Xiaomi Mi Plants Monitor Flower

[Messier1994]

Yes I use them and it works very well.

I just add them using passive ble_monitor and the following settings

ble monitor:
hci_interface: 0
discovery: True
active_scan: False
report_unknown: False
batt_entities: False
decimals: 1
period: 60
log_spikes: False
use_median: False
restore_state: False
devices:

I haven’t needed to use it yet, but I also got one added through a esp32 board, I use the following settings on Esphome:

Blockquote
esphome:
name: blebrygga
platform: ESP32
board: esp32dev
wifi:
ssid: “StocfafdfffsB”
password: “sdagsds”
ap:
ssid: “Blebrygga Fallback Hotspot”
password: “ea0QLTX9C8bV”
esp32_ble_tracker:
captive_portal:
logger:
api:
ota:
sensor:

• platform: xiaomi_hhccjcy01
  mac_address: ‘C4:7C:8D:6B:F9:11’
  temperature:
  name: “Temperature”
  moisture:
  name: “Humidity”
  illuminance:
  name: “Illuminance”
  conductivity:
  name: “Conductivity”
  battery_level:
  name: “Battery”
• platform: xiaomi_hhccjcy01
  mac_address: ‘C4:7C:8D:6B:F8:9C’
  temperature:
  name: “Temperature”
  moisture:
  name: “Humidity”
  illuminance:
  name: “Illuminance”
  conductivity:
  name: “Conductivity”
  battery_level:
  name: “Battery”
• platform: xiaomi_hhccjcy01
  mac_address: ‘C4:7C:8D:6B:F8:9C’
  temperature:
  name: “Temperature”
  moisture:
  name: “Humidity”
  illuminance:
  name: “Illuminance”
  conductivity:
  name: “Conductivity”
  battery_level:
  name: “Battery”
• platform: xiaomi_hhccjcy01
  mac_address: ‘C4:7C:8D:6B:F8:B7’
  temperature:
  name: “Temperature”
  moisture:
  name: “Humidity”
  illuminance:
  name: “Illuminance”
  conductivity:
  name: “Conductivity”
  battery_level:
  name: “Battery”
• platform: xiaomi_hhccjcy01
  mac_address: ‘C4:7C:8D:6B:F8:A3’
  temperature:
  name: “Temperature”
  moisture:
  name: “Humidity”
  illuminance:
  name: “Illuminance”
  conductivity:
  name: “Conductivity”
  battery_level:
  name: “Battery”

But one problem that I haven’t been able to sort out with the ESP32 connection is that I only get one device despite that everyone is set-up. I don’t know why, probably some fundamental thing that isn’t set correctly. Will have to look into that when I start adding sensors outside. There have also been a lot of talks about BLE to MQTT. Thing is, when adding the one sensor through ESPhome I get it into HA, why do I need MQTT?

Don’t hesitate to ask if there is anything I can help with!!!

[carlo1 (Carlo)]

Thank you for your response. I got mine all setup in the app but in HA I could only ever get one to show up out of the 4 I had.

[Messier1994]

How does your HA communicate with BLE?

[Ernst]

Passive BLE Monitor takes care of the communication over Bluetooth. In more detail, it makes an HCIDUMP of all the messages, and uses the ones that use the “mibeacon” format from Xiaomi. It uses the internal bluetooth of the system (e.g. a raspberry pi) or can use an external dongle, for better reception.

custom-components/ble_monitor

[Messier1994]

Sounds like Carlo just could have range issues if he uses the built in BLE.

[Ernst]

Our FAQ gives some tips for better bluetooth range, bottom line is using an external dongle, preferably with antenna, and avoid placing SSD drives close to the bluetooth radio. SSD’s are known to interfere with bluetooth.

[carlo1 (Carlo)]

I had them all in the same area and I got them setup in plant monitor, they worked fine there.
Ill try that link from Ernst - I think its newer than what I was reading and using…

[Messier1994]

Did it work?

I get connection issues too on occasion, but only when it’s like foreseeable. I.e. the far away window on the second floor. You shouldn’t have any connection issues with the built in RPI if it works comfortably with other devices. With the caveat that some kind of disturbances of course can be hard to rule out.

Turning an ESP32 into a BLE to WiFi bridge is super easy following the right instructions. I wonder if it can’t be done in under 2 minutes from start to finish. Let me know if you want me to walk you through it.

[carlo1 (Carlo)]

That sounds like a better route than I was trying. If you have a link for that I would definitely give that a go. I gave up on them because of the bluetooth.

