Automation of watering should begin not with the purchase of the maximum set, but with one clear zone. Select a group of plants with similar pot volume, substrate and water needs. If a zone contains small seedlings, an adult tomato and an ornamental plant in dense soil, the automatic rule will argue with itself.
The first stage is observation. Connect the humidity sensor, but do not let it turn on the pump right away. Water by hand for a few days and see how the values change before and after watering. Record the volume of water, the condition of the substrate and the appearance of the plant. This way you will find the operating range specifically for your zone, and not someone else’s number from the instructions.
Basic scheme
The minimum circuit includes a reservoir, pump, tubes, drippers, controller or relay, humidity sensor and leakage protection. Before connecting to plants, test the system in a measuring container to see how much water comes out in 10, 20 and 30 seconds. This check is needed to ensure that the limits are not abstract, but related to the real volume.
If you are just choosing equipment, start with the article smart watering starter kit. It explains what components are really needed for the first 5-10 plants.
First rule
A good first rule is not to be aggressive. For example: watering is allowed in the morning, the sensor is below the threshold for several measurements in a row, there has been a pause since the last start, there is no leakage, the pump turns on for a short time. After watering, the system waits until the water is distributed over the substrate.
Do not use the “below the threshold - turn on the pump” rule without restrictions. The sensor may be delayed in responding, and the pump will turn on several times in a row. A single launch limit, a daily limit and an emergency stop are required. Details are in the article safe automatic watering.
Manual mode
During the first weeks, manual mode is more important than automatic mode. Run the pump from GrowerHub in short bursts, look at the pans, check the drippers and the magazine. If the system behaves predictably, enable an automatic rule with conservative settings.
A manual start must be recorded in history. Otherwise, in a week it will not be clear why the humidity graph has changed: due to automation, human or sensor error.
Conclusion
Start with one zone, observing and measuring water flow. Then add a short rule with limits and an emergency stop. Such a start provides more reliability than a complex circuit without verification. The full choice of approach is described in the article automatic watering for plants.