Review on Extech PH90 Waterproof PH Meter: Accurate Readings in Any Environment by Steven Lane

I do a lot of gardening and also grow house plants. I used to test my soil by sending samples to the lab. So a pH meter that allows me to measure the pH of the soil directly sounds appealing. Plants usually have an "ideal" pH range in which to grow, so it's worth testing and changing the soil pH if you want the best plant growth. For example, blueberries, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons love acidic soil. Okra, asparagus, dianthus, purple crocus, clematis, cinquefoil, and lilac love neutral to alkaline soil. So I tested the soil for my houseplants for Ti plant, Ficus and some Christmas cacti. The soils typically had a pH of 5.2 to 6.2 - fairly acidic. I don't change the soil very often, and I haven't flushed the soil outdoors with a lot of water lately, which is probably why the soil is so acidic. But I'm still wondering if I should calibrate this gauge first before relying on measurements. although no buffer solution is included. I tried to test our tap water which I think is pretty neutral and it showed around 6.8. A few other thoughts. The sensor will eventually need to be replaced depending on how often it is used. The meter has a "slope" that tells you when it needs to be changed. I suspect that the new probe will not be cheap. The LCD display can be difficult to read due to the lack of a backlight. I also really enjoy testing my garden soil in the spring and helping my plants thrive.