Use Alexa to Automate Watering Schedules with Node-RED

Learn how to automate your watering schedules with Alexa and Node-RED for a flourishing garden.

Posted by Tom Becker on October 02, 2025 · 5 mins read

Use Alexa to Automate Watering Schedules with Node-RED

Introduction

Have you ever come home to a parched garden or felt the guilt of forgetting to water your plants? The joys of gardening should be about nurturing your green friends, not stressing over their hydration needs! With smart technology, you can take the hassle out of watering by automating your watering schedules. In this post, we’ll explore how to use Alexa and Node-RED to ensure your plants receive just the right amount of water, effortlessly and intelligently.

Not only will you save time and effort, but you’ll also gain peace of mind knowing that your plants are taken care of—even when you’re busy or away. Plus, integrating Alexa makes it all just a voice command away!

Step-by-step Setup Guide

Prerequisites

Before we dive in, ensure you have the following set up:

  1. A working installation of Node-RED. If you haven’t installed it yet, you can check out the guide on Node-RED.
  2. An Amazon Alexa device.
  3. A smart irrigation system or a relay to control your water supply.

Step 1: Install the Node-RED Alexa Integration

  1. Open your Node-RED instance.
  2. Go to the “Manage Palette” section from the menu (located at the top right).
  3. Click on “Install” and search for the package node-red-contrib-alexa-home-skill. Click to install it. This will allow you to create Alexa commands for your watering system.

Step 2: Create a Flow for Watering

  1. In Node-RED, drag the necessary nodes onto your workspace:
    • An Alexa Home Skill node
    • A switch node to check the watering command
    • An exec node to trigger the watering system (e.g., activate a relay)

  2. Connect the nodes such that the flow looks like this:

    [Alexa Home Skill] --> [Switch: Water Command] --> [Exec: Activate Watering]

  3. Configure the Alexa Home Skill node with your desired skill name (e.g., “Water the garden”) and set it to emit a command when triggered.

Step 3: Set Up Your Smart Watering Schedule

  1. To automate your watering schedule, add an inject node at the beginning of your flow.
  2. Configure the inject node to trigger based on a specific time (e.g., every day at 7 AM).
  3. Link the inject node to the exec node that activates your watering system.

  4. In the exec node, enter the command to control your smart watering system or relay. For example, if your watering device accepts shell commands, you might enter:

    /usr/bin/curl -X POST http://your-device-address/water

  5. Your complete flow should now look similar to this:

    [Inject: Timer] --> [Exec: Activate Watering] [Alexa Home Skill] --> [Switch: Water Command] --> [Exec: Activate Watering]

  6. Deploy your changes!

Step 4: Testing Your Setup

Once saved and deployed, it’s crucial to test everything to ensure it works as intended:

  • Using Alexa: Try saying, “Alexa, water the garden.”
  • Schedule Testing: You can also test the schedule by temporarily changing the time on the inject node to a minute or two ahead.

Helpful Tip Block

  • Group Your Plants: If you have different types of plants with varying watering needs, consider creating separate flows for each type or area of your garden.
  • Monitor Water Usage: Integrate a water usage monitoring system to track how much water you are using and adjust your schedules accordingly.
  • Use Notifications: Consider adding notification nodes to alert you via Alexa or your mobile device when the watering is in progress or completed.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

  1. Alexa Doesn’t Respond: Ensure your Alexa skill is enabled and your Node-RED instance is accessible over the internet.
  2. Watering Won’t Activate: Double-check your command in the exec node for any typos or connection issues.
  3. Schedule Not Triggering: Make sure your inject node is correctly configured and that Node-RED is running.

Final Thoughts

By using Alexa to automate your watering schedules with Node-RED, you not only simplify your gardening routine but also ensure your plants are happy and healthy. It’s a win-win situation! With some initial setup, you can relax knowing that your garden is being taken care of.

Now, it’s your turn to embrace smart gardening! Explore other features of Node-RED and continue tweaking your automation flow until it perfectly suits your needs. Happy gardening!

Stay tuned for more tips and tricks to make your outdoor space smarter and more enjoyable!

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