Ph Testers (recommendations)
 

Can anyone recommend an in soil pH tester that won't break the bank. Like around $150. Also if someone can recommend an out of soil tester for around $150. Brand and model number would be appreciated - will try to get a Cyber Monday deal.

I would like something fairly accurate that isn't too finicky (don't want sometjing that requires constant calcalibrations.)

Just my opinion, but I'd take that $150 or $300 if you plan on buying both, then spend it on an orchid or several you really want. I don't find pH or adjusting it to be critical enough to worry about it.

This is the one I have:

Waterproof Pocket pH Tester with 0.1 Resolution - pHep(R) (HI98107) - Hanna Instruments - SaltwaterAquarium.com

Hanna HI98107 pHep

It’s been easy to use, not fussy. Good enough for schools, good enough for me!

---------- Post added at 12:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 PM ----------

Oh sorry misread that you wanted a soil tester. I have no experience with those.

If you're trying to find out the pH of a potting medium, the easiest is a pour-through test:

1. Water the plant thoroughly with whatever irrigation solution you choose.
2. Wait 30 minutes for it to drain and for any rhizosphere chemical reactions to take place.
3. Trickle enough PURE water (distilled, deionized, or RO) over the surface of the medium to collect about 50 ml of drainage.
4. Test the pH of that solution.

I agree with WW. I don't test pH. Soil testers of pH don't work with the airy potting media we use for most epiphytic orchids. The meters need to be contacting soil water and there isn't enough in most orchid pots.

If you mix water from the same source with the same amount of the same fertilizer each time, the pH will not change much. You can test it once with pH paper, or an aquarium testing kit. I did that once just to check, using my aquarium testing kit.