Talking Flower Pot Add-On With Arduino

Introduction

Plants need consistent care, but it’s easy to forget to water them. To solve this, I created an Arduino-powered add-on that monitors soil moisture levels and plays a sound byte saying "Thirsty!" when the plant needs water. This project combines basic electronics, programming, and 3D printing to make plant care more interactive and engaging.

Materials Needed

To build this project, you’ll need the following components:

1. Arduino Board – Any standard Arduino should work.
2. Water Sensor (Link)
3. DFPlayer Mini MP3 Module (Link)
4. Micro SD Card & Speaker (Link)
5. Jumper Wires – For connecting the components.
6. 3D Printed Housing – A custom case to hold all the parts securely.
7. Hot Glue – To fix components in place.

Connecting the Water Sensor

1. VCC → Arduino 5V
2. GND → Arduino GND
3. Signal Pin → Arduino A1

Connecting the DFPlayer Mini and Speaker

1. VCC → Arduino 5V
2. GND → Arduino GND
3. RX → Arduino TX (Pin 10)
4. TX → Arduino RX (Pin 11)
5. SPK1 & SPK2 → Speaker

Use jumper wires for secure connections and avoid loose wiring that may cause issues.

This code continuously monitors the soil’s moisture level. If it drops below a set threshold, the Arduino triggers the sound module to play an audio file. The code is quite simple yet effective.

Before jumping into the 3D modeling, I took some measurements and planned out the design to ensure everything would fit neatly and function as intended.

Measurements and Design Considerations:

1. Full Box Dimensions – The overall box was designed to be 10x9 cm.
2. Speaker Size – The speaker has a 4 cm diameter, so I made sure there was enough room for it.
3. Power/USB Input – The power and USB input port was located on the bottom of the box at coordinates (1 cm, 1.5 cm, 3 cm) relative to the Arduino. The input port is 1x1.5 cm in size.
4. Depth – The box was designed to be 4 cm deep to ensure there was enough room for the cables and other components.
5. Cap Design – I sliced the box vertically to create the cap, and included four 0.5x0.5 cm cubes at each corner to secure the cap in place, preventing it from shifting.
6. Mounting Feature – To make it easier to mount the box onto any flowerpot, I created an overhang of 2.5 cm at the top back of the box.
7. Water Sensor Cable Hole – A 0.5x1 cm hole was created at the top of the box to allow the water sensor cables to pass through easily.

With these measurements in mind, I used Blender to model the box and all its components. The design was aimed at making sure the electronics would fit snugly inside, while also keeping everything accessible and easy to mount.

Assembly Notes:

1. After printing the parts, I used hot glue to secure the components inside the box and to hold the speaker in place within the cutout. This ensures everything stays stable and that the sound comes through clearly.
2. The cap with its four corner cubes creates a reliable locking mechanism, making it easy to open and close the box while ensuring everything stays in place.

Printing Notes:

1. This design has quite a bit of overhang so someone with more printing experience should be able to figure out a better design, or a better angle to print it.

While this project works well, there are ways to enhance it:

1. Battery Power – Using a rechargeable battery for portability.
2. More Voice Lines – Adding variations for more personality.
3. LED Indicators – A visual cue alongside the audio alert.
4. Wireless Connectivity – Adding Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for remote monitoring.

This project combines technology and creativity to make plant care more engaging. Whether you’re new to Arduino or looking for a fun DIY build, it’s a great way to experiment with sensors and interactive components. If you create your own version, I’d love to see how you personalize it!