DIY Smart Plant Watering System for Indoor Gardens

Are you tired of forgetting to water your indoor plants? Or do you want to ensure they get just the right amount of water? This project will guide you through creating a DIY Smart Plant Watering System using basic electronics and sensors. This system will automatically water your plants based on soil moisture levels. You can build this project using easily available components like an Arduino, soil moisture sensors, a water pump, and a relay module.

1. Arduino Uno
2. Soil Moisture Sensor
3. Water Pump (with tubing)
4. Relay Module
5. 12V Power Supply
6. Jumper Wires
7. Breadboard
8. A plastic container for water storage
9. Potting soil and plants
10. Small PVC pipes or plastic tubing for water distribution

1. Insert the soil moisture sensor into the plant pot where your plant is growing.
2. Connect the sensor’s VCC pin to the 5V pin on the Arduino.
3. Connect the GND pin of the sensor to the GND pin on the Arduino.
4. Connect the sensor’s output pin to one of the analog pins on the Arduino (e.g., A0).

1. Connect the water pump to the NO (Normally Open) and COM pins on the relay.
2. Connect the VCC and GND of the relay module to the 5V and GND pins on the Arduino, respectively.
3. Connect the relay’s signal input to a digital pin (e.g., D7) on the Arduino.

int sensorPin = A0; // Soil moisture sensor connected to A0

int relayPin = 7; // Relay module connected to pin 7

int sensorValue = 0;

void setup() {

pinMode(relayPin, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(relayPin, HIGH); // Turn off the water pump

Serial.begin(9600); // Begin Serial communication for debugging

}

void loop() {

sensorValue = analogRead(sensorPin); // Read moisture level

Serial.println(sensorValue); // Output the value for debugging

if (sensorValue < 400) {

digitalWrite(relayPin, LOW); // Turn on water pump if moisture is low

} else {

digitalWrite(relayPin, HIGH); // Turn off the pump if the soil is moist enough

}

delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second before checking again

}

1. Use PVC pipes or plastic tubing to direct the water from the pump to the plant pots. Ensure the tubing is securely fastened to the pump output and positioned to drip into the plant’s soil.
2. Place the water pump inside a plastic container filled with water.

1. Power up the Arduino and the relay module using the 12V power supply.
2. Place the soil moisture sensor in dry soil, and the water pump should automatically turn on.
3. Once the soil becomes moist, the pump will turn off.

You now have a fully functional smart plant watering system! This DIY project helps keep your plants healthy by ensuring they are watered just the right amount. It is a great way to combine gardening with technology.