I've recently bought 3 miracle fruit trees and have treated some 7 pH rainwater with 1 tablespoon sodium bisulfate to reduce the pH to 5. I'm using pH paper 1-14. It measures to the nearest number. I have one of those $20 gardener electronic soil tester two metal prong "pH/fertility meters" but don't trust it. I got to thinking that it must be testing for conductivity and not pH?



I got to thinking about the pH of peat moss and composted pine bark that my trees are potted in. I filled a container up with each and 7 pH rainwater. I've tested the resulting water for a couple days now and still am testing as 7 pH. I thought both these materials were low pH and am wondering how long it will take to see the water soaked in peat moss of bark to show low pH?

Phil, I think Rapitest are a pretty much a worthless instrument. Test papers traditionally only give a ball park estimate. If you want any sort of an accurate reading you will need to get an actual pH meter. pH meters that can be trusted to give a true reading start around $100.00. - Millet (932-)