Technical Reference

Manual testing gives you a snapshot of your nutrient solution, while continuous monitoring shows how pH, EC and temperature change over time. Learn which approach is right for your grow.

Store your pH probe hydrated in KCl storage solution to help maintain reliable measurements. Learn what to avoid and what to do if your probe dries out.

Remote greenhouse monitoring gives growers continuous visibility into pH, EC and temperature. Compare the Bluelab Guardian Monitor Wi-Fi for reservoir monitoring with the Inline version for nutrient and irrigation lines.

Choosing the right pH meter for hydroponics comes down to accuracy, calibration, automatic temperature compensation (ATC), durability and probe care. Here’s what to look for when choosing the right meter for your grow.

In hydroponic growing, nutrients are primarily supplied to plant roots through the nutrient solution. Managing that solution means understanding three key parameters: pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and temperature.

Continuous hydroponic nutrient monitoring is challenging because a nutrient solution is constantly changing. Plants take up water and nutrients at different rates, pH can rise or fall, EC can become more or less concentrated, and source water and environmental conditions can influence your readings.

To accurately measure pH in a hydroponic nutrient solution, you can use pH test strips, a liquid test kit or a digital pH meter. For growers who need precise, repeatable readings, a digital pH meter provides a numerical result and makes it easier to track small changes over time.

Unstable pH readings can happen for two main reasons: the pH of your nutrient solution is genuinely changing, or your pH probe is not producing a reliable measurement.