If you’re like me you get busy and don’t notice that the plants need watering until they turn brown. Similar to the Plant moisture sensor, this module monitors the moisture level of your house plants but uses individual sensor probes allowing you to monitor up to five (5) separate plants with a single module. Just push the sensor probe into the soil of the plant and it will report back the status. Like the rest of the Sensible Living sensors, it requires the Desktop Application and Receiver (sold separately) to let you know when your plants need watering.

I use this in an indoor, vertical garden where I can start seeds for the spring and winter over some garden plants. (I have one bell pepper that is starting its third season.)

Note: The sensor reports a status on a 1 to 10 scale. Typically at levels below 3 the plant needs watering. Depending on the type of plant and soil mix this will vary, but it’s a good rule of thumb.

Like the rest of the Sensible Living family it is designed as a low power, battery operated, sensor that sleeps most of the time and wakes up once per hour (default setting) to check its sensor/s and send it’s status.

The Desktop App can be configured to send you a message (via email, SMS, etc.) when your plants get thirsty. (A message could also be set for being too wet as well.)

In the Card view, if you click on the Vertical Garden Card (pictured above) the app will cycle through each of the five sensors showing its name and the current moisture level of each plant. You can insert your own image to represent your plant or garden and set individual thresholds for each plant and when and how you should be notified.

Also available on this site:

• Receiver
• Mini-Plant Sensor
• Mini-Temperature Monitor
• Mini-Water leak detector
• Mini-Tilt Sensor
• Mini-Light Sensor
• Mini-General Purpose Sensor
• Temperature and Humidity Monitor
• Refrigerator/freezer temperature monitor
• Quad AC Current monitor (monitors up to four circuits simultaneously)
• Wireless MQ2 Combustible Gas sensor
• General Purpose Sensor board
• Indoor Garden monitor
• Motion Sensor
• Range Extender

Why did I build it?

I am notorious for forgetting to water the plants. I finally built this sensor to keep watch for me.

All of these were built to address specific needs around my home and for my family.

What makes it special?

Inexpensive sensors that you can build yourself and operate for more than a year on a single charge combined with an easy to use desktop application that helps you keep track of, and make sense of, your data.

(Note: Requires the Wireless Desktop application and receiver.)

Arduino ® enthusiasts

If you are interested in playing with wireless sensors and know the Arduino environment you can use this board as the starting point of your own unique monitoring device. If you are interested in playing with wireless sensors this is an inexpensive and easy way to get started. The Arduino sketch for this board is freely available.