Test your soil pH if you want glorious blooms.
If you are unfamiliar with the pH of your soil, or know that the plants you wish to grow have specific pH requirements, you'll have to test the soil pH to be certain that your soil can support what you wish to grow. A hand-held pH meter has a probe that is inserted into a soil and water mixture. The meter then displays a pH reading.
Instructions
Calibration
1. Pour three different buffer solutions into three separate containers of the same size. The University of Florida recommends solutions of 7.00, 4.00 and 10.00.
2. Rinse the probe with distilled water and blot dry with a tissue or paper towel. Wiping the probe will cause static electricity that could alter your pH results.
3. Place the probe into the 7.00 solution and allow it to sit for 30 seconds or so to equilibrate. Turn the "Calibrate" or "Standard" knob until the meter reads 7.00. Rinse and dry the probe as described in Step 2.
4. Place the probe in the 4.00 solution and wait for it to equilibrate.
5. Set the meter to operate in "pH" mode, as the University of Florida recommends, then turn the "Temperature" or "Slope" knob to 4.00.
6. Repeat Steps 2, 4 and 5 to obtain a reading of 10.00 in the 10.00 solution.
Test pH
7. Make a 1 to 2 soil and water mixture. For every 1/2 cup of soil, mix 1 cup of water in a jar that has been cleaned with distilled water and dried with a clean paper towel.
8. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes. Stir just before you take the pH measurement.
9. Place the meter's probe in the solution, but don't let its tip touch the bottom of the jar.
10. Record the reading.
Tags: soil water, your soil, distilled water, Florida recommends, meter probe, paper towel, Place probe