Smart Greenhouse Controller Project: Automating My Garden

I’ve always been passionate about gardening, but managing a greenhouse manually was taking up too much of my time. That’s when I decided to automate it using Hubitat! :seedling:

The project started when my partner wanted to expand her garden, and we built a 6x8 greenhouse. I saw an opportunity to integrate smart home technology. The result? A fully automated greenhouse that maintains optimal conditions for plant growth. Let me share how it works!

The Setup:

  • Components: I used a mix of Zigbee and Z-Wave devices for heating, ventilation, and circulation. The electric heater, vent fan, heating pads, and circulator fan are all connected and controlled via the Hubitat ecosystem.
  • Sensors: A Sonoff SNZB-02D for greenhouse temp/humidity and an Ecowitt weather station for outdoor conditions.

How It Works:

  • Heating: The heater kicks in at night to maintain warmth, turning off once the set temperature is reached.
  • Ventilation: During the day, the multi-speed vent fan adjusts based on temperature thresholds, ensuring optimal cooling without wasting energy.
  • Circulation: The circulator fan runs to keep the air moving, with settings to sync with heating or ventilation modes.

Dashboard Magic:
I designed a custom dashboard using Sweet Home 3D for a top-down view. It’s fully interactive, with animated icons for visual feedback. I even integrated Google Sheets for logging and charting data over time!

User-Friendly Controls:
I hijacked thermostat tile attributes to adjust setpoints and added buttons for enabling/disabling components. A command entry tile allows for quick adjustments, like changing multiple settings at once.

The Future of My Garden:
This project has been a labor of love, and I’m thrilled to see my plants thriving thanks to this automation. It’s not just about convenience—it’s about creating the perfect environment for growth. :herb:

If you’re interested in the code or have questions, feel free to reach out! I’d love to help others automate their greenhouses too. Happy gardening! :herb::sparkles: