How to Calibrate a pH Pen
How to Calibrate a pH Pen
Every good grower knows that maintaining the pH balance is essential to ensure healthier growth for their plants. You should also know that cannabis plants absorb nutrients better when the plantâs pH value is balanced. However, if the plantâs pH level is too high (or too low), your plants may show nutrient deficiency symptoms.
The best way we suggest you maintain the pH value is by measuring it with a pH pen. However, pH pens tend to lose their accuracy with time. By timely calibrating it, you can make sure that they are working correctly. Hereâs a step-by-step guide to help you calibrate your pH pen after every few months.
What to look for while calibrating a pH pen
You need to see if your pH calibration is accurate as soon as you take it out from the pack. Since you need to make sure that your reading is as precise as possible, there are other indications that you should be on the lookout for. Letâs learn about them!
1 If you notice that the reading is inaccurate to what you were expecting, your pH pen needs calibration.
2 It needs calibration after you cleaned or performed hydration on it.
3 If you see that the checkmark has disappeared a month past the first calibration, then itâs time to calibrate the pH pen.
4 A change in batteries also impacts the calibration of your pH pen. You need to calibrate the pen with either a â7.0 and 4.0 pH solutionâ or a â7.0 and 10.0 pH solutionâ. However, it depends on the current reading value.
First Step: Cleaning the Probe
Aside from using a brand-new pH pen, it would help if you cleaned the pen before calibration. Apart from that, you also need to hydrate the probe before usage or after cleaning.
Second Step: Rinsing the Pen with pH 7.0 solution
' After youâve hydrated your pH pen with freshwater, you have to place it in the pH 7.0 solution. Now, itâs time to wait for the reading to normalize.
Third Step: Pressing the cal button
This step may seem like a simple one, but itâs an essential one. In other words, you must push the cal button until CAL 7 appears on the display screen. The display interprets that the pen now has a point 1 calibration.
Fourth Step: Rinsing the Probe again in a pH 4.0 solution
The next step is to clear the probe in freshwater, and you have to place it in a pH 4.0 solution. However, if you are expecting a value of above 7.0 pH, you have to use a pH 10.0 solution. Now, itâs time to wait for the reading to normalize.
Final Step: Pressing the cal button until You Receive a Point-2 or Point-3 calibration
The final step is to press the cal button until you see a CAL 4 or CAL 10 on the screen. Keep in mind that the value depends on what type of solution youâre calibrating. However, when youâre following the steps for a 3-point calibration, repeat them using pH solutions (4.0, 7.0, and 10.0).
Final Words
Keep in mind that the calibration is a relatively simple method. The abovementioned steps are common to calibrate various pens; but, donât forget to consult your instruction manual for further guidance. Or you could connect with groindoor.com to resolve all your concerns. We have all the expertise and the products to help you flourish as a grower.