Implementing Low-Cost IoT Prototype for Thai Caladium Greenhouse

Abstract

A low-cost automated greenhouse system has been designed to facilitate the growth of Thai caladiums, addressing challenges posed by volatile weather conditions in Thailand. The proposed system employs the ESP-NOW protocol to enable communication and data exchange among each ESP32 microcontroller board while receiving data from sensor nodes to collect information on temperature, humidity, light intensity, as well as water level. It executes control actions, providing an optimal climate for cultivating Thai caladiums. The Blynk application displays readings of environmental measurement data and can control greenhouse appliances, including a ventilation fan, plant growth light, mist system, and solenoid valve, allowing for precise on/off control. The system successfully receives all packets of sensor data and commands from ESP-NOW communication users. An experiment was conducted to demonstrate the successful implementation of the prototype in growing Thai caladiums, comparing it with conventional greenhouse and outdoor environments. The results show increased growth rates in height, bush width, and the number of leaves.