve reviewed. But it’s high levels of accuracy, and excellent performance makes it worth every cent. We recommend it to professionals or homeowners who would like to test the pH over a large farm.
Budget Pick
If you’re looking for a combined garden monitoring tool at a lower price, this one’s for you. It comes in a compact size, bearing the functionality, accuracy, and durability for small scale usage.
Our Verdict
We believe you don’t have to break the bank for a small-scale gardening tool. This soil testing kit offers the best value for money without compromising its functionality.
This soil pH tester ensures a healthy garden; thanks to it’s easy to use design and scientific accuracy. You also don’t need to use a battery, eliminating the hassle of power shortages and unreliable batteries.
Our Verdict
We recommend this tool for plant mums and other enthusiasts who love to monitor their plants daily. The probes go deep, close to the roots, giving scientific accuracy. It also has a compact size, and an easy to use interface.
If you don’t need the moisture and sunlight functionalities, you can opt for this simple soil pH tester. It also offers a slightly different testing method. You mix the soil with unique capsules and water. The mixture results in color that you can compare along the provided scale to determine the pH value. They also recommend the ideal pH for over 450 plants.
Our Verdict
We recommend this to more experienced users. It may be intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder why you never got this soil Ph tester sooner. The capsule and color comparing system gives more accurate readings than most probes.
Best Soil pH Testers Buying Guide
Getting the best soil pH tester for your plants makes all the difference in monitoring your plants. They help you make the necessary changes towards a healthy garden. Before diving into how you can choose the best one, let’s review why you need to test your soil’s pH.
Reasons Why You Should Test the Ph of Your Soil
Soil pH testing is necessary because it helps you determine the nutrient’s availability in the ground. If you soil specific nutrients, your plants lack vigor, and they’re also prone to insects and disease. Lack of nutrients could lead to drought. The first instinct of a farmer is usually to use fertilizers and other methods of improving the soil. Before embarking on these measures, we believe that you should test and come up with accurate readings. The results will give insights on the available nutrients and which fertilizers you need to use to compensate for the lacking nutrients.
Factors to consider when choosing a Soil pH tester
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Soil pH Testers Accurate?
The probe soil testers and the color-comparators are accurate. However, you need to use them as instructed. You can also take samples to the soil lab and compare the results to determine if that particular tester is accurate.
What Should the pH of my Soil be?
The pH values range from 0 to 14. 7 stands for neutral. Any number below 7 means the soil is acidic, while the figures above 7 indicate the soil is alkaline. Most plants can survive in soils with pH levels that range from 5.5 to 7. But some plants require certain levels of pH to thrive.
Final Thoughts
We believe that the fact that you would like to test soil pH on your own, you may not be looking for a fancy, expensive, and advanced soil pH tester. That’s why we believe that Sonkir Soil pH Meter MS02 3-in1 Soil Moisture, light, pH Tester may suit your needs. It’s very accurate, thanks to the twin-probe system. The probes are long, allowing you to reach deep and get accurate readings. It’s easy to use, and the readings are quite straight forward. Besides, we think that it’s the only tester from our list that has a 12-month money-back guarantee and technical support from the manufacturer.