Luster Leaf 1818 Rapitest 4-in1 Soil pH/Moisture/Fertility/Light Tester, Fertility

As an avid gardener whose soil pH varies across her property, I really needed a convenient and quick way to test pH to ensure that the soil was properly adjusted. I tried those little vials with the test strips (economical but required a production to test more than one area) and an electronic gauge that required all sorts of solutions (accurate but a pain to use). With the Luster Leaf Rapitest mini soil tester, I finally found my perfect tester -- inexpensive, instant, and incredibly easy to use. All you do is select the type of reading you want (pH, fertility, moisture, and light), and insert the three-prong base into the soil. Right away, the needle sweeps over the gauge. You'll get the most accurate readings when the soil is moist and when you've left it in for at least thirty seconds to make sure the reading has stabilized, although most times a fairly accurate reading takes mere seconds.The fertility meter works fairly well; I planted some annuals in a pot of new Miracle Gro soil, and the gauge read on the high end of ideal, exactly what I expected. My vegetable garden, which I haven't yet prepared for this season, registered low, having been depleted of nutrients last year and over the winter. The fertility setting is good if you want a quick spot test to see whether you need to fertilize, although it's not plant-specific; different plants thrive on different levels of fertilizer, so you'll need to do your research. The moisture test is good for seeing if you need to water, but I assume that the probe measures only the moisture at the bottom, so, for shallow-rooted plants, take care that you measure at the lowest level of the root system, never below it. Deep-rooted plants might be suffering if just the top few inches of the soil are moist. The light meter is the least useful because it will only measure what is happening at the very second, something most people can tell for themselves.This device is not built for long-term use or for leaving in the dirt for more than a few minutes. The prongs are easily bent and should not be forced into rocky or compacted/hard soil (use a garden trowel to loosen the soil first.) For a more complete view of your plants/soil. minus pH readings, try EasyBloom Plus Plant Sensor. The Easy Bloom uploads long-term readings to your computer and provides plant-specific details; that device is not instant but instead takes readings over a minimum of 24 hours. I use the Luster Leaf primarily for pH and quick moisture tests, and the Easy Bloom for everything else.-- Debbie Lee Wesselmann

Absolutely love this tool. Ensures watering efficiency and humidity. Built tough

If you follow the directions it works just fine. No quality issue with the unit I bought. I've been using this brand for many years. I would recommend.

Works great

Bought it about 10 months ago but used it only a few times. This last time I inserted the probes as usual, pulled it out of the soil and found one of the three probes had inserted itself into the head of the tester. I pulled it out and ended up with it in my hand completely detached from the head. I tried to re-insert it but it didn't work after that. There is no way to take the head apart so I can't fix it. Not worth keeping or trying to fix it so just tossed it in the trash. Ordered another brand.

Do not buy, piece of junk. Does not work at all. All my potted plants have PH 7. Which I know is incorrect as some have been tested at a nursery

I have tried several PH testers through the years. I really cannot afford a really expensive one so I've always looked for one that works, which is reasonably priced. I tested three of them recently, locally purchased, and took them back. One of them would not even register vinegar as acid. Even some of the more expensive ones on Amazon get very mixed reviews, though I'm sure some of it is from not understanding how to use it and its limitations. I have recently started planting in clay and peat pots for later replanting outdoors when the weather gets warm. I like to check the soil PH for the various plants to make sure they get the right start. I then add what is needed to get the correct PH. I was able to do this without a hitch with the Luster Leaf tester, which is one of the cheaper testers on the market. When I test the PH, I take some soil in a glass and add filtered water to make thick mud. That is what I test. Just sticking the tester into the ground does not work very well. I checked the readings using soil which I knew to be high acid or base, such as soil with a lot of lime or acid added to it. It gave correct readings and changed as acid or lime is added. After checking to make sure this tester was working, I then tested my soil.Though I didn't have as much interest in the readings of soil nutrients, light, and soil moisture, I did try these readings and they seem to make sense. Much of the soil that I use has few nutrients to begin with. I always add something to the soil, manure, commercial fertilizer for flowers,etc. When fertilizer was added the reading changed accordingly. This seems like a good tester. At this point, having used it for only about 4 hours of testing, I recommend it.

Helped out a lot before I put dune did to tell me if I had to amend it. Easy to use.