I’m in pretty much the exact same boat, except I never sprung for an expensive pH pen. I bought a cheap pH pen and the calibration solution for about 20 bucks and it hasn’t led me too wrong. It’s off slightly but still gives accurate enough readings. I’ve also figured out that for regular waterings, I just have to add the same amount of pH down to a gallon of water, which is just a mL. I’m at the point where I don’t even check my tap water pH before I add pH down, just after I’ve added to double check. Which I probably should, because then I’d avoid doing something stupid again like forgetting pH up. Also a note is I’ve heard most people say that soil pH meters are useless and won’t give an accurate reading. I’d stick exclusively with testing runoff pH. You can still of course use these meters for checking the plants moisture level.
It would be alot easier doing a slurry test with a water and soil pH meter i think. Those regular Apera meters that have the glass sensor that are just for water seem like a PITA to use and take care off. I think im going to dive deeper into investigating all the different meters and talj to people here that have maybe used both types and get thier opinions on them. If i cannot find anything here that clears this up for me, i will start a new topic surrounding this specifically.
Hey, experimenting is always good! Let me know how it works for you, bc if you find something that works better than mine I’ll definitely wanna know so I can use it LOL
Will do my man… if it works out. If it doesn’t, well, ill let you know either way.
Sounds great homie, good luck to you 
We’re running about 100 degrees here in norcal right now. They’re doing well for how hot it is. They started preflower about a week or so ago.
I can understand your hesitation, but it’s not that bad. Given what I saw my friend due to his plans with a cheap pH meter, the Apera ph20 it is worth every penny. My first time ever I have been getting thick, fat flowers. Lots of them. It will pay for itself in one plant because it will yield more when the pH is on target.
What happened to your freinds plants? I will probably end up with both an Apera pH20 and the gro pro series for water & soil pen meter. To me, this is the most important piece of equipment now that i am learning the correct way of growing. I am feeling naked witjoyt a good quality meter. I would like to hear about what happened to your friends plants.
Beautiful plants.
Thanks!
My friend had a cheap pH meter and it kept telling him the soil was slightly acidic. So he increase the pH to the point where it killed the plants. When I finally got there with the Apera to test his water I find out it’s like 6.2! So he never had to do anything with his water. Two of plants have bounced back, but he lost two others.
I have it between 6.0-6.2 for soil and I get it down to 5.8 for coco coir. They’ve been dong great with that.
Yeah, i need a good pH meter. The one i want isnt obtainable just yet. Pretty soon though. So far my 6 plants are doing better than i thought they would 2 months ago… i am being careful.
I guess my plant is just in a hurry. It’s been flowering 11 days to day, and seems to be flowering pretty quickly.
