Measure the soil
A battery-powered wireless sensor measures the soil-moisture percentage inside the plant pot.
WIRELESS SOIL SENSING ยท RASPBERRY PI ยท EVEN WATERING
Smarter watering without a sensor wire running to the plant.
RootFlow is being upgraded into a wireless automatic watering system for one indoor potted plant. A battery-powered soil sensor sends moisture readings to a Raspberry Pi, which controls a pump and distributes water around the plant when the soil becomes dry.
Wireless
Soil-moisture readings
1 plant
Indoor pilot system
Testing
Before pilot sales
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Receiving wireless soil data
THE PROJECT EVOLUTION
From a wired prototype to a cleaner wireless system.
RootFlow originally began as an outdoor irrigation idea that used temperature data. Testing showed that weather alone could not determine whether soil was actually dry, so I built a working indoor prototype with a wired soil sensor and an MCP3008 converter.
The next version replaces the wired sensor and MCP3008 with a wireless Zigbee soil sensor and a USB Zigbee receiver connected to the Raspberry Pi. The watering outlet is also being upgraded from one open tube to a micro-bubbler that spreads water more evenly around the plant.
HOW THE NEW SYSTEM WORKS
Wireless sensing, safe decisions, and evenly distributed water.
Send the reading
The sensor sends its data through Zigbee to a SONOFF USB dongle plugged into the Raspberry Pi.
Make a safe decision
Python compares the moisture percentage to the dry threshold. If the reading is missing or outdated, the pump remains off.
Water evenly
The Raspberry Pi activates the relay and pump. Water moves through 1/4-inch tubing to a 360-degree micro-bubbler around the plant.
ROOTFLOW VERSIONS
The indoor system comes first. The outdoor idea comes next.
Wireless Indoor Version
The upgraded RootFlow system is designed for one indoor potted plant. It receives wireless moisture readings, waters only when the soil is dry, and spreads water more evenly around the pot.
- Wireless soil-moisture percentage
- No wired sensor connection to the Raspberry Pi
- No MCP3008 required
- Automatic relay and pump control
- 360-degree micro-bubbler distribution
- Being tested before pilot sales
Outdoor Garden Version
The outdoor garden system was the original RootFlow concept. A future version may combine soil readings with weather information and use weather-resistant hardware for larger outdoor spaces.
- Original RootFlow concept
- Soil moisture and weather data
- Weather-resistant enclosure development
- Support for larger watering areas
- Not currently available for purchase
BUILT FOR RESPONSIBLE TESTING
The pump should never run from an unreliable reading.
The upgraded program is being designed so a missing, disconnected, or outdated wireless reading keeps the pump off. The pump will also use a maximum run-time limit so one dry reading cannot cause unlimited watering.
Before any pilot units are offered, the system will be tested for wireless reconnection, battery status, repeated Raspberry Pi restarts, sensor calibration, water flow, leaks, and safe pump shutoff.
THE NEW HARDWARE PATH
Each part has one clear job.
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Wireless Soil Sensor
Measures soil-moisture percentage and sends it through Zigbee.
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Zigbee USB Dongle
Receives the wireless sensor data and delivers it to the Raspberry Pi.
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Raspberry Pi
Runs the control program, checks the threshold, and applies safety rules.
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Relay Module
Lets the Raspberry Pi switch the separately powered water pump on and off.
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Water Pump
Moves water from the reservoir when the Raspberry Pi determines the soil is dry.
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1/4-Inch Tubing
Carries water from the pump to the plant.
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Micro-Bubbler
Creates gentle streams that distribute water around the soil instead of one spot.
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Python Control Logic
Reads the percentage, checks data freshness, controls the pump, and limits run time.
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Battery Monitoring
Helps identify a low sensor battery before wireless readings become unreliable.
PROJECT DEMO
See how RootFlow developed.
The first demonstration documents the working wired prototype, including soil testing, threshold calibration, and automatic pump control. A second demonstration of the wireless sensor and micro-bubbler will be added after the upgraded parts are installed and tested.
Ask About the Testing ProcessRootFlow demonstration coming soon
Wired prototype first ยท Wireless upgrade after testingABOUT THE CREATOR
Built by Shiloh Samuel.
I am a high school student interested in hardware engineering, software, embedded systems, and solving real-world problems with technology.
I created RootFlow to learn how sensors, wireless communication, a Raspberry Pi, electronics, Python, and physical automation can work together as one complete system.
The project began as an outdoor temperature-based irrigation idea, became a working wired indoor prototype, and is now being upgraded into a cleaner wireless indoor system with more even water distribution.
CONTACT
Interested in following the RootFlow pilot?
The upgraded wireless indoor system is still being assembled and tested. Contact me to ask about the project, the demonstration, future pilot testing, or availability after validation is complete.
RootFlow is not accepting paid orders for the upgraded version until the new wireless and watering components have been tested together.
Contact me about demonstrations, engineering decisions, pilot testing, or future availability.