How do I link the Grow Sensor with Home Assistant
Flash Home Assistant OS onto the SD card and put it into the RPI. (This is easily done by using
(This is easily done by using Raspberry Pi Imager available here https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/, choose the Home Assistant image option)
Connect the RPi to the router with a network cable.
Connect in browser at http://homeassistant.local:8123/
First time run takes its time!
Choose to create my Smart Home
You’ll be prompted to create a user
The fresh HA Overview will now look like this
The grow sensor will connect to an MQTT broker that will run on the HA device.
Install the MQTT broker on HA
Go to Settings -> Add-ons -> Add-on Store
Install the Mosquitto Broker Add-on and check it’s configured to start on boot.
Start the broker
Configure the Grow Sensor (get one here) to connect to your HA MQTT broker using the Grow Sensor App.
Set up MQTT integration in Home Assistant
Configure the MQTT broker. Go to Settings -> Devices and Services. The installed MQTT add-on should have been discovered. Add it to your configuration by choosing ADD.
Check that Grow Sensor data is being received by the broker and find your topic:
Settings -> Devices and Services -> MQTT -> 
Listen to a topic. Enter # as the topic which allows all messages on the mqtt broker to be displayed for you.
Press START LISTENING and wait for data to arrive. It can take up to 3 minutes because the standard sensor refresh time is 3 minutes
IMPORTANT: Extract the topic from this screen as you need it for the Sensor integration step. In this example, the topic is GROW/GROW-00070006
Option 1. Integrating sensors using MQTT discovery - The sensor does not send a discovery message, so we must send it manually to the HA mqtt broker.
Settings -> Devices and Services -> MQTT -> Configure (symbol)
The following example text needs to be modified to have the same topic structure and sensor_id that you see on the broker. I.e. Find/Replace 70006 with your sensor’s ID.
Each message below must be published on its own topic below with retain:
Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000601/config Message: {"name": "70006 Temperature", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r1val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000601"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000602/config Message: {"name": "70006 Humidity", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r2val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000602"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000603/config Message: {"name": "70006 Pressure", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r3val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "mBar", "unique_id": "7000603"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000604/config Message: {"name": "70006 Dew Point", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r4val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000604"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000605/config Message: {"name": "70006 Dew Point Gap", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r5val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000605"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000606/config Message: {"name": "70006 CO2", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r6val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "ppm", "unique_id": "7000606"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000607/config Message: {"name": "70006 Ambient VPD", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r7val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "kPa", "unique_id": "7000607"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000608/config Message: {"name": "70006 Leaf Temp", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r8val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000608"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000609/config Message: {"name": "70006 ePPFD", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r9val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "µmol/s/m2", "unique_id": "7000609"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000610/config Message: {"name": "70006 RQLI Red", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r10val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000610"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000611/config Message: {"name": "70006 RQLI Green", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r11val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000611"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000612/config Message: {"name": "70006 RQLI Blue", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r12val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000612"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000613/config Message: {"name": "70006 RQLI IR", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r13val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000613"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000614/config Message: {"name": "70006 eDLI", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r14val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "mol/m2/d", "unique_id": "7000614"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000615/config Message: {"name": "70006 Substrate Moisture", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r15val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000615"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000616/config Message: {"name": "70006 Substrate ECp", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r16val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "mS/cm", "unique_id": "7000616"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000617/config Message: {"name": "70006 Substrate Temp", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r17val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000617"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000618/config Message: {"name": "70006 Leaf VPD", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r18val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "kPa", "unique_id": "7000618"} Topic: homeassistant/sensor/7000619/config Message: {"name": "70006 Ambient Leaf difference", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r19val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000619"}
Alternatively, they can all be done together by pasting the following into a CLI terminal. (Need to download the Terminal Add-on)
mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000601/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Temperature", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r1val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000601"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000602/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Humidity", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r2val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000602"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000603/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Pressure", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r3val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "mBar", "unique_id": "7000603"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000604/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Dew Point", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r4val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000604"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000605/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Dew Point Gap", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r5val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000605"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000606/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 CO2", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r6val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "ppm", "unique_id": "7000606"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000607/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Ambient VPD", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r7val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "kPa", "unique_id": "7000607"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000608/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Leaf Temp", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r8val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000608"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000609/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 ePPFD", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r9val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "µmol/s/m2", "unique_id": "7000609"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000610/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 RQLI Red", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r10val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000610"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000611/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 RQLI Green", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r11val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000611"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000612/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 RQLI Blue", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r12val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000612"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000613/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 RQLI IR", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r13val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000613"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000614/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 eDLI", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r14val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "mol/m2/d", "unique_id": "7000614"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000615/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Substrate Moisture", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r15val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "%", "unique_id": "7000615"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000616/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Substrate ECp", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r16val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "mS/cm", "unique_id": "7000616"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000617/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Substrate Temp", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r17val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000617"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000618/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Leaf VPD", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r18val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "kPa", "unique_id": "7000618"}' mosquitto_pub -h localhost -t homeassistant/sensor/7000619/config -r -m '{"name": "70006 Ambient Leaf difference", "state_topic": "GROW/GROW-00070006", "value_template": "{{ value_json.r19val }}", "unit_of_measurement": "°C", "unique_id": "7000619"}'
Option 2. Integrating the sensors into HA by editing configuration.yaml
Pros: one step
Cons: slightly less flexibility in the Home Assistant UI
Now that HA is receiving data, we must decode this JSON and assign it to individual entities.
