PH Soil Meters
Soil Meter Technical
The EL-SM-METER3IN1 is an
electronic soil measuring instrument but which requires no batteries or external power. So let’s explain that apparent contradiction first... It is well known that electricity can be obtained from batteries, and more recently using solar power. This Monitor incorporates a light sensor in order to give a measurement of sunlight, and this sensor works by generating a voltage that depends on the strength of the light. Although it is small for a solar cell, there is enough power to operate the Monitor. But that is not the only power source available because this Monitor actually makes a battery every time the probes are inserted into moist soil. The probes are made of different metals (there are 4 separate contacts on it’s 2 probes, using 3 types of metal) and when placed in an electrically conducting environment like moist soil, all the components of an electric cell (battery) are in place. So the Monitor will still work even in the dark.
Basically, the light meter displays the voltage generated by the light sensor, the pH meter displays the voltage generated by its probe/soil ‘battery’, and the moisture meter displays the current passing through the soil which depends on its moisture level.
The indicating meter is basically a spring-loaded electric motor that manages to rotate the indicating ‘needle’ further if more electrical voltage is generated.
To select the meter function, a clearly labelled 3-position switch gives the choice.
The pH function measures acidity/alkalinity, where a lower value below 7 is increasing acidity, whereas a higher number above 7 is increasing alkalinity. A pH measurement of 7 is the perfect balance being neither acidic not alkaline. Note that different plants prefer different pH, and not necessarily 7.
Vegetables Ideal pH Reading Ideal pH Reading
Bean 6.0 - 7.5 Lettuce 6.0 - 7.0
Broccoli 6.0 - 7.5 Onion 6.0 - 7.0
Brussels 6.0 - 7.5 Pea 6.0 - 7.5
Cabbage 6.0 - 7.5 Pepper 5.5 - 7.0
Carrot 5.5 - 7.0 Potato 4.5 - 6.0
Cauliflower 5.5 - 7.5 Radish 6.0 - 7.0
Cress 6.0 - 7.0 Spinach 6.0 - 7.5
Cucumber 5.5 - 7.5 Swede 5.5 - 7.0
Leek 6.0 - 8.0 Tomato 5.5 - 7.5
Fruit Ideal pH Reading Ideal pH Reading
Blackberry 5.0 - 6.0 Melon 5.5 - 6.5
Cherry 6.0 - 7.5 Peach 6.0 - 7.5
Currant Black 6.0 - 8.0 Raspberry 5.0 - 6.5
Currant Red 5.5 - 7.0 Rhubarb 5.5 - 7.0
Gooseberry 5.0 - 6.5 Strawberry 5.0 - 7.5
Grapevine 6.0 - 7.0 Lawns 6.0 - 7.5
Flowers/Shrubs Ideal pH Reading Ideal pH Reading
Alyssum 6.0 - 7.5 Gladiolus 6.0 - 7.0
Azalea 4.5 - 6.0 Hydrangea Blue 4.0 - 5.0
Carnation 6.0 - 7.5 Hydrangea Pink 6.0 - 7.0
Chrysanthemum 6.0 - 7.0 Hydrangea White 6.5 - 8.0
Clematis 5.5 - 7.0 Marigold 5.5 - 7.0
Daffodil 6.0 - 6.5 Rhododendron 4.5 - 6.0
Dahlia 6.0 - 7.5 Rose 6.0 - 7.0
Fuchsia 5.5 - 6.5
PLANT WATERING GUIDE
Red Zone Green Zone Green Zone Green Zone Green Zone
Plants 1-3 Plants 4 - 5 Plants 5 - 6 Plants 6-7 Plants 6-7
Aloe Parachute Plant Action Plant Amazon Lily Moon Flower
Anchor Plant Pen Wiper African Violet Angel Wings Mosaic Plant
Asparagus Fern Pink Buttons Angle Tears Apostle Plant Mother-In-Law Plant
Baby Jane Pocket Book Plant Aralia False Azalea Mouse Plant
Baby pine of China Poinsetta Bachelor Button Brazilian Firecracker Nut Orchid
Baby’s Breath Queens Tears Boxwood Bridal Wreath Oleander
Beaver Tail Roman Candle Burn Plant Burrowtail Peacock Plant
Bishops Cap Sand Dollar Cape/Crape Myrtle Butterfly Gardenia Peperomia
Bloodleaf Sedom Chile Bells Caladium Periwinkle
Cactus Shrimp Plant Cloth of God Calla Lily Petticote Palm
Chicken Gizzard Tiger Jaws Corn Plant Camellia Pitcher Plant
Christ Plant Umbrella Tree Crimson Flag Chenille Plant Polynesian Ti Plant
Crassula Wall Fern Devils Ivy Cobra Plant Pothos
Crown of Thorns White Jewel Dieffenbachia Coleus Prayer Plant
Dumbcane Green Zone Euonymus Columnea Quaker Ladies
Easter Orchid Plants 4-5 Finger of God Copper Leaf Sansevieria
Euphorbia Airplane Plant Firethorn Croton Saxifraga
Fig, Fiddle Leaf Begonia Flarningo plant Darlingtonia Scindapsus
Firecracker Plant Bird of Paradise Fleur D’Amour Dawn Flower Sea Grape
Flaming Sword Blushing Bride Flower of Heaven Dracaena Palm Spider Plant
Floral Firecracker Bonsai Tree Glory Lily Easter Lily Temple Bells
Foolproof Plant Bromelaid Goldust Plant Echeveria Turk’s Cap
Gas Plant Candle Plant Hoya Egyptian Star Cluster Velvet Plant
Geranium Century Plant Impatiens Explosion Plant Verbena
Ghost Plant Ceropegia Kashmir Bouquet False Holly Violet Flame
Glory of Texas Chain Cactus Kiss-Me-Today Fan Iris Wandering Jew
Golden Dew Drop Daphne Lady of the Night Fan Ivy Wax Plant
Good Luck Plant Earth Star Lantern Plant Farewell to Spring Zebra Plant
Hibiscus Echeveria Medicine Plant Ferns
Honey-Bunny Hairy Toad Plant Naked Lady Lily Fiery Love Flower Blue Zone
Ice Plant Hearts on a String Pussy Foot Fig, Creeping Plants 8-10
Ivy Hen and Chicken Queens Jewels Finger Aralia Watering is not
Jade Plant Inch Plant Rouge Plant Fingernail Plant necessary
Jasmine Star Little Stars Rubber Plant Fire Fragon
Jelly Beans Mock Orange Shooting Star Five Fingers
Lantana Norfolk Island Blue Solomons seal Fuchsia
Little Candles Patience Plant Star of Bethlehem Gardenia
Little Owl Eyes Pearl Plant Victoria Aralia Honey Bells
Living Vase Philodendron Water Melon Jasmine
Lobster Plant Ponytail Jungle Flame
Marguerite Blue Radiator Plant Kalachoe
Mimicry Plant Sea Urchin Ladies Tresses
Moonstones Stoneface Leopard Plant
Mother of Pearl String of Pearls Magic Flower
Musk Plant Vitamin C Plant Man in a Boat
Panda Plant Youth and Old Age Match me if you Can