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going live
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With
the system tested, it's time to hook up a plant. The Arduino USB connection is not needed for day-to-day
operation of the Botanicalls Twitter system, so those connections
can be removed. The moisture probes made with the nails should be
inserted into the plant's soil about midway between the rim of the
pot and the plant. Space them about an inch (3 cm) apart. Be sure to
check the nails periodically to monitor for excessive corrosion, and
to make sure that the solder connections are still strong.
Now that you've got Botanicalls up and Twittering, you'll want to
know what to expect. The system code provides five different status
updates, based upon current conditions:
-
When the moisture level of the plant's soil drops
below the satisfactory threshold, it will send a status update
that the plant needs to be watered.
-
If the soil moisture drops below a critical level
the plant will twitter that it is urgently in need of
watering.
-
Any rapid rise in soil moisture will be detected as
a watering event. The plant will then determine if the soil
moisture has risen to the desired level for a proper watering.
If it has, then it will twitter its thanks.
-
If a watering event occurs, but the soil moisture
has not reached the desired level, the plant will twitter to
report that it was watered, but not sufficiently.
-
Likewise, if a watering event occurs, but the plant
was not in need of water yet, the plant will twitter to complain
that it is being over watered.
Remember to place the setup were your green pal will get the proper
amount of light and to fertilize its soil on a regular basis. With
proper care, your plant will be twittering away for many years to
come.
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