I have a setup that uses MQTT to allow Home Assistant to run automated watering, sensor data collection, etc. The example here is coded for ESPHome https://github.com/rasclatt-dot-com/ESP32-Plant-Waterer-for-ESPHome

After a lot of trial and error have set up a plant watering device that uses M5 Atom and watering kit, coded and managed by ESPHome and automated using Home Assistant.
Water sensor data, RGB LED and pump controlled via MQTT.

more information and code here; https://github.com/rasclatt-dot-com/ESP32-Plant-Waterer-for-ESPHome