Thanks Alexa, I do use the Liquid Fence spray but they still manage to get a few blooms and buds when I am late getting it put out. I use it at least once or twice a month during the summer. Judy

I have no need for the precision of a pH meter, so I just use the indicator solution, and the longer I'm doing this, my systems have become so predictable I know how my pH is going to behave for my plants (since I have a defined 100% change point to begin each 6 week cycle). Being within 0.5 pH units is fine, though I don't have any trouble calling my pH to the nearest tenth. I'm sure it helps that I'm a chemist and have read pH for a long time, though it was probably the pool that deserves more credit ;-) In any case, I would suggest you try what I do and see if it helps - get a bright white blank paper and fold it in quarters to get a solid white background. Place the manufacturer's calibration colors (if GH printed it on the bottle, then that) by or above/behind, and put it directly under a reasonably bright incandescent bulb, with a shade so the direct filament doesn't interfere with your eyes, until there are no shadows and the color is nice and bright throughout the sample. If you have some sort of plastic kit that is cheap or marked in a way that it is small or confusing, don't bother with it. I use some test tubes about 19mm diameter and angle them back to get a nice rich pure light. If I've been drinking or knocked on the head, or have been in low light reading for an extended period of time, I am more careful to compare the chart in tandem with the sample. If you get test tubes, try to get shorter ones or it will be a pain to clean the bottoms. To get good with indicator solution when you start dealing with it, make a few trials using tap and diluted vinegar just to get a few samples. The best is if you can do that and make a set of a few tubes at once at different pH. That makes you much more accurate since you directly can see the tones you particular solution makes, and they can appear different that the chart, but once you see what's going on, there will be little doubt. Also use a reproducible amount of nutrient solution in the sample, and a good eyedropper with say 3 drops each time. You'll get the hang of it, but really no one can do a perfect job with indicator if they try to do it outside with the lighting effects and background color interference for your brain to interpret. Good luck. This post was edited by PupillaCharites on Wed, Mar 5, 14 at 1:37

I have to redeem myself. After I made the negative comment on the Aarunku glass cutter, I decided to write the company. I got a reply from the owner to tell me how to use it and it worked beautifully! I was putting too much pressure on it. Here are his instructions "Try using a very light score, and make sure you wheel is pointed straight ahead. With the larger cutting head we use, it is not necessary to use a lot o pressure. If you run your finger over the score line and you can see little flakes of glass on it, then you are pressing too hard. Remember, a light score." Just had to share this.

It is an interesting picture, but what is it? Surely, not a dahlia. Using Photobucket, copy and past the link in the HTML code OR use the direct link code in the Optional Link URL Here is a link that might be useful: