Smart Greenhouse Irrigation: Water the Intelligent Way

I have been automating my greenhouse irrigation for several years. My first system employed the Apple HomeKit powered Eve Aqua device. The system worked very well and I upgraded to the Thread version at the end of 2022 for even better performance.

If you don’t want to stay from Apple Homekit for your greenhouse irrigation system, then the Eve Aqua is the perfect choice. However, if you need more customisation and advanced automation, keep reading.

While Eve Aqua provided an easy way to automate watering, it had limitations. The biggest drawback of time-based automation is overwatering. Without any sensors, the system simply watered at set times, regardless of soil moisture levels.

Unfortunately, the lack of HomeKit compatible sensors meant I couldn’t create a more intelligent watering schedule based on real time conditions.

The Ecowitt WittFlow Smart Water Timer

To overcome these limitations, I switched to the Ecowitt WFC01 WittFlow Smart Water Timer, paired with the Ecowitt WiFi Hub (GW2000). This system provides a more intelligent approach to irrigation, optimising water usage through real-time monitoring and automation.

The automated greenhouse - the smart home blog.

The Ecowitt WFC01 WittFlow is an advanced irrigation system designed to optimise water usage while providing real-time monitoring and automation. Integrated with the Ecowitt Cloud System (via the WiFi Hub). It enables smart control, efficient scheduling, and valuable insights into irrigation water consumption.

The Ecowitt Devices

My greenhouse uses three devices. The Wittboy, a soil moisture sensor and a temperature / humidity sensor. The Wittboy is connected to the tap by a two way splitter. This allows the hose to be used alongside the greenhouse irrigation system.

Please note that an Ecowitt hub is needed to manage the data. I recommend the GW2000.

Smart Greenhouse Shopping List

Amazon Affiliate Links:

Ecowitt Wittflow
Ecowitt Hub
Ecowitt Soil Moisture Sensor
Ecowitt Temperature Sensor
Micro irrigation system

At time of writing the essentials of The Wittflow WFC01 & GW2000 hub package is £89. The Moisture Sensor £19.99 and the Temperature / Humidity £21.99.

Key Features of the Ecowitt Wittflow

The Ecowitt WittFlow comes equipped with a flow meter and a built-in temperature sensor, enabling real-time tracking of water flow and temperature. This feature provides a clearer understanding of water consumption, making it easier to manage usage efficiently.

With cloud integration, all water usage data is stored and accessible through the Ecowitt App, allowing users to review past consumption, adjust schedules, and optimise water usage for greater convenience and efficiency.

Automated Greenhouse Irrigation System

The WFC01 seamlessly integrates with Ecowitt Soil Moisture Sensors to enable automated irrigation based on soil conditions. When used for outdoor watering, the WFC01 can automatically suspend irrigation during rainfall when linked with the Wittboy Weather Station.

Built with durability in mind, the WFC01 features all-copper pipelines and connectors, making it highly resistant to high water pressure and suitable for long-term outdoor use. However, to prevent frost damage, I chose to bring the device indoors from November to February.

Greenhouse Irrigation Automation & Home Assistant

The Ecowitt Wittboy is fully compatible with Home Assistant (see the Ecowitt Wittboy Weather Station Review). However, the Ecowitt WFC01 currently interfaces with the hub as a sub-device, meaning (at the time of writing) it does not yet integrate directly with Home Assistant.

the automated greenhouse irrigation system

My greenhouse irrigation automation system is managed directly through the Ecowitt App. The app offers a wide range of controls, allowing you to monitor and adjust irrigation settings from anywhere, providing full control at any time. The app controls the WFC01 via the WiFi GW2000 hub as a sub device however all the data for your Ecowitt devices is displayed centrally.

The WFC01 utilises radio frequency transmission technology to communicate with the hub. It reliably maintains stable communication with the WiFi Hub GW2000 within a 100-meter range in open areas, ensuring consistent and responsive control. Even in the event of network issues, the WFC01 continues operating on pre-set schedules, keeping irrigation automations running smoothly without disruption.

Smart Greenhouse Irrigation System Year 1

The Ecowitt WittFlow is more than just a greenhouse irrigation controller. It also logs water volume and tracks temperature. However, at present, these two variables are not yet utilised in my own automation setup.

