Why Use pH and EC Meters?
A pH meter measures the acidity of the water on a scale from zero to 14. This scale is not a linear scale, but an exponential scale. This means that the difference between a pH of six and a pH of seven is gigantic. When the pH is too high or too low, the roots cannot take up the nutrients in the proper proportions. Generally, this will show up in the plant as deficiencies of one nutrient or another, and as burnt leaf tips, caused by overfertilization of one nutrient. The result is that growth will slow, the yield will be low, and ultimately, the plant may die. One remedy is to give the plants fewer nutrients, but then they are certain to develop even more deficiencies, and the yield will not be as good as it can be. When the pH is just right, it is unlikely that deficiencies will occur. The plant will be able to take up the nutrients in the correct proportions and overfertilization will be a thing of the past. In other words: with the wrong pH, half the recommended nutrients will cause
