How to Test and Measure Your Soil pH at Home
video description
This is the very reason why I do not like growing in soil since there is no accurate, consistent and easy way to measure pH of soil as compared to aeroponics/hydroponics. I hope there would be a valid method where an electronic pH probe would be able to accurately measure the pH (not the pH probes with two long chopsticks, like how its done in hydroponics, since it would be more accurate than colorimeters since it does not base results on colors, which is prone to give false results/outcomes since the soil's properties can hinder the pH color and skew with the pH readings.
Date: 2022-07-18
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Comments and reviews: 14
Nived
You have to take out the protons (H+/acid) and hydroxyl anions (OH-/base) from the water, so it's neutral (good ol' H2O can spontaneously dissociate under normal conditions giving some parts acid H+ and some parts base OH-. That means distilled/deionized water is best. Otherwise, you're also measuring the water's pH. The quickest amendment to raise the pH (make it more alkaline/basic) is to add limestone, a carbonate compound (similar to the bicarbonate in your blood which works as a buffer to keep your pH fairly constant. The carbonate picks up all the acid (H+) and binds it, so it's inactive. Likewise, the quickest way to lower the soil pH (make it more acidic) is to add sulfur compounds. The bacteria in healthy soil will oxidize the sulfur and form sulfuric acid (H2SO4, which readily gives up an H+ to make the soil acidic.
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You have to take out the protons (H+/acid) and hydroxyl anions (OH-/base) from the water, so it's neutral (good ol' H2O can spontaneously dissociate under normal conditions giving some parts acid H+ and some parts base OH-. That means distilled/deionized water is best. Otherwise, you're also measuring the water's pH. The quickest amendment to raise the pH (make it more alkaline/basic) is to add limestone, a carbonate compound (similar to the bicarbonate in your blood which works as a buffer to keep your pH fairly constant. The carbonate picks up all the acid (H+) and binds it, so it's inactive. Likewise, the quickest way to lower the soil pH (make it more acidic) is to add sulfur compounds. The bacteria in healthy soil will oxidize the sulfur and form sulfuric acid (H2SO4, which readily gives up an H+ to make the soil acidic.
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Wolf-E
I just want to say, I've been watching for awhile, since you had raised beds in this house, but I don't think I ever went back THIS far. (2021 right now)
It's crazy to see the you then, and the you now. let alone learning what your yard looked like before you had added all the raised beds in your previous home.
You've come a long way and I'm happy for you! :)
I also have a new appreciation (I always appreciated how hard it was to garden) BUT a NEW appreciation as I'm adding 11 new beds this year and man, is it hard work. I can't wait till they are established, next year will be minimal work compared to this year.
Thanks for all your hard work in not only gardening for the earth, but videos for everyone! :)
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I just want to say, I've been watching for awhile, since you had raised beds in this house, but I don't think I ever went back THIS far. (2021 right now)
It's crazy to see the you then, and the you now. let alone learning what your yard looked like before you had added all the raised beds in your previous home.
You've come a long way and I'm happy for you! :)
I also have a new appreciation (I always appreciated how hard it was to garden) BUT a NEW appreciation as I'm adding 11 new beds this year and man, is it hard work. I can't wait till they are established, next year will be minimal work compared to this year.
Thanks for all your hard work in not only gardening for the earth, but videos for everyone! :)
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RC286
I would personally use hydrated lime - Calcium hydroxide. (Re-hydrated quick lime - calcium oxide created by heating limestone to approx 900 degrees centigrade) Its a tried and true process that has been used for centuries on acidic farmland. Quick lime used to be applied directly to the field to re-hydrate naturally since the chemical reaction with water changing it into calcium hydroxide produces an intense amount of heat energy that can cause combustible materials to burst into flame. These days it can be re-hydrated in a safe controlled manner to produce the calcium hydroxide. Both are nasty and can cause chemical burns, especially calcium oxide, as it will react with any moisture, including body sweat.
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I would personally use hydrated lime - Calcium hydroxide. (Re-hydrated quick lime - calcium oxide created by heating limestone to approx 900 degrees centigrade) Its a tried and true process that has been used for centuries on acidic farmland. Quick lime used to be applied directly to the field to re-hydrate naturally since the chemical reaction with water changing it into calcium hydroxide produces an intense amount of heat energy that can cause combustible materials to burst into flame. These days it can be re-hydrated in a safe controlled manner to produce the calcium hydroxide. Both are nasty and can cause chemical burns, especially calcium oxide, as it will react with any moisture, including body sweat.
