bencelest

The meter will tell you to take 3 samples at about 6 inches deep at 3 different places in your pot or garden. Put them in a clean glass and add either distilled water or the water purified by osmosis. Stir the soil until it is at pancake consistency.Wait one hour before you take a reading.
As for me I just wait 5 minutes and I take a reading. I found out that there is only a difference of less than .5 in readings.
My tap water here is 7.6 I believe.
The optimum pH for citrus is 6.5 BTW.
PS
From my experience the tendency of my plant's soil pH either in pots and on the ground is very low pH now that I think about it. There are only a few times that some pots have high pH. Either way, the plant will tell you its dissatisfaction.
Once I corrected the problem they became happy and they will show it to you too.
As a precaution remember it may take many months before it shows .

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Banana Nut