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| Would anyone happen to know of an inexpensive and reliable ph tester? Something that's UNDER $40 (although $20 would be better!) & preferably semi-convenient to find? Or is that just asking for too much?
I'm pretty new to gardening and Home Depot & Lowes carry ph testers that have nothing but bad reviews; at least the reviews I've read so far. PLEASE HELP!! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 6, 12 at 8:01
| I'm pretty new to gardening what leads you to believe you have an issue in this regard ???? first.. talk with your COUNTY extension office ... and ask about your specific area in general .. often they will be able to simply say.. its not an issue in this county ... then ask them how to have one done thru their office ... the ONE TIME cost.. is less than your suggested investment.. and once tested.. you are basically set for life.. being an exponential function.. you are really never going to change your pH [i mean w/o really trying real hard] ... so i would ask why you would need the ability to resample repeatedly ... as a newbie .... dont get too caught up in all the minutia ... i gardened 20 years.. before i ever had any thought about pH ... and again .. if its that out of whack in your county.. the Ext office peeps will know offhand ... all that said.. if you are dabbling in some plant that requires specific pH.. you left that out of the facts ... ken |
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| I was actually gifted two blueberry plants (sunshine blue & misty) and may have an issue with the soil mixtures in each of their containers. one looks as if the branches have lowered and the leaves are getting burned - crispy at the tips and/or falling off. and the other has leaves that are turning light green to yellow. I used miracle gro organic choice potting mix, added some perlite, and the tag suggested I fertilized upon planting so I did so with vigoro azalea camellia and rhododendron fertilizer. this is my reason for asking if anyone knew where to find an inexpensive yet reliable ph tester. hope that makes more sense @ken |
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| "I used miracle gro organic choice potting mix, added some perlite, and the tag suggested I fertilized upon planting so I did so with vigoro azalea camellia and rhododendron fertilizer." Blueberries, like most Ericaceae (rhododendron family) do not need a lot of fertilizer. I have bushes that are about 4 years old, and have never been fertilized, and grow bigger and bigger every year with more and more berries. It's true that commercial growers might give them some to speed up production, but most home growers should not take that approach. Assume your gifter bought them at a nursery; 99% of nursery stock comes ready-fertilized. |
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| "first.. talk with your COUNTY extension office ... and ask about your specific area in general .. often they will be able to simply say.. its not an issue in this county ... " Ken is right. Or check out this map (warning, big): |
Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.bonap.org/2008_Soil/pH20110321.png
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