Hi all, does anyone test there ph balance of there soil and if so what do you use?
I just did mine and used a basic testing kit from the garden centre. It is a test tube with the chemical(?) in a capsule. You break the capsule into the tube, add some soil and water, shake and leave to settle and change colour. There is a chart on the cardboard it came on to compare the colour with. It wasn't very expensive and you can buy extra capsules. I think there are a few alternatives but this seemed the cheapest.
Those or a ph meter which are chep enough from B&Q or homebase...etc.
heres ebay list.
http://home-garden.search.ebay.co.uk/ph-meter_Fertiliser-Soil-Improvement_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsacatZ20540 (http://home-garden.search.ebay.co.uk/ph-meter_Fertiliser-Soil-Improvement_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsacatZ20540)
good luck.
can I ask a dumb quesion? If you add water to a pH kit, how come the pH of the water doesn't affect the results?
mat
:-\ *cough* just off to find daughter's chemistry book.......errr
well it can. However if you are watering a plot with chalky water then this would have brought you ph up due to the disolve minerals being left in your soil. So it will be a true reflection of your soil's ph. vice versa for soft water areas.
Not the least bit dumb!! We know the pH of our water before testing, so that's some help. Try this for starters..............
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/lab/msg040655394474.html
Hi Chuff,
You can also use a red cabbage test.
http://www.mrsec.psu.edu/ipse/activities/paper/red_cabbage.pdf (http://www.mrsec.psu.edu/ipse/activities/paper/red_cabbage.pdf)
You could just type 'red cabbage test' in google for alternative methods.
Good luck ;D
Thanks Tim. I'll see if I have an aquarium water tester left over (I last tested my water many years ago and know it is alkaline) however the water supply is from a different area to my soil, so it sounds as though I will need to know the water pH before I test the soil!
mat
Me? I'd speak to the makers!
Thanks everyone for the replies and links ;D I fancy one of the probe type testers does anyone have one and how accurate are they.
Yes - don't know! How can one compare?
I know that even the most expensive thermometers are only an indication.
I bought a £40 'certificated' one to settle an argument over our fridge & that was over a degree out against the engineer's.
Whichever - don't forget to test all over!