I have been told by several people that the water run off method is more accurate than the soil PH test kits. I hope they are right because that's what I've been going by. I have one of those test kits so perhaps I can test the two methods against each other.

For the run off method PH some water to 7 and flood your plant with it. Capture the first run off and check that with your liquid test kit. And buy a damn meter for $25. You cannot grow without it. Are you going to use the strips every time you water your plant?

Hydro: 5.55
Soil: 6.66
Real simple.