Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this tutorial, we’re upgrading the AI plant monitor from episodes one and two by adding self-watering capabilities to ensure your plants stay alive and thrive autonomously! This project goes beyond simple monitoring—we are integrating a water pump and a relay module to create a closed-loop system that responds to your plant's real-time needs.
One of the most important parts of this build is preventing overwatering. I’ll show you how to calibrate the capacitive soil moisture sensor we set up in the last episode to trigger the pump only when necessary. We will also dive into the software side, using crontab to automate the watering script so the system runs entirely on its own.
Whether you are a woman in STEM, a tech mentor, or a DIY enthusiast, this project is the perfect way to see how Raspberry Pi and simple hardware components can solve everyday problems like a pro.
Hardware Used in this Video:
Raspberry Pi 5 (1GB or 8GB) - amzn.to/4swDrDK
Generic USB Webcam with Tripod - amzn.to/4eKXz1k
Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor - amzn.to/49N6w6O
ADS1115 ADC Module - amzn.to/4drhbp5
Breadboard and Jumper Wires - amzn.to/4wzQQ0M
Automatic Irrigation DIY Kit Self Watering System - amzn.to/4wfmS1Q
Book: "A Woman's Guide to Winning in Tech" - amzn.to/3YxHVO7
The links provided are affiliate links in which I may make a small commission but doesn't affect the price that you pay. Purchasing from these links helps to keep my channel going to produce content for you.
Prerequisites:
Raspberry Pi 4/5 Setup from Scratch: youtu.be/rvCaN1PSKY0
Episode 1 - AI Plant Monitor: youtu.be/2Ml0UmqRSCw
Episode 2 - AI Plant Monitor with Soil Moisture Sensor: youtu.be/yxy1AmOGVfw
Github Repo: github.com/carolinedunn/Automated-Plant-Watering-with-Raspberry-Pi
Troubleshooting Help: If you are unable to get this project to work, rewatching the video more closely usually clears up 99% of errors. If you've gone through it and would like direct 1-1 help, you can book a live session with me here: fiverr.com/s/bd1kl6m
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro & Demo
1:10 - Hardware Overview: Pump, Relay, and Power Supply
2:43 - Wiring the System (Pump to Relay Logic)
3:08 - Testing the Pump with pump_test.py
3:54 - Software Setup & Downloading GitHub Files
4:58 - Calibrating Moisture Thresholds in check_and_water.py
6:20 - Automating with Crontab (The Hourly Check)
6:58 - Final Demo: Automatic Watering Success!
If you found this tutorial helpful, please like and subscribe for more Raspberry Pi, tech, and travel content!
📘 A Woman’s Guide to Winning in Tech
A Woman’s Guide to Winning in Tech blends sharp humor with practical career strategies to help women navigate tech on their own terms—without changing who they are.
Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark
Learn more: winningintech.com
Follow the book:
Facebook: facebook.com/winningintech
Instagram: instagram.com/winning.tech
In this tutorial, we’re upgrading the AI plant monitor from episodes one and two by adding self-watering capabilities to ensure your plants stay alive and thrive autonomously! This project goes beyond simple monitoring—we are integrating a water pump and a relay module to create a closed-loop system that responds to your plant's real-time needs.
One of the most important parts of this build is preventing overwatering. I’ll show you how to calibrate the capacitive soil moisture sensor we set up in the last episode to trigger the pump only when necessary. We will also dive into the software side, using crontab to automate the watering script so the system runs entirely on its own.
Whether you are a woman in STEM, a tech mentor, or a DIY enthusiast, this project is the perfect way to see how Raspberry Pi and simple hardware components can solve everyday problems like a pro.
Hardware Used in this Video:
Raspberry Pi 5 (1GB or 8GB) - amzn.to/4swDrDK
Generic USB Webcam with Tripod - amzn.to/4eKXz1k
Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor - amzn.to/49N6w6O
ADS1115 ADC Module - amzn.to/4drhbp5
Breadboard and Jumper Wires - amzn.to/4wzQQ0M
Automatic Irrigation DIY Kit Self Watering System - amzn.to/4wfmS1Q
Book: "A Woman's Guide to Winning in Tech" - amzn.to/3YxHVO7
The links provided are affiliate links in which I may make a small commission but doesn't affect the price that you pay. Purchasing from these links helps to keep my channel going to produce content for you.
Prerequisites:
Raspberry Pi 4/5 Setup from Scratch: youtu.be/rvCaN1PSKY0
Episode 1 - AI Plant Monitor: youtu.be/2Ml0UmqRSCw
Episode 2 - AI Plant Monitor with Soil Moisture Sensor: youtu.be/yxy1AmOGVfw
Github Repo: github.com/carolinedunn/Automated-Plant-Watering-with-Raspberry-Pi
Troubleshooting Help: If you are unable to get this project to work, rewatching the video more closely usually clears up 99% of errors. If you've gone through it and would like direct 1-1 help, you can book a live session with me here: fiverr.com/s/bd1kl6m
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro & Demo
1:10 - Hardware Overview: Pump, Relay, and Power Supply
2:43 - Wiring the System (Pump to Relay Logic)
3:08 - Testing the Pump with pump_test.py
3:54 - Software Setup & Downloading GitHub Files
4:58 - Calibrating Moisture Thresholds in check_and_water.py
6:20 - Automating with Crontab (The Hourly Check)
6:58 - Final Demo: Automatic Watering Success!
If you found this tutorial helpful, please like and subscribe for more Raspberry Pi, tech, and travel content!
📘 A Woman’s Guide to Winning in Tech
A Woman’s Guide to Winning in Tech blends sharp humor with practical career strategies to help women navigate tech on their own terms—without changing who they are.
Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and IngramSpark
Learn more: winningintech.com
Follow the book:
Facebook: facebook.com/winningintech
Instagram: instagram.com/winning.tech
