There are observed differences in the field between two pH meters' readings.
This can get many growers confused with the true value of the pH of the medium on which their plants grow.
This article will help answer the confusion of the readings.
The acidity or alkalinity of the soil or solution, which is very important with growing plants, is measured with a pH meter.
pH, or the power of Hydrogen, is the concentration of H+ ions for acidic solutions and OH- ions for basic solutions.
The pH is a critical factor in the plant's growth as it is directly related to the availability of the nutrients.
This is especially important when it refers to hydroponic growing.
Some growers noticed that their pH readings usually fluctuate when tested with two different meters in the same nutrient solution.
There are several reasons that can be attributed for this fluctuation.
One of the possible reasons is that the two pH meters use different brands of batteries.
One set of batteries used in one pH meter might be older than the other battery used in the other meter.
Though the batteries supply the same voltage, the power from older batteries is normally weaker than the newer one.
A, even a slight corrosion on batteries can also cause differences in pH readings.
Unseen dirt on probes can also affect the pH reading's accuracy.
Therefore, probes need to be cleaned regularly to prevent the accumulation of dirt and salt crystals.
Growers need as well to understand that pH meters have a limitation in the accurate measurement of the pH value.
Hobby meters, which are usually used by growers, might display a slightly different reading from the laboratory bench meters.
Hobby meters can cost up to $250 but they are cheaper versions in contrast to the laboratory pH meters.
Laboratory pH meters are priced around $1000.
Nevertheless, if the difference is just 0.
3 or less, this difference is not that significant to generalize that the pH meter reading from the hobby meters is inaccurate.
Thus, growers need not to worry about their pH readings from hobby meters.
After all, who would spend a thousand dollars for a typical hydroponic garden? Digital readouts pH meters have the advantage of being easier to read and more accurate in pH value as it eliminates the human error in gathering the data and interpretation.
Moreover, digital types have wider pH range readout than the analog type.
Lastly, after the digital pH meter is calibrated, the scale on the display does not limit the pH range that the meter can measure with acceptable accuracy.
This can get many growers confused with the true value of the pH of the medium on which their plants grow.
This article will help answer the confusion of the readings.
The acidity or alkalinity of the soil or solution, which is very important with growing plants, is measured with a pH meter.
pH, or the power of Hydrogen, is the concentration of H+ ions for acidic solutions and OH- ions for basic solutions.
The pH is a critical factor in the plant's growth as it is directly related to the availability of the nutrients.
This is especially important when it refers to hydroponic growing.
Some growers noticed that their pH readings usually fluctuate when tested with two different meters in the same nutrient solution.
There are several reasons that can be attributed for this fluctuation.
One of the possible reasons is that the two pH meters use different brands of batteries.
One set of batteries used in one pH meter might be older than the other battery used in the other meter.
Though the batteries supply the same voltage, the power from older batteries is normally weaker than the newer one.
A, even a slight corrosion on batteries can also cause differences in pH readings.
Unseen dirt on probes can also affect the pH reading's accuracy.
Therefore, probes need to be cleaned regularly to prevent the accumulation of dirt and salt crystals.
Growers need as well to understand that pH meters have a limitation in the accurate measurement of the pH value.
Hobby meters, which are usually used by growers, might display a slightly different reading from the laboratory bench meters.
Hobby meters can cost up to $250 but they are cheaper versions in contrast to the laboratory pH meters.
Laboratory pH meters are priced around $1000.
Nevertheless, if the difference is just 0.
3 or less, this difference is not that significant to generalize that the pH meter reading from the hobby meters is inaccurate.
Thus, growers need not to worry about their pH readings from hobby meters.
After all, who would spend a thousand dollars for a typical hydroponic garden? Digital readouts pH meters have the advantage of being easier to read and more accurate in pH value as it eliminates the human error in gathering the data and interpretation.
Moreover, digital types have wider pH range readout than the analog type.
Lastly, after the digital pH meter is calibrated, the scale on the display does not limit the pH range that the meter can measure with acceptable accuracy.