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Jack
Correct me if I'm wrong however I think you may have gone with the logical way of doing this rather than the method in the manual which says to mix the sample with the water, let it sit overnight, and then take a sample from that mix so that way all your soil combines rather than the chance of all the material you use coming from just 1 or 2 of your sample sites (given that you correctly mixed a number of samples in a few different spots throughout the area being measured. I only know all this because I too did it wrong the first time: P
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Correct me if I'm wrong however I think you may have gone with the logical way of doing this rather than the method in the manual which says to mix the sample with the water, let it sit overnight, and then take a sample from that mix so that way all your soil combines rather than the chance of all the material you use coming from just 1 or 2 of your sample sites (given that you correctly mixed a number of samples in a few different spots throughout the area being measured. I only know all this because I too did it wrong the first time: P
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NefFy
My tapwater was way too alkaline and made the soil alkaline so then I added some fish fertilizer which made it super acidic really fast and then it to counteract that I added baking soda and got It exactly to 6. 5. They say you can use vinegar to make it more acidic or lemon but also if you need to add fertilizer you should see what that does to the pH before you start adding things and it doesnt really need (that was my thinking anyway youre a better gardener than I am)
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My tapwater was way too alkaline and made the soil alkaline so then I added some fish fertilizer which made it super acidic really fast and then it to counteract that I added baking soda and got It exactly to 6. 5. They say you can use vinegar to make it more acidic or lemon but also if you need to add fertilizer you should see what that does to the pH before you start adding things and it doesnt really need (that was my thinking anyway youre a better gardener than I am)
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Tim
Another simple way to test soil ph
Poke holes in a solo cup
Add a ounce of soil in cup
Run 4 ounces of water through cup of soil
Let it dry out a bit for a few minutes
Run another 4 ounces of water
This time catch the run off and test the run off in a slurry test witg a ph pen like Apera instruments or Blue lab.
Apera PH20 sells a complete lab grade tester for 50$ on Amazon.
Its an amazingly accurate and professional grade pen.
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Another simple way to test soil ph
Poke holes in a solo cup
Add a ounce of soil in cup
Run 4 ounces of water through cup of soil
Let it dry out a bit for a few minutes
Run another 4 ounces of water
This time catch the run off and test the run off in a slurry test witg a ph pen like Apera instruments or Blue lab.
Apera PH20 sells a complete lab grade tester for 50$ on Amazon.
Its an amazingly accurate and professional grade pen.
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Diane
The capsules lose effectiveness after 12-18 months, so use all 10 capsules pretty quickly. (Who knows how long the kit was on store shelf and there is no exp date on package) I assumed I could just save them and use the test capsules over several years. Nope.
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The capsules lose effectiveness after 12-18 months, so use all 10 capsules pretty quickly. (Who knows how long the kit was on store shelf and there is no exp date on package) I assumed I could just save them and use the test capsules over several years. Nope.
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stephend
If you adjust the pH by adding lime or sulphate, etc, and you get it right, and then plant all your shrubs, does the soil eventually go back to it's natural pH? Do you have to add treatment every year, and will that burn your established plants?
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If you adjust the pH by adding lime or sulphate, etc, and you get it right, and then plant all your shrubs, does the soil eventually go back to it's natural pH? Do you have to add treatment every year, and will that burn your established plants?
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James
I agree with the 5. 8. But, I wonder how your water supply affects this test? I imagine city/well water pH can vary depending on geography. I would try the test with water alone and see if it's different and by how much in what direction.
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I agree with the 5. 8. But, I wonder how your water supply affects this test? I imagine city/well water pH can vary depending on geography. I would try the test with water alone and see if it's different and by how much in what direction.
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Accidental
To me the color of the water doesn't match any on the scale. And I had this same problem when I used a color scale like this to test the ph in my pool. I think I might spring for an electronic tester.
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To me the color of the water doesn't match any on the scale. And I had this same problem when I used a color scale like this to test the ph in my pool. I think I might spring for an electronic tester.
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Aaron
What's with the sunglasses? Just asking. Thank you, now I know why my plants don't do so well. What is sandy loamy soil? That ia what i have and planta seem to struggle or die.
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What's with the sunglasses? Just asking. Thank you, now I know why my plants don't do so well. What is sandy loamy soil? That ia what i have and planta seem to struggle or die.
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Bruce
Nicely done. To avoid wind noise with a mic use a wind muffler or a dead cat as it is often called. After seeing your video I bought a kit using the link you provided.
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Nicely done. To avoid wind noise with a mic use a wind muffler or a dead cat as it is often called. After seeing your video I bought a kit using the link you provided.
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jamesgang
The hard part is figuring out the units, pounds per square foot, percentages on the label for fertilizer, and such. That's where my head is spinning.
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The hard part is figuring out the units, pounds per square foot, percentages on the label for fertilizer, and such. That's where my head is spinning.
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Charles
Even reading the directions at the end of your video, I still have NO IDEA how much to add. The chart (for me) is very confusing! Thanks for the video.
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Even reading the directions at the end of your video, I still have NO IDEA how much to add. The chart (for me) is very confusing! Thanks for the video.
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