Now that HA is receiving data, we must decode this JSON and assign it to individual entities.
mqtt: sensor: - name: "70006 Temperature" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r1val }}" unit_of_measurement: "°C" unique_id: "7000601" - name: "70006 Humidity" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r2val }}" unit_of_measurement: "%" unique_id: "7000602" - name: "70006 Pressure" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r3val }}" unit_of_measurement: "mBar" unique_id: "7000603" - name: "70006 Dew Point" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r4val }}" unit_of_measurement: "°C" unique_id: "7000604" - name: "70006 Dew Point Gap" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r5val }}" unit_of_measurement: "°C" unique_id: "7000605" - name: "70006 CO2" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r6val }}" unit_of_measurement: "ppm" unique_id: "7000606" - name: "70006 Ambient VPD" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r7val }}" unit_of_measurement: "kPa" unique_id: "7000607" - name: "70006 Leaf Temp" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r8val }}" unit_of_measurement: "°C" unique_id: "7000608" - name: "70006 ePPFD" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r9val }}" unit_of_measurement: "µmol/s/m2" unique_id: "7000609" - name: "70006 RQLI Red" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r10val }}" unit_of_measurement: "%" unique_id: "7000610" - name: "70006 RQLI Green" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r11val }}" unit_of_measurement: "%" unique_id: "7000611" - name: "70006 RQLI Blue" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r12val }}" unit_of_measurement: "%" unique_id: "7000612" - name: "70006 RQLI IR" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r13val }}" unit_of_measurement: "%" unique_id: "7000613" - name: "70006 eDLI" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r14val }}" unit_of_measurement: "mol/m2/d" unique_id: "7000614" - name: "70006 Substrate Moisture" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r15val }}" unit_of_measurement: "%" unique_id: "7000615" - name: "70006 Substrate ECp" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r16val }}" unit_of_measurement: "mS/cm" unique_id: "7000616" - name: "70006 Substrate Temp" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r17val }}" unit_of_measurement: "°C" unique_id: "7000617" - name: "70006 Leaf VPD" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r18val }}" unit_of_measurement: "kPa" unique_id: "7000618" - name: "70006 Ambient Leaf difference" state_topic: "GROW/GROW-00070006" value_template: "{{ value_json.r19val }}" unit_of_measurement: "°C" unique_id: "7000619"
Create a dashboard
Got to : Settings -> Dashboards -> +ADD DASHBOARD -> New dashboard from scratch
Edit dashboard
Enter this:
title: Grow Sensor Dashboard
views:
- title: Sensor Overview
path: sensor-overview
theme: default
cards:
- type: vertical-stack
cards:
- type: markdown
content: |
## 🌡️ Main Environment
- type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: history-graph
title: Temperature
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.grow_00070006_70006_temperature
- type: history-graph
title: Humidity
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_humidity
- type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: history-graph
title: CO2
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_co2
- type: history-graph
title: Ambient VPD
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_ambient_vpd
- type: vertical-stack
cards:
- type: markdown
content: |
## 🌱 Soil Readings
- type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: history-graph
title: Substrate Moisture
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_substrate_moisture
- type: history-graph
title: Substrate ECp
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_substrate_ecp
- type: history-graph
title: Substrate Temp
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_substrate_temp
- type: vertical-stack
cards:
- type: markdown
content: |
## 💡 Light & Radiation
- type: history-graph
title: RQLI Spectrum (Red, Green, Blue, IR)
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_rqli_red
- sensor.70006_rqli_green
- sensor.70006_rqli_blue
- sensor.70006_rqli_ir
- type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: history-graph
title: ePPFD
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_eppfd
- type: history-graph
title: eDLI
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_edli
- type: vertical-stack
cards:
- type: markdown
content: |
## 📊 Other Sensor Data
- type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: history-graph
title: Pressure
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_pressure
- type: history-graph
title: Dew Point
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_dew_point
- type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: history-graph
title: Dew Point Gap
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_dew_point_gap
- type: history-graph
title: Leaf Temp
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_leaf_temp
- type: horizontal-stack
cards:
- type: history-graph
title: Leaf VPD
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_leaf_vpd
- type: history-graph
title: Ambient Leaf Difference
hours_to_show: 6
entities:
- sensor.70006_ambient_leaf_difference
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