Automated Greenhouse irrigation system inputs

Ecowitt Greenhouse Irrigation Inputs

My smart greenhouse irrigation system setup includes several specific inputs. I have a temperature and humidity sensor installed in the greenhouse, communicating with the same hub as the Wittboy.

Additionally, I use an Ecowitt soil moisture sensor, which serves as the primary input for controlling the irrigation system.

You can see the Ecowitt soil moisture sensor to the righthand side of the image, amongst this year’s chilli crop.

Specific Inputs

Greenhouse Temperature: Alerts are set up for extreme temperatures, and this data is tracked and logged on both the Ecowitt App and Home Assistant.
Greenhouse Humidity: This is monitored via both the Ecowitt App and Home Assistant.
Soil Moisture Level: Similarly, this is tracked and logged on both the Ecowitt App and Home Assistant.

Below is the data from the three greenhouse inputs..

It took a few days of experimentation to determine the best moisture percentage for the soil, which turned out to be 22-28% in my setup. That said, I’m no expert in gardening so I may have this wrong.

Automated Greenhouse irrigation system outputs

Ecowitt Greenhouse Irrigation Outputs

There is a single output in the form of the Ecowitt WittFlow, which turns on the water to the greenhouse once the input conditions are met. Water flows through a standard hose until it reaches the greenhouse.

At this point, the micro-irrigation system splits the water flow across each side of the greenhouse. I have adjusters that allow me to turn off various outlets in the micro-irrigation network.

This can be problematic. Turning off outlets increases the pressure across the system. On warm days, the micro-irrigation tubes soften, so the combination of heat and pressure can lead to joint failures. Not great if you are on holiday.

Greenhouse Automation Process

During the first month of using the WittFlow for greenhouse irrigation, I adjusted the automation to include several stages spaced out throughout the morning.

My two key automations are:

6:30 am – Initial check: Soil moisture <23%, water for 5 minutes.
10:00 am – Final check: Soil moisture <23%, water for 2 minutes.

I also have two additional automations for particularly hot weather. I monitor the greenhouse regularly and adjust the watering duration as needed.

The first image shows the main WittFlow page within the Ecowitt App, and the second screenshot shows my four automations. (currently deactivated). Finally, the last screenshot shows much control there is over the automation.

Click on a variable and the list expands to include every data entity on your system.

Click the Image for a larger view.

The key challenge arises during mid-summer when not all areas of the greenhouse require the same amount of water.

There will always be some level of human interaction needed to ensure the best outcomes for plant growth. However, the automation model works as a baseline to ensure the plants are watered daily. The system is particularly useful when I’m on holiday.

As already mentioned, the system benefits more than just the greenhouse. The Ecowitt App allows variables from the Ecowitt Wittboy to be factored in.

For example, for outdoor watering:

At 11:00 pm, if ‘Rainfall Daily’ is less than X, water for X minutes.

Ecowitt WittFlow Benefits

Real-time water flow & temperature monitoring
Cloud-based control with data logging option.
Excellent data logging and presentation within the Ecowitt App
Smart automation using any sensor connected to the hub (I’m using the Soil Moisture sensor data but can also use data from the Wittboy weather station)
Multiple programs that are easily turned on and off
Reliable offline functionality: Even if the wireless network is down, watering continues.
Strong communication range thanks to radio technology
Durable construction
Great battery life

I considered listing some negatives, but the only issue I found is that the Ecowitt Wittflow doesn’t interface with Apple Home or Home Assistant. However, it really doesn’t need to. The Ecowitt App offers sophisticated automation control and impressive graphical outputs that would take an age to set up in HA..

I can see water usage, water temperature and the temperature / humidity inside the greenhouse from the Ecowitt App or website. Click for a larger view of the last 10 months.

Greenhouse Irrigation Conclusion

The Ecowitt WittFlow Smart Water Timer is an excellent automated greenhouse irrigation system for those seeking:

Smart automation
Remote control
Real-time monitoring

The Ecowitt App’s cloud-based insights, seamless sensor integration, and reliable offline operation make it a highly effective tool for water conservation and optimised irrigation. I’ve been using the system since last March, and it has never failed, the system works flawlessly. This year I want to bring in greenhouse temperature into the greenhouse irrigation formula. Wish me luck.

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Smart Greenhouse Irrigation: Water your Plants the Intelligent Way