Very high quality Meter. With
"Very high quality Meter. With the ability to calibrate as often as I feel necessary, I am confident that I’m getting an accurate reading every time."
Bluelab Soil pH Pen for Root Zone Readings
Soil pH decides which nutrients a plant can actually take up, and it can shift without any visible sign until leaves start to suffer. This pen, product code PENSOILPH, measures that pH where the roots sit. It reads the full 0.0 to 14.0 pH scale at 0.1 resolution, accurate to ±0.1 pH. A built-in sensor shows temperature from 32°F to 122°F alongside every reading, in °F or °C. Automatic temperature compensation corrects the pH figure for cold or warm soil. The pen works in soil, coco coir and potting mixes, and it reads nutrient solution or water too. Its storage cap doubles as a dibber, with a soil line marked on the side. Pressing the dibber in first opens a pathway, so the fragile glass bulb never has to push through the media. The cap also holds KCl storage solution, keeping the probe tip wet between uses. A hold button freezes the reading on the backlit display. The body is fully waterproof, and one AAA alkaline battery powers it.
Taking Readings With a Soil pH Meter
Scrape away the top layer of soil, then press the capped pen in until the soil line on the dibber meets the surface. Pull it out to leave a clean hole. Twist the cap to loosen it until a gap shows, then slide it off, because pulling it straight can break the probe. Switch the pen on, lower the probe into the hole and let the tip rest gently against the soil. The media needs to be damp, since dry soil gives noisy or drifting numbers. Wait for the reading to settle, then record it. Rinse the tip in fresh tap water between holes, never RO or distilled water. For a bed or field, test several spots and average the results. Bluelab suggests a soil target of roughly 6.2 to 7.2, and 5.5 to 6.3 in solution. A tick on the screen disappears 30 days after calibration, as a reminder to clean and calibrate again. Battery life runs to about 350 hours, and the pen switches off after four minutes idle.
Key Features
- Direct Soil Readings: Measures pH in the root zone itself, with no slurry, sample jar or lab wait.
- Integrated Storage Cap/Dibber: The cap opens a pathway in the media and stores KCl to keep the probe tip wet.
- pH and Temperature Together: Shows both values at once, with automatic temperature compensation.
- Two-Point Calibration: Calibrates at pH 7.0 plus 4.0 or 10.0, with a 30-day reminder tick.
- Fully Waterproof: A sealed body and battery cap shrug off wet benches, rinsing and accidental dunks.
- Hold and Backlight: Freeze a reading on the backlit screen when the pen is down in a pot or bed.
- Soil or Solution: Moves from soil, coco and potting mix to nutrient solution or water.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Product code | PENSOILPH |
| pH range / resolution | 0.0–14.0 pH, 0.1 pH |
| pH accuracy | ±0.1 pH at 77°F (25°C) |
| Temperature range | 32–122°F (0–50°C), 1° resolution |
| Temperature accuracy | ±2°F (±1°C) |
| Temperature compensation | Automatic |
| Calibration | Two-point: pH 7.0 and 4.0, or 7.0 and 10.0; three-point possible |
| Suitable media | Soil, coco coir, potting mixes, nutrient solution and water |
| Display | Backlit LCD with hold function, °F/°C selectable |
| Waterproofing | Fully waterproof |
| Power | 1 x AAA alkaline battery (included); about 350 hours |
| Auto-off | After 4 minutes |
| Probe storage | Integrated storage cap/dibber filled with Bluelab KCl Storage Solution |
| Care | Bluelab pH Probe Care Kit |
| Compliance | CE, FCC, RoHS |
| Warranty | 1 year |