Make Hummingbird Food DIY

Are you a hummingbird lover? Do you wish to make hummingbird food on your own? Well, rejoice because it is indeed possible — and the bonus is it is very easy and cheap to make. For someone who has a hummingbird pet, you may be wondering how the food is being made; you are quite curious about the ingredients and the process itself. So here it is, the complete procedure on how to make hummingbird food DIY:

Hummingbird Food DIY

Prepare the ingredients

Although hummingbird food is quite easy to make, you need to make sure that you prepare exact ingredients beforehand. Lacking any of the ingredients will surely hinder you from accomplishing your DIY goal.

So, in order to get started you need 4 cups of water and 1 cup of regular sugar (white cane). If you want to add some food color, you must also prepare your preferred food coloring. Some hummingbird lovers do not want food coloring on their hummingbird food because they want it to be natural as well as free from chemicals. But if you prefer to add a mix of color to the food of your bird, you may do so. Anyway, pet stores sell colored hummingbird food so it should be fine. Some also say that hummingbirds are attracted to colored feeds, especially the red ones so you may really try it out and see for yourself.

Follow instructions carefully

Whether you are getting instructions online or from a manual for hummingbirds, you need to ensure that you don’t miss a single step. It is also important to make sure that the procedures you are following come from a credible source. This is why it’s safest to get instructions from hummingbird owners or pet stores directly.

According to a reliable pet store which sells hummingbird food, here are the steps to follow:

1. Boil water.
2. As soon as the water boils, mix 1 cup of sugar.
3. Turn off the gas range, and set aside the solution.
4. Dissolve the sugar in the water by stirring it thoroughly. Make sure that the water is already clear before you stop stirring.
5. This procedure is optional. Add some drops of food coloring. To make a conventional hummingbird food, choose red as your bird food coloring.
6. Allow it to cool.
7. You are now ready to fill your hummingbird feeder. Make sure that it is clean before you pour the solution.
8. You can place your leftover hummingbird food in the fridge so you can use it the next day.
9. Cleaning and refilling bird feeders should be done every three to five days.
10. If it is extremely hot, clean and refill more frequently to prevent bacteria from building up in your hummingbird food.

Making hummingbird food on your own is very rewarding on your part as you get to do it for your beloved pet. Aside from this, you can also save money because making your own hummingbird food is cheaper as compared to buying it from pet stores. You can also spare yourself from going outside in order to buy food for your hummingbirds.



Factors to Consider When Buying Soil Testing Kits

Farming is big business all over the world, but it takes smart planning to make good profits and yield nutritious crops. Smart farmers know that testing the soil before deciding what to plant is absolutely necessary, and the rely on only the best soil testing kits in the market. So, how do you know which kit is the best? Here are some tips on how to choose the best soil testing tips.

Best Factors to Consider When Buying Soil Testing Kits

• Check the Tests Covered

Factors that determine a farm’s productivity include the soil’s pH and the presence of nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Some kits are designed to check for pH alone while others check for both pH and the aforementioned nutrients. The latter would be ideal as they provide comprehensive testing and each test counts.

• Measure the Sample Holding Capacity

It is important to note that the tests conducted only give an average of the findings. As such, a small sample can be misleading, hence a testing kit with a large holding capacity is recommended. This will also save you time as you do not have to perform too many tests at a go.

• Check for Accuracy

Modern soil testing technology allows soil testing kits to be incredibly precise in their measurements. While some kits measure limited ranges of pH, some measure from 3.0 to 10.0 and up to half a unit. These would be preferable for surety when planning for the season.

• Ease of Use

Sophisticated technology may be better, but not everyone may find it easy to use. If your goal is to farm rather than conduct comprehensive research, then you should consider getting a standard research kit that is easy to use.

Best Soil Testing Kits

Here is a brief review of some of the popular and easy-to-use Rapitest soil testing kits:

• Luster Leaf 1601

Luster Leaf 1601 is characterized by convenience. The kit is ready to get to work immediately after purchase, and the instructions on how to use it are simple and clear. It tests for both pH and nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Additionally, it has a chart for pH and NPK levels for over 100 different plants, making it ideal for the all-round farmer.

• Luster Leaf 1609CS

Luster Leaf 1609CS is capable of performing ten tests: four for pH and six for NPK. Its results are precise and fast, and it is capable of holding a substantial amount of soil to produce accurate results. It is easy to use and incredibly affordable considering its features and accuracy.

• Luster Leaf 1612

This is one of the most advanced yet simple Rapitest soil testing kits as it comes with its own patented color comparator. This new color comparator makes it easier and more accurate to compare colors and make conclusions. It is capable of performing ten tests, but they all focus on pH. Hence, it is ideal for commercial farmers who deal with crops that are mostly affected by the soil’s pH levels.


Success in farming depends on the nutrients in the ground, and thanks to soil testing kits it is now possible to measure and monitor the nutrient and pH composition of your soil. For accurate results, follow the best-buy tips and consider buying from the best brands such as Rapitest soil testing kits.