Ph/ec pen advice for first time grower

Outdoor Growing
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1

I’ve got 2 plants (seedlings at the moment), and my plan is to grow for personal consumption. So, at this point at least, not thinking I’ll continuously have plants going. Grow, consume/share, repeat.

With that being said, should I invest in a ph/ec pen? Just use drops/paper? I bought an Apera ph60 pen after digging through some posts here, but realizing it doesn’t measure ppm…would rather return (yet to open it) and get a pen that does both if I’m going to go pen route (looked into blue labs but turned off by the additional storage solution cost).

Any advice is appreciated and if this question has already been discussed in a post I missed, any redirect is appreciated.

2

The Apera PC60 measures both pH and PPM. I would trade the PH60 for it.

All quality meters, including Apera’s meters, require a proper storage solution. It can’t be avoided.

3

I’ll look into the pc60, thanks.

I like that the apera storage solution was included in the kit, and not additional cost (given I don’t operate a constant grow room).

4

I should add that cost is a factor and should’ve been mentioned in OP. I don’t mind spending a bit more for quality that will last, but is my infrequent use worth it? (I don’t really want to spend $120+…)

5

I threw away 3 cheap pH pens before I got an Apera PH20. A good quality PH meter is a key tool. For the EC/TDS meter, any cheap $10 one works fine.

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6

Thanks! Learning as I go here.

7

Agree. I use my PH pen almost every day. My bottle of 3M KCL storage solution has lasted over a year.

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