In short
An automated nursery has four layers: sensors measuring climate, substrate, water and energy; a local controller applying the setpoints; actuators moving vents, screens, fans, misters, pumps and valves; and a platform to see data and receive alerts. The sensible approach is to start with alarms and irrigation, then add climate and fertigation.
The four layers of an automated nursery
| Layer | What it includes | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Indoor temperature and humidity, CO₂, radiation, outdoor station, substrate moisture, EC and pH, level, flow and energy | Place climate probes at crop height, shaded from direct sun and ventilated. |
| Controller | Local equipment running the rules: PLC, climate controller or home automation server | It must work without internet and have backup power. |
| Actuators | Vent and screen motors, fans, cooling, heating, misting, pumps and valves | Keep a manual switch in the panel for each piece of equipment. |
| Platform | Phone or computer dashboard, history, alarms and remote access | Set who receives each alarm and through which channel. |
Where to start
| Phase | What is automated | Why in this order |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temperature, power cut, tank level and pump failure alarms | It is what prevents losing a crop overnight, and it is cheap. |
| 2 | Zoned irrigation with a flow meter | Saves hours of work and water, and detects leaks. |
| 3 | Climate: vents, ventilation, shading and heating | Requires integrating existing motors and defining setpoints well. |
| 4 | Misting and VPD control | Fine-tunes humidity where it matters most: seedlings and cuttings. |
| 5 | Fertigation with EC and pH | Needs probe maintenance and recipes set by the agronomist. |
Common mistakes
- A single climate probe for the whole greenhouse, placed in the sun or next to a door.
- Moisture-based irrigation rules with no limits: if the probe fails, the system waters non-stop.
- Relying on the cloud for control: an internet outage must not leave vents shut in summer.
- Not planning for power cuts: safe vent position and an immediate alert.
- Automating without clear setpoints from the crop adviser.