More accurate pH strips?

[lampost]

Hey all,

I can't afford an EC meter right now. I'm already WAY over my initial grow budget after having spider mite problems and other issues.

Anyway, I picked up some pH strips at the pet store, but they are the color-coded ones where it only has a set color for 6.8, 7.2, 7.8, etc. So, I can't get a very accurate reading, it's all interpolation. I thought I remember seeing some more accurate strips back in Chemistry class many moons ago.

Anyone know if more accurate pH strips that exist and where I might be able to get them?? Like maybe some ones that only have a range of 1-2 pH points (6-8)??

Let me know... I may have to spring for an EC..... ARRRGGGH!!!

[bigtopsfinn]

If you're in the states, you can get a digital Milwaukee ph pen for $20. Are you growing in soil or hydro?

[lampost]

If you're in the states, you can get a digital Milwaukee ph pen for $20. Are you growing in soil or hydro?

Soil. Awesome, I'll google in the meantime, but where can you pick one of those up? Cheapest I've seen is like $45 at HTG.

[bigtopsfinn]

$22 - Milwaukee pH600 pH Tester + Free Buffer + Free S/H! (http://www.eseasongear.com/ph600.html) There's one place, there are many more if you do a google search for "Milwaukee ph 600". I don't know about any stores off hand where you could pick one up that would have them for that cheap :(

[Rubberbubbler]

A bottle of ph indicator drops are about 8$ at the hydro store or ebay. The drops are Farley easy to use and have a wider range than litmus paper.

[Rusty Trichome]

If you are broke, try a freshwater aquarium test kit. $7.00 or so. A ph pen is indispensable to an indoor gardener though.