Smart Gardening
Automatic irrigation, soil sensors and weather stations for data-driven watering.
-
Electrical safety for garden irrigation systems
Published: at 06:30 PMSafetyElectrical safety for garden irrigation: REBT, ITC-BT-18, 24 and 43, equipment IP ratings, 30 mA RCDs, earthing, pumps in water and safe cabling.
-
Dying plants: why they wilt, die or stop growing
Published: at 06:20 PMTroubleshootingWhy plants stop growing, dry out or rot after a watering change: too much water, lack of light, compacted substrate, checking roots and diagnosis.
-
Automatic irrigation not working: how to diagnose it
Published: at 06:10 PMTroubleshootingAutomatic irrigation not working: doesn't run, runs too little or too much, ordered diagnosis with valves, solenoids, pressure, filters and clogged emitters.
-
Potting soil and drainage for pots
Published: at 06:00 PMGrowingSubstrate and drainage in pots: peat, coco coir, perlite and vermiculite, mixes that retain water, drainage layers, drainage holes and repotting properly.
-
DIY hydroponics: NFT, DWC and soil-less drip
Published: at 05:50 PMGrowingDIY hydroponics: NFT, DWC and drip systems without substrate, nutrient solution, pH and EC, root oxygenation, light, assembly and common mistakes.
-
Irrigation for a balcony vegetable garden
Published: at 05:40 PMAutomationIrrigation for a balcony or terrace vegetable garden: raised tank, drip zones per plant, flow rate, substrate, windbreak and the full step-by-step assembly.
-
Solar irrigation: sizing and off-grid autonomy
Published: at 05:30 PMAutomationSolar irrigation in the garden: sizing the panel and battery, sun hours, low-voltage pump, timer or sensor, maintenance and the limits of the system.
-
Automate irrigation with Home Assistant
Published: at 05:20 PMAutomationAutomate irrigation in Home Assistant: threshold and hysteresis, missing readings, pump safety, history, alerts and how to avoid overwatering.
-
DIY weather station to make your irrigation decisions
Published: at 05:10 PMSensorsBuild a DIY weather station for the garden: temperature, humidity, rain and wind sensors, siting and shade, evapotranspiration and AEMET weather data.
-
Rain sensor for automatic irrigation systems
Published: at 05:00 PMSensorsHow to install a rain sensor for automatic irrigation: tipping bucket or capacitive probe, ESP32 readings, deep sleep, Home Assistant and mistakes.
-
Soil moisture sensor: capacitive vs resistive
Published: at 04:50 PMSensorsSoil moisture sensor for the garden: capacitive vs resistive differences, corrosion, where to bury it and how to calibrate it at two points.
-
Hard Water and Limescale in Irrigation: Avoiding Blockages
Published: at 04:40 PMIrrigationHard water in irrigation: how to spot limescale, why it blocks emitters, which filters to use and how to prevent crusts in the garden and in pots.
-
Irrigation Controller: How to Choose the Right One
Published: at 04:30 PMIrrigationHow to choose an automatic irrigation controller: solenoid or ball valve, number of zones, flow per zone, pressure and the settings you actually use.
-
Drip Irrigation: Step-by-Step Installation
Published: at 04:20 PMIrrigationInstall drip irrigation in pots or a vegetable plot: emitter flow, filter, pressure regulator, main line, microtubes, flushing and common mistakes.
-
How Much Water Each Plant Needs: The Real Calculation
Published: at 04:10 PMFundamentalsHow to calculate how much water a plant needs based on climate, pot and substrate, with the FAO-56 method, weighing the pot and signs of excess or shortage.
-
Home Automatic Irrigation: A Complete Starter Guide
Published: at 04:00 PMFundamentalsAutomatic irrigation at home from scratch: choosing a system, solenoid valves, soil sensor, controller and Home Assistant, plus materials and setup.