That's cool, but I'm curious how you determine that the LED's output the right wavelengths for plant growth? I was under the impression you need specific types for grow lights and these look like standard off the shelf LEDs
I bought a Venus fly trap about 10 years ago, and recall wanting to stick some RGB LEDs on an “Arduino or something” to get them to turn on and off in sync with the sun. I was hung up on the idea that this is in my windowsill, so the data on sunrise and sunset I could get from a photoresistor. It would also monitor moisture.
OP proceeds to spend 6 months worth of evenings and weekends learning basic electronics, Arduino, and Home Assistant installation and admin - to get to the stage where they can do this in 10 minutes.
Just to reiterate what's already been said - don't use tap water. We have a carnivorous plant expert/dealer local to us and he just collects and uses rainwater, as he says tap water will kill them.
Simple waterbutt attached to the drain pipe off the guttering and you get infinite free water for them
Was told the same thing, but my tap water works fine. If it’s true that it’s harmful I’d like to see some science (even citizen science.) Pretty sure it’s a myth.
Where abouts in NZ are you? I'm currently based in Wellington and my Venus fly traps, sundew, and pitcher plants seem to be doing quite well on the windowsill.
Many American cities use chloramine, which requires something like Sodium thiosulfate, but then you're left with Ammonia, which may or may not be desired.
this is super lit! i always mess up watering and stuff, so seeing you build all this around your plants kinda gives me ideas - you think all this tech actually changes how connected you feel to the whole growing thing?
I have some venus fly traps, they are suspended from the side a of a fish tank with the bottom of their container in the (presumably nutritious for them) fish water. Unrelated to blackrabbit17s setup, home assistant controls the lights and pumps.
I mean, it was pretty obvious from Xenolab Safety Directive 12.4B that this was not a purely pragmatic and generalised to fit everyone kind of project.
I had two carnivorous plants so far, but they all died after 3 months or so. I need to learn how to better care for them, cause I think they are so cool.
That's cool, but I'm curious how you determine that the LED's output the right wavelengths for plant growth? I was under the impression you need specific types for grow lights and these look like standard off the shelf LEDs
I dont, they are just off the shelf components, this is not a serious project, it is a toy that I used to relax away from work.
I bought a Venus fly trap about 10 years ago, and recall wanting to stick some RGB LEDs on an “Arduino or something” to get them to turn on and off in sync with the sun. I was hung up on the idea that this is in my windowsill, so the data on sunrise and sunset I could get from a photoresistor. It would also monitor moisture.
This is so cool!
This setup would take like 10 minutes in Home Assistant.
OP proceeds to spend 6 months worth of evenings and weekends learning basic electronics, Arduino, and Home Assistant installation and admin - to get to the stage where they can do this in 10 minutes.
I need this! I am struggling to grow carnivorous plants in New Zealand. I think I am giving them what they supposedly need but I just can’t win.
Just to reiterate what's already been said - don't use tap water. We have a carnivorous plant expert/dealer local to us and he just collects and uses rainwater, as he says tap water will kill them.
Simple waterbutt attached to the drain pipe off the guttering and you get infinite free water for them
Water butt (noun) - British: a large container for collecting or storing a liquid (such as rainwater)
This is so much better than "rain barrel".
Was told the same thing, but my tap water works fine. If it’s true that it’s harmful I’d like to see some science (even citizen science.) Pretty sure it’s a myth.
Depends on your tap water. Hetch Hetchy water has worked perfectly for me for years.
Its the water. I have a ro/DI system and use that water. All of the cool low nutrients species have been living for years no problem.
Where abouts in NZ are you? I'm currently based in Wellington and my Venus fly traps, sundew, and pitcher plants seem to be doing quite well on the windowsill.
If it’s the water, could it help to let it stand for a while? I do that to get rid of the chlorine.
Many American cities use chloramine, which requires something like Sodium thiosulfate, but then you're left with Ammonia, which may or may not be desired.
I think it's something in our water, I have to give them purified water which I buy.
this is super lit! i always mess up watering and stuff, so seeing you build all this around your plants kinda gives me ideas - you think all this tech actually changes how connected you feel to the whole growing thing?
I have some venus fly traps, they are suspended from the side a of a fish tank with the bottom of their container in the (presumably nutritious for them) fish water. Unrelated to blackrabbit17s setup, home assistant controls the lights and pumps.
I can appreciate the engineering but damn this look extreme.
My carnivorous plants are by the window and I water them once in a while, never had issue.
I thought about automating water supply but even me, a geek, realized it would be a waste of time.
I mean, it was pretty obvious from Xenolab Safety Directive 12.4B that this was not a purely pragmatic and generalised to fit everyone kind of project.
You might also be interested in this - https://docs.backyardbrains.com/retired/experiments/Plants_V... where they monitor the electrical spikes of the traps.
You can also apparently electrically trigger the closing of fly trap - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/psb.2.3.4217
Great work! It would be interesting to have a side by side comparison with a plant grown without monitoring.
I had two carnivorous plants so far, but they all died after 3 months or so. I need to learn how to better care for them, cause I think they are so cool.
Impressive work for monitoring some plants! I hope they don’t bite you :)
The “torque” of these plants is very low usually. You barely feel the pressure.
Source: My finger, unscathed after an encounter with a Dionaea.
What are those displays? Where can I get one?
That’s really cool. Thanks for sharing.