[garethiowc (Gareth)]

i use the espeasy plugin inside home assistant.

It creates the firmware that needs flashing to the esp32 and you can update it over the air

[garethiowc (Gareth)]

What is considered the minimum safe moisture reading for a plant?

Is between 50% - 60% the ideal reading for healthy plant growth?

I don’t have my head around soil conductivity yet either

[Messier1994]

You need a ESP32 board and a USB A to USB Micro (not USB Mini) cable that can carry data communication. I.e. I have a bunch of USB A/USB Micro cables that don’t work because they are only for loading. If they have the USB symbol ( ) its a start but not a gurantee. Any cheap development board option from Amazon should work, I got mine for 8 EUR.

1. Just go to the Add-on Store under the Superviser tab:

2. Under Home Assistant Community Add-ons, install: ESPHome. I am not sure if I had to make any changes to the configuration. But maybe you have to enable advanced mode to be able to download community add-ons?

3. Go to the interface of Esphome:
   

   
   
   Just hit the green plus, add your type of board and set it up, then add the following to the file:

esphome:
  name: blebrygga
  platform: ESP32
  board: esp32dev

wifi:
  ssid: "passwordis1234"
  password: "1234"

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Blebrygga Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "ea0QLTX9C8bV"

esp32_ble_tracker:

captive_portal:

# Enable logging
logger:

api:

ota:

sensor:
  - platform: xiaomi_hhccjcy01
    mac_address: 'C4:7C:8D:XX:F9:11'
    temperature:
      name: "Temperature Cannabis sativa L"
    moisture:
      name: "Humidity Cannabis sativa L"
    illuminance:
      name: "Illuminance Cannabis sativa L"
    conductivity:
      name: "Conductivity Cannabis sativa L"
    battery_level:
      name: "Battery Cannabis sativa L"
 

4. Upload, make sure that you select the correct port – instead of OTA – up in the right corner (it should be a 3rd option under the OTA and the Conbee port (if you have conbee) shown in the picture above).

5. Here comes a bit of a tricky part. The ESP32 has two buttons. I think they differ a bit, but on mine I have to press boot and EN at the same time for a few seconds, then release EN. Some said just boot or boot for 3 sec and then EN once. I also had to do it during the upload, like I couldn’t just press the buttons and then hit upload, but had to wait for the upload to compile most things, then hit the buttons, and it would upload.

6. Its of course optimal to have some kind of 3rd printer and print a box for the ESP 32 and then either connect it to an USB power outlet somewhere suitable between your RPI and Mi Plant, but I just got my hanging hidden under a shelf loading. THere is also batteries to get.

[Messier1994]

1. I’ve noticed that the moisture reader isn’t a one size fit all. It varies grately what kind of earth you are using and how big the pot is. A sensor that goes down to the bottom of the pot (i.e. if its a small pot) will read higher moisture levels much longer. In some gigantic pots I have, it goes down towards 15-20 just days after watering it. Also, I have some orchides, and the earth in their pots is very lofty with pieces of woods in it etc. I don’t get any good moisture readings from them.

I think its best to water your plant to a proper level, and then just follow how it progress.

2. On the conductivity levels, you seem to have really fine earth in yours. Keep it at least above 4-500.

[carlo1 (Carlo)]

I love it. I like to do that for my grow room. Wry clean layout.

[carlo1 (Carlo)]

I love it. I’d love to recreate that for my grow room.

[carlo1 (Carlo)]

Thank you I’ll give that a go.
So I can’t do it over the air to start but once they are on WiFi I can update if needed over the air later?

[Messier1994]

No, exactly, first time have to be over cable (as far as I know), then it’s easy to upload over the air.

[Messier1994]

Its maybe not Home Assistant related, but have anyone experienced growth lights that gives a really choppy reading?

This is my reading from my growth light:

The funny thing is, both my iPhone and another Mi Plant sensor show the same type of results.

I use two pair of lights like these (2x100w) on my tomato plants:
https://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/0.html?spm=a2g0s.9042647.6.2.63eb4c4dY4r4HJ&orderId=8123845201750469&productId=1005001488672349

Here is my setting:

To the eye, the light is perfectly even. But since three different devices show that its all over the place all the time, I recon it must be pulsating outside wave lengths the eyes can’t see…

[Sand]

I see this too with PWM dimmed lights.

[Messier1994]

Is it the light that is flimmering or some kind of reading error? It’s odd.