YOUR RASPBERRY PI CAN RUN A HYDROPONIC OR MUSHROOM FARM ON ITS OWN, HOLDING THE CONDITIONS WHILE YOU HARVEST
A Raspberry Pi reads sensors and switches pumps, lights and fans to hold the perfect conditions in a hydroponic system or mushroom chamber — you set the targets once and it holds them around the clock.
by Kyle Gabriel
GardenAutomation
Built withRaspberry Pi
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- a weekend to get running, then tweaking per crop
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE3,291 stars
●●●○○ · a weekend to get running, then tweaking per crop · GPL-3.0 · 3,291 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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COMPAREE VERDICT
Mycodo is mature software that turns a Raspberry Pi into a feedback-driven farm controller. You wire sensors (temperature, humidity, CO₂, pH, EC) and relays (pumps, fans, lights, heaters) to the Pi, set your targets in the web dashboard, and Mycodo holds them using PID loops and conditional logic. It supports dozens of sensor types out of the box and the documentation is thorough. The hard part is not the software — it is deciding which sensors and actuators your specific setup actually needs, then wiring them correctly. A lettuce raft needs different gear than a mushroom fruiting chamber, and the Pi cannot fix bad plumbing or a leaky tent. If you already know what you want to automate and have built the physical system, Mycodo is an excellent brain for it. If you are starting from zero, budget a weekend for the software and another for the first round of hardware mistakes. The single biggest trap: buying a sensor that Mycodo does not support, or a relay board with a voltage mismatch. Check the supported hardware list before ordering anything.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —GPL-3.0 licence, free for all uses including commercial.
- —Full Python web application with sensor drivers, PID controllers and scheduling. Runs on Raspberry Pi OS.
- —Comprehensive manual and setup guide at kizniche.github.io/Mycodo, plus a forum and Discord for support.
- —No single bill of materials — sensor and relay choices depend entirely on your grow setup (hydro, soil, mushrooms).
- —Active development: latest release v8.17.0 in August 2026, 3.3k stars, regular releases.
- —The author's own build videos (hydroponic system and mushroom cultivation automation) show Mycodo running real setups, but every crop and enclosure is different.
Parts to buy
4 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
Kyle Gabriel's own build videos on his YouTube channel — 'Build an Automated Hydroponic System' and 'Mushroom Cultivation Automation' — are linked from the README and show Mycodo running real grows.
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Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the official manual (Start here — the supported hardware page will save you from buying the wrong sensor.)
- 2.Install Mycodo on a fresh Raspberry Pi OS Lite image (The one-line installer script from the README handles dependencies.)
- 3.Wire your first sensor and test the reading in the web interface(A DHT22 on GPIO4 is a simple first test — if that works, the rest is just more wiring.)
- 4.Set up a basic PID loop for one output(PID tuning is where the learning curve hits — start conservative and tune from there.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- Buying a sensor that is not on the supported list — Mycodo has drivers for dozens, but not all cheap Amazon sensors will work. Check the docs first.
- Underestimating the wiring effort: each sensor needs power, ground and a data line, and a grow tent full of them turns into a rat's nest fast. Label everything.
- Setting PID gains too aggressively and creating oscillation — your heater or humidifier will cycle on and off every few seconds. Start with low gains.
- Not accounting for sensor placement: a temperature probe taped to the outside of your grow tent will read the room, not the canopy. Put sensors where the plants are.
- Using a relay board rated for 5V signals with 3.3V GPIO — the Pi's outputs are 3.3V and some relay boards need 5V to switch reliably. Check the specs or add a level shifter.
- Skipping a backup power plan: if the Pi loses power mid-cycle, everything stops. A small UPS or at least a proper shutdown script will save a crop.
Can I run this on a Pi Zero?
Not recommended. The README lists the Pi Zero, 1 and 2 as no longer recommended; use a Pi 3, 4 or 5 so the web interface stays responsive with several sensors logging.
Do I need to know Python to use it?
No — the web interface does everything for typical setups. Python knowledge only matters if you want to write custom input or output modules.
Will it work with my specific nutrient doser / CO₂ regulator / etc?
If the device can be switched by a relay or controlled via a supported protocol (I²C, UART, GPIO), yes. If it needs proprietary software, probably not.
How much does it cost to run 24/7?
A Raspberry Pi 3B+ draws roughly 2-3 watts. The real power cost is the pumps, lights and heaters you are controlling — the Pi itself is negligible.
Can I access it remotely?
Yes, the web interface is available over your local network. For access from outside your home you need to set up your own secure remote access (for example a VPN); plan that separately.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Around 3,300 stars and more than a decade of development since the repo was created in 2015 — Mycodo is one of the oldest Pi grow controllers still being updated. What crop or chamber would you automate first?
Kyle Gabriel
Kyle built Mycodo to automate his own grows and has developed it in the open since 2015. He still maintains it actively — the latest release came out in August 2026 — and the project's longevity shows in the documentation and the breadth of supported hardware.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM2mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the GitHub repo is the canonical source, the full manual (kizniche.github.io/Mycodo) is linked directly from the README, and help lives on the official Mycodo forum at forum.radicaldiy.com. The README also links the author's own YouTube videos, including a full automated hydroponic system build, so you can see a working setup before you buy anything. The single biggest decision before you start is not which Pi to buy (the docs recommend a Pi 3, 4 or 5), it is writing down exactly which environmental parameters you need to measure and control — that list determines your entire parts order, and Mycodo cannot fix a sensor you forgot or a relay you bought in the wrong voltage. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.