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Ça pousse dans le bon sens
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In hydroponics, controlling pH and EC (electrical conductivity) is not optional. These two parameters directly determine your plants' ability to absorb nutrients. A poorly adjusted pH or unsuitable EC can lead to your entire harvest collapsing. EC/pH testers provide the essential precision to maintain your nutrient solution within optimal values.
The difference between an amateur grower and a professional often lies in the rigor of measurements. A reliable tester helps you avoid dangerous approximations that can hinder nutrient assimilation. For example, the Durable EC / PH / T° Combo Tester HI98130 - The ultimate portable tester - Hanna combines pH, EC, TDS, and temperature in a single waterproof device, perfect for hassle-free daily measurements.
The advantage of digital testers over test strips? Precision. Where a test strip gives you an approximation, a digital tester displays exact values to the hundredth. This is crucial when working with concentrated nutrient solutions where 0.2 pH points can make the difference between optimal absorption and nutrient lockout.
For those who prefer a more economical approach, the Manual pH tester for indoor growing - GHE - For 200 Soil/Hydroponics tests remains a valid alternative for 200 measurements, ideal for beginners or as a complement to a main tester.
The choice primarily depends on the size of your setup and your budget. For a grow room with a few plants, a pen tester is more than sufficient. These portable models fit anywhere and provide instant measurements. Make sure it's waterproof – you're bound to get it wet.
Accuracy matters greatly. Look for models with a resolution of 0.01 for pH and 1 µS/cm for EC. Low-end testers with deviations of ±0.2 pH can mislead you on critical adjustments. Automatic calibration is a plus: no more complicated manipulations with buffer solutions.
For larger setups, consider continuous controllers that monitor constantly and can even trigger dosing pumps. But frankly, for most indoor growers, a good portable tester does the job perfectly.
For the majority of indoor setups (up to 10-15 plants), a portable pen tester is largely sufficient and more economical. It allows you to quickly measure pH and EC before each watering or solution change. Continuous controllers only become interesting for large systems (NFT, multi-tank DWC) where you want to automate corrections with dosing pumps. Expect to pay €50-150 for a good pen versus €300-800 for a complete controller.
Calibration is always done on a clean, dry tester. Start with pH 7 buffer solution (neutral), let it stabilize for 30 seconds, then validate. Rinse with distilled water, dry, then move to pH 4 buffer. Some testers also require a point at pH 10 for greater accuracy. For EC, use a 1413 µS/cm calibration solution (equivalent to 0.7 EC). Repeat calibration every 2-3 weeks or if you notice drifts in your usual measurements.
Even with RO water, EC remains essential in hydroponics. It indicates the total concentration of nutrient salts in your solution. An EC that is too low (below 0.8) indicates under-nutrition, while an EC that is too high (above 2.5) risks burning the roots. RO water starts at 0, but as soon as you add your nutrients, the EC rises. It's your only way to dose precisely and detect if your plants are consuming more water than nutrients.
In active hydroponics (NFT, aeroponics), measure daily because variations are rapid. In DWC or inert containers, every 2-3 days is usually sufficient. The ideal: measure before watering to see the evolution, then after adding nutrients to validate your dosages. During periods of strong growth or flowering, plants rapidly change the composition of the solution, hence the importance of regular monitoring. A pH drift of more than 0.3 points in 24 hours often indicates a problem.
Always rinse the probe with distilled water after each use and dry it gently. Never rub the sensitive part with a rough cloth. Store pH probes in a special storage solution (3M KCl) or, failing that, in pH 4 buffer – never in pure water, which damages the membrane. Replace storage solutions every 3 months. Avoid thermal shocks: let the tester acclimate if you move it from the fridge to the grow room. A well-maintained probe retains its accuracy for 1-2 years.
Help & advice
About EC/PH testers — click a question to see the answer.
As an expert, I often see this confusion. In fact, pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of your nutrient solution, which directly impacts your plants' ability to absorb nutrients. EC (Electrical Conductivity) measures the total concentration of dissolved mineral salts in the water, meaning the amount of nutrients available to your plants. These two parameters are crucial and complementary for successful hydroponic cultivation.
The ideal pH in hydroponics is generally between 5.5 and 6.5. It is within this range that most nutrients are most easily assimilated by your plants' roots. I recommend aiming for a pH around 5.8-6.0 for young seedlings and adjusting it slightly according to the specific needs of your varieties and their stage of development.
I advise testing pH and EC daily, especially if you are new to it or if you observe signs of stress on your plants. The nutrient solution constantly changes with plant absorption and evaporation. Regular monitoring with a pH meter and an EC tester will allow you to intervene quickly and maintain optimal conditions.
Calibration is an essential step for the accuracy of your measurements. For a pH meter, you will need buffer solutions of known pH (e.g., pH 4.0 and pH 7.0). For an EC meter, a calibration solution with known conductivity is necessary, such as CF Calibration Fluid. Always follow the specific instructions of your device's manufacturer, but generally, it involves immersing the probe in the solution and adjusting the device until it displays the correct value. I recommend calibrating at least once a week, or more often if you use the device intensively.
Usage is quite simple: turn on your pH meter, rinse the probe with distilled water, then immerse it in your nutrient solution. Wait for the reading to stabilize and note the value. After each use, I advise you to rinse the probe again and store it in a specific storage solution or distilled water to prevent it from drying out and being damaged. This is a simple gesture that significantly extends the life of your device.
The choice depends on your budget and your needs. For a beginner, a simple model like the pH Meter - Water Master or the EC Tester for hydroponic cultivation may suffice. If you are looking for more precision and durability, I would direct you to recognized brands like Hanna with the EC Meter - Hanna HI 98304 or the pH Meter - Hanna PHEP4 Waterproof, or even the Bluelab pH Controller. The important thing is to invest in a reliable device and calibrate it regularly.
The first and most frequent mistake is to neglect calibration. An uncalibrated tester is a useless tester! Then, I often see users who do not clean their probes correctly, which skews the measurements. Not storing the probe in the appropriate solution is also a common mistake that reduces its lifespan. Finally, not taking into account the temperature of your solution when measuring can also introduce inaccuracies, even if most good devices have automatic temperature compensation.
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