I'm planning to build a smart hydroponic grow tent for growing baby leaf greens and automate the following functions in the following order with a Raspberry Pi.
(The image below is an AI-generated illustration of an indoor vegetable-growing setup using a three-tier rack.)
I use a grow tent to control and stabilize the growing environment by reducing the effects of pests and external factors (such as weather and temperature).
- Light on/off
- Temperature/humidity monitoring
- Water level monitoring
- Alert notifications
- Fan control
- pH / EC management
- Aeration (air pump + air stone)
- Quantitative fertilizer injection
- Fixed-position camera monitoring
- Remote status monitoring via a dashboard
There are two main hydroponic methods I considered for this grow tent: DWC and NFT.
・NFT → A system in which a thin layer of nutrient solution flows through an inclined channel. The roots are not completely submerged in water.
・DWC → A method in which the roots are suspended in nutrient solution.
I'm building a DWC-based hydroponic system because DWC seems easier to manage.
In this post, I will summarize the overall project plan.
~Overview Schedule~
- Build a grow tent
- Build one hydroponic setup
- Run a grow test without automation
- Add automation
- Add monitoring with a Raspberry Pi
- Expand to the second and third shelves
In Step1, I will install a grow tent, multi-tier shelves, LED bar lights, small fans, waterproof trays.
First, I bought these items.
・Grow tent
https://amzn.asia/d/0dXkClGL
A 60 × 60 × 120 cm tent is suitable for a three-tier rack. I think light-blocking material is better because it makes the environment easier to manage. (If you use vinyl, I think moss will grow easily on the tray.)
・multi-tier shelves
I decided to use the shelves that I used in my room.
It's a bit small (40×30×80), but enough for the prototype.
・LED bar lights
https://amzn.asia/d/03EHS1wG
It needs to fit the size of the shelf.
I'm not sure how bright is bright enough for this setup, so I try it and add light if needed.
・Waterproof trays
I bought the box with black color that fits the shelf at Seria.
I chose black to prevent moss.
・Styrofoam board
The guides I read recommended using expanded polystyrene, but this time, I decided to use a styrofoam board instead.
Black color is the best for the same reason.
https://jp.daisonet.com/products/4550480291680
・Sponge
I chose sponge because it helps hold the seeds in place, retains moisture, and allows the roots to grow downward easily.
I can find most of the materials I need for this hands-on project at DAISO and Seria (and sometimes at Amazon). And I have a reliable partner "ChatGPT"!
Let's continue the hands-on!