Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor – Smart Plant Monitor
Monitor Soil Moisture and Temperature Through Your Zigbee Smart Home What is the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor? The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor is a battery-powered smart plant monitor designed for indoor gardeners and smart-home users.
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Monitor Soil Moisture and Temperature Through Your Zigbee Smart Home
What is the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor?
The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor is a battery-powered smart plant monitor designed for indoor gardeners and smart-home users. It measures soil moisture from 0% to 100% and temperature from -20°C to 60°C, then sends the readings to a compatible Zigbee hub.
The sensor works with Home Assistant through ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT, SmartThings, Hubitat and compatible Tuya/Smart Life Zigbee gateways. A Zigbee hub, gateway or coordinator is required and is not included.
Key Takeaways
- Main benefit: Monitor moisture and temperature without manually checking the soil.
- Primary use: Indoor potted plants, herbs, flowers and smart watering routines.
- Compatibility: Home Assistant, ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT, SmartThings, Hubitat and Smart Life.
- Power: Requires two AAA alkaline batteries, which are not included.
- Hub requirement: A compatible Zigbee hub or coordinator is required.
Pricing and availability can change. Confirm the current price before publishing or importing the product.
Key Benefits
✔ Avoid watering guesswork with soil moisture readings from 0% to 100%.
✔ Track changing growing conditions with integrated temperature monitoring.
✔ Build local smart-home automations through Home Assistant, ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT.
✔ Reduce unnecessary watering by triggering reminders or irrigation based on measured moisture.
✔ Review recent plant conditions through seven-day trend tracking in the Smart Life app.
Make Plant Care More Data-Driven
Knowing when to water a plant is not always straightforward. The top layer of soil may look dry while moisture remains around the roots, or a pot may retain more water than expected. Watering only according to a fixed schedule can therefore lead to either overwatering or underwatering.
The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor provides a clearer picture by measuring the soil where the probe is installed. Its moisture reading can be displayed in a compatible smart-home dashboard, used to trigger a low-moisture notification or included in an automated watering routine.
The sensor also reports temperature between -20°C and 60°C. This allows users to monitor changing conditions around indoor plants, conservatories or other protected growing areas.
Unlike a standalone manual meter, the Candeo sensor communicates through Zigbee. Once paired with a compatible coordinator, its readings can be accessed through platforms such as Home Assistant, SmartThings, Hubitat or Smart Life. The sensor supports all features through Home Assistant ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT according to Candeo’s compatibility information.
At the time of writing, the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor is priced at £16.99. It is aimed primarily at indoor plant owners, Home Assistant users and people who already have a Zigbee network and want to incorporate plant care into their automations.
Why Choose the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor?
Monitor Soil Moisture from 0% to 100%
The sensor reports soil moisture across a 0% to 100% range. These readings help you observe whether the soil is becoming drier or wetter over time instead of relying only on visual inspection.
Different plants prefer different moisture conditions, so thresholds should be adjusted for the plant, potting mix and pot size rather than treating one percentage as suitable for every plant.
Measure Temperature Alongside Moisture
The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor also measures temperature from -20°C to 60°C. Combining temperature and moisture readings can provide better context when monitoring plants in rooms, conservatories or sheltered growing areas.
Connect to Home Assistant
Home Assistant users can pair the sensor through either:
- Zigbee Home Automation, commonly called ZHA
- Zigbee2MQTT
Candeo states that all sensor features are supported through both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. Once paired, the available readings can be added to dashboards, notifications and automations.
Create Smarter Watering Routines
The sensor can be combined with compatible smart plugs, pumps or irrigation valves.
Possible automations include:
- Notify your phone when soil moisture falls below a chosen level.
- Start a connected watering system when the soil becomes dry.
- Prevent irrigation from running when the soil is already wet.
- Create separate thresholds for plants with different watering needs.
Any automatic watering routine should include a maximum runtime or other fail-safe to reduce the risk of flooding if a sensor or connected valve fails.
View Seven-Day Trends with Smart Life
When connected through a compatible Tuya Zigbee gateway, the Smart Life app can retain seven days of sensor data. This helps users identify how quickly a plant’s soil dries after watering and adjust care routines accordingly.
Low-Power Zigbee Operation
The sensor uses Zigbee rather than a direct Wi-Fi connection and runs on two replaceable AAA alkaline batteries. This wireless design allows the sensor to be placed in a pot without a nearby power cable.
Product Features
- Zigbee wireless connectivity
- Soil moisture measurement
- Temperature measurement
- Home Assistant ZHA support
- Zigbee2MQTT support
- SmartThings compatibility
- Hubitat compatibility
- Smart Life and Tuya compatibility
- Seven-day Smart Life data history
- Battery-powered operation
- Compact probe-style construction
- Smart notification and automation support
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Product name | Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor |
| Model/SKU | C-ZB-SESO |
| Product type | Smart soil and plant sensor |
| Wireless protocol | Zigbee |
| Soil moisture range | 0%–100% |
| Temperature range | -20°C to 60°C |
| Power source | Battery |
| Battery type | 2 × AAA alkaline batteries |
| Batteries included | No |
| Dimensions | 16.2 × 3.5 × 2.2 cm |
| Hub required | Yes |
| Smart Life history | Seven days |
| Intended use | Indoor plant monitoring |
| Home Assistant | Supported through ZHA |
| Zigbee2MQTT | Supported |
| SmartThings | Supported |
| Hubitat | Supported |
| Amazon Echo | Not supported |
| Philips Hue Bridge | Not supported |
Specifications are based on the manufacturer’s current product information.
Compatibility
| Platform or Hub | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| Home Assistant ZHA | Yes – all features supported |
| Zigbee2MQTT | Yes – all features supported |
| Samsung SmartThings | Yes – all features supported |
| Hubitat | Yes – all features supported |
| Tuya Zigbee Gateway | Yes |
| Smart Life | Yes |
| Generic Zigbee 3.0 hub | Expected, subject to hub support |
| Philips Hue Bridge | No |
| Amazon Echo Zigbee hub | No |
| Direct Wi-Fi connection | No |
| Bluetooth connection | No |
A compatible Zigbee gateway, bridge or coordinator is required. Compatibility with a generic Zigbee hub can depend on the device handler and features supported by that platform.
What’s in the Box?
- Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor
- Product instructions
Two AAA batteries are required but are not included in Candeo’s technical specifications.
How to Set Up the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor
Step 1: Install two AAA batteries
Open the battery compartment and insert two new AAA alkaline batteries.
Step 2: Pair with your Zigbee hub
Enable pairing on the sensor and add it through ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT or another supported hub.
Step 3: Insert the probe into the soil
Place the probe securely into the soil and configure moisture alerts or automations.
Home Assistant Automation Ideas
Low-Moisture Notification
Create a notification when the moisture reading remains below your selected threshold for a specified period.
Allowing the value to remain below the threshold for several minutes can help prevent unnecessary alerts caused by a temporary reading.
Automated Indoor Watering
Connect a suitable pump to a compatible smart plug and activate it when the soil becomes dry.
Include a strict shutoff timer and verify that the pump, reservoir and electrical equipment are appropriate for unattended operation.
Plant-Care Dashboard
Display the following information together:
- Current soil moisture
- Current temperature
- Battery level, when exposed by the integration
- Moisture history
- Last watering time
Drying-Rate Tracking
Use historical moisture readings to see how many days a pot typically takes to dry after watering. This can be more useful than applying the same watering schedule throughout the year.
Who Should Buy the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor?
The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor is suitable for people who:
- Already use Home Assistant, SmartThings, Hubitat or Smart Life
- Want moisture and temperature readings from indoor plant pots
- Prefer Zigbee sensors over individual Wi-Fi devices
- Want low-moisture alerts on their phone
- Plan to create data-based plant-care automations
- Need a compact sensor for herbs, flowers or houseplants
The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor is less suitable for anyone without a compatible Zigbee hub or anyone specifically looking for Philips Hue or Amazon Echo Zigbee compatibility.
Important Usage Note
Candeo’s promotional description mentions outdoor and waterproof use, but its formal specification section identifies the sensor for indoor use only. For a product page, the safer and more supportable claim is indoor use unless Candeo provides a confirmed IP rating or updated technical documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor?
The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor is a battery-powered plant sensor that measures soil moisture from 0% to 100% and temperature from -20°C to 60°C. It sends the readings to a compatible Zigbee hub for monitoring and automation.
Who should buy the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor?
The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor is best suited to indoor plant owners who already use Home Assistant, SmartThings, Hubitat, Zigbee2MQTT or a compatible Tuya Zigbee gateway.
How does the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor work?
The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor measures conditions around its inserted probe and transmits the moisture and temperature readings through Zigbee. A compatible hub then displays the data and makes it available for notifications or automations.
What is included with the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor?
The package includes the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor and its instructions. Two AAA alkaline batteries are required and are not included according to the official specifications.
Does the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor work with Home Assistant?
Yes. Candeo states that all features of the Zigbee Soil Sensor work with both Home Assistant ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT.
Does the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor require a hub?
Yes. The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor requires a compatible Zigbee hub, gateway, bridge or coordinator. It does not connect directly to a phone through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Does the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor measure temperature?
Yes. The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor reports temperature across a specified range of -20°C to 60°C in addition to measuring soil moisture.
Does the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor work with Philips Hue or Amazon Echo?
No. Candeo lists the Philips Hue Bridge and Amazon Echo Zigbee hub as unsupported. Compatible alternatives include Home Assistant, SmartThings, Hubitat, Zigbee2MQTT and Tuya Zigbee gateways.
Why Buy the Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor?
The Candeo Zigbee Soil Sensor provides two useful plant-care measurements—soil moisture and temperature—in one compact Zigbee device. Its support for Home Assistant ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT, SmartThings and Hubitat makes it particularly useful for people who want plant data inside an existing smart-home platform.
With moisture-based alerts, historical readings and optional watering automations, the sensor can help users replace fixed watering schedules with decisions based on current soil conditions.
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