Keeping Your Plants Alive Just Got Easier With These Incredible Apps
Have you embarked on the journey of plant parenthood only to realize that your thumb isn't as green as you thought (or hoped)? If so, you aren't alone! The reality is that taking care of plants isn't always as easy as it looks. In fact, a 2021 Statista study revealed that 37% of recreational gardeners killed one to two houseplants a year. Fortunately, technology can help ensure that you and your beloved plants don't become part of that statistic.
Over the last several years, plant care apps have become a fun and convenient way for people to keep their plants happy and healthy. These apps offer a wide range of features aimed at educating and empowering plant lovers. Whether you're just getting started or have been planting for years, you'll find that these apps can be useful tools. Keep reading to learn all about the best plant care apps. With the help of your smartphone or tablet, you can give your plants the lives they deserve.
Blossom - perfect for indoor and outdoor plant parents
Blossom is an easy-to-use and beautifully designed app chock-full of all the tools you need to keep your plants thriving. The app's many features include plant identification and watering reminders. There's a light meter that helps you find the perfect spot by teaching you how much direct or indirect sunlight your plant needs. Plus, the notes section allows you to create a journal with updates and information about your plants. What's most impressive about Blossom is its gardening schedule, where you can plan what you want to grow, create a planting schedule, and receive reminders on caring for your garden. Blossom also has a great blog that is full of information to help you take your planting skills to the next level.
Blossom is available to download for free in the App Store and on Google Play, with the option to pay $29.99 a year for a subscription that unlocks additional features.
Planta - this app comes with its own plant doctor
Planta is one of the highest-rated plant care apps on the market, and for good reason. It provides a seamless user experience and is packed with useful features, including watering recommendations based on your environment, live weather updates, and step-by-step plant care guides. Planta will even remind you when it's time to fertilize and repot your plants. What really sets this option apart, though, is its plant doctor. Users who pay $35.99 for a yearly subscription get access to additional features like Dr. Planta, a service that allows plant parents to communicate with a chatbot. This can diagnose plant illnesses and potentially save sick plants by providing treatment recommendations. This is especially beneficial for people who are just getting started and may be unaware of the different illnesses that can impact their plants.
Whether you're an iPhone or Android user, you'll be happy to know Planta can be downloaded for free in the App Store and on Google Play.
Plant parent - an app for plant parents of all experience levels
One of the most exciting things about having plants is that there's always something to learn. Plant Parent is an app that understands that extremely well, which makes it a great option for both newbies and experienced planters. With a bold claim that it can instantly turn someone into a green thumb, Plant Parent is dedicated to teaching you how to keep your plants alive. Some of the app's most noteworthy features include a plant identification tool, a plant care calendar, and reminders to keep you on track with things like watering and pruning your plants. Like Planta, Plant Parent can diagnose plant illnesses and offer treatment options. However, it also gives users access to one-on-one consultations with plant experts who provide additional educational resources.
The app is free for iPhone and Android users, with the option to upgrade to a premium (paid) account so you can make the most of Plant Parent.
Pl@ntNet - plant identification at its finest
Do you want to be part of something bigger while also taking care of your plant babies? Pl@ntNet could be just what you need! This app describes itself as "a citizen science project" because it allows users to take and share pictures to help create a database of plants. Users can feel a sense of community while also educating themselves on a wide variety of plant species.
Many people will also enjoy the fact that users on Pl@ntNet can interact with each other by voting on photos and helping to identify different kinds of plants. While Pl@ntNet is a great app, it lacks common plant care features such as watering reminders and a light meter. For that reason, this option is probably best for people who already have some experience under their belt and are simply looking to further their knowledge.
The app is available for free on both the App Store and Google Play.
Vera - all plant care, no complications
Let's face it: taking care of plants can be a little complicated, especially when you're first getting started. Fortunately, Vera makes plant care as easy as possible thanks to its user-friendly design and helpful features. The people behind Vera come from a family of greenhouse growers that goes back five generations, so you can trust that they know a thing or two about keeping houseplants alive and healthy.
With Vera's help, users can set up a watering schedule, complete with reminders. On top of that, the app also allows plant parents to create profiles for each of their plants by taking photos and tracking their growth. There is also a journal feature where people can write notes about their plants' progress. Plus, there's an educational component that offers opportunities for people to learn new skills, such as how to repot plants, how to choose the right fertilizer, and more.
Vera can be found in both the Google Play Store and the App Store.
PictureThis - a gardener's best friend
If you enjoy taking pictures just as much as you enjoy taking care of your plants, PictureThis is a great option for you. However, PictureThis isn't just about snapping photos for the sake of aesthetics. This app comes packed with powerful features that turn your photos into so much more. Unlike Pl@ntNet, which relies on users to help