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

This lets me check the moisture level in my raised garden without having to dig down into the soil. I am trying a self watering bed for the first time & wanted to make sure the water was actually getting to the plants. I also used it to check the ph of the soil to see if I needed to adjust it before planting.

As a gardener, testing soil for fertilizer and pH of course is a good practice and indicates the soils health for planting. I have raised beds so the soil is not walked on or compacted (lots of vermiculite, compost and peat keep it loose), but I also follow the directions carefully provided with the tester and use some common sense. To measure fertilization and pH that means removing the top 2" of soil and using rain or purified (distilled) water to make it a bit muddy and then putting the probes deep, almost to the bottom of the case, in the muddy soil. You polish the pH probe with the little pad (it is like a little piece of Scotchbrite) before inserting in the soil. You will see the pH level move a little if you wait and let it settle (30 secs +/-). Of course if you are just interested in measuring moisture there is no preparation, you just insert it in the soil up to the bottom of the case. If you soil is firm use some common sense and break it up! The probes are not intended to break through firm soil and are long, so you could certainly damage them. If you are primarily interested in measuring moisture I would get a moisture meter with only the one probe, the probes on those single purpose meters are usually thicker and that will also save wear and tear on the other probes and having to clean them off. I have both and use my moisture meter almost daily, the 4 in 1 less frequently to test my soil maybe once every 2 to 3 months or if I see a problem with my garden. In any case the directions don't recommend you leave the probes in soil for extended periods of time or put them only in liquids such as water or vinegar over night test it, as some have commented. If you want to check accuracy of the ph reading get a test strip or other type of pH kit to compare or take it to your county extension agent and they will test it. I think you will find the 4 in 1 does a fairly accurate job and with a little less hassel then some of the other kits/strips. Of course if you want to test the moisture, stick you finger in the soil, with a little experience you will see what the readings mean in terms of moisture. Ok so why only 4 stars? I wish the base and probes were two separate two pieces like some of the single measure probes (see Luster Leaf 1820 Rapitest Soil Moisture Meter or Luster Leaf 1840 Rapitest Soil pH Meter ). I think it would be easier to read since you could hold the meter closer. When you stick it in the garden, even a raised bed, the readings are well below eye level. I end up tilting it back a little when I insert it so it is easier to read, but the print is sort of small. Not a real big deal in the whole scheme of things and having the fertilizer and pH on the same meter is a convenience, saves a little money and means I have one less thing to haul around. However, if you are going to test soil well above or below your eye level you might want to consider getting one of the single purpose meters with the probe and meter separated. In my garden the moisture meter I use is the Luster Leaf moisture meter model I provided the link to and it is easier to read with the meter separate from the probe.

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.

By using this tool, it keeps my plants not only alive but thriving. Now, I can have house plants too!

This product does not work. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can get a good test meter that will do all the things this tester says it will do for this price. The only thing it does at all is test soil moisture and light intensity. As far as ph, it tests at 6.8 everytime I test it in soil, a soil and water solution, or just water. (I did this just to see if I could get the meter to read anything different that 6.8, I realize it's for testing in soil). I tested before and after adding fertilizer and there is no difference in the readings for ppm. I wish I had not bought this piece of useless junk. I had almost ruined my entire spring planting due to the inaccuracy of this meter which simply does not work. Garbage, don't buy it. Use the money to invest in a real meter, don't take a chance on ruining your plants by depending on this cheaply made 2 cent chinese piece of junk.

For less than 12 bucks (at the time this review was written) you get a compact soil tester that measures pH, fertilizer levels, light and moisture - sounds like the kind of thing that is broken right out of the box or works once and then never again, right? Not in this case - the rapitest unit is relatively sturdy and appears to be made with some regard for quality. Of course, you should not expect it to survive many nights outside in the rain, nor will you get the kind of results that NASA would require for a zero-g botany experiment, but for a casual gardener with a few temperamental indoor plants this is a perfect little tool. It will give you a rough idea of how your little patch of soil is doing and can assist you in diagnosing why specific plants seem to be struggling. The most useful setting is the pH tester which gives a acidity/alkalinity reading without using testing strips or dyes. The fertility setting is calibrated for a specific set of ppm for N, K and Phosphorous (these are listed in the instructions) - also useful if you know the mineral requirements of your individual plants. The instructions included with the unit are printed on a single sheet of paper and are easy to follow. Step by step directions for using each setting are given. On a side note: I'm not going to risk cracking my unit open but my guess is that this device works by measuring the flow of electric current and bases the results on pre-calibrated resistances. This means there is a battery in there somewhere that will eventually conk out.

Very accurate product, but somewhat fragile!

I read the comments, they all said it doesn't work, but i didnt believe it. I bought it and tried it myself to find out it really doesnt work. Returned it.

PROBES ARE DISLOCATED IN CURRIER, ALSO ONE OF SCREW HOLDING PROBE IS SLIPPED SO PROBE IS DISLOCATED IN PACKAGE IT SELF. I MY SELF REPAIRED IT, BY REPLACING NEW SCREW ALSO SOLDERED IT. READING ARE SHOWING. STILL I TESTING IT.

It's not a Stick'and'Measure unit, soil needs to be separately prepaired to form some mud for measuring.

A great little device. It appears accurate enough when i tested it. Its is easy to use, compact and useful; no batteries required either. Took a little while to deliver but in my opinion worth the wait. The device can be applied to outside growing environments and indoor plants. There are similar cheaper products available, often these only provided hydration and Ph readings. Light and nutrient readings are worth a few extra pounds in my opinion

This tester helps me keep tab on my soils in different flower boxex or pots. I write down the values thanks to its clear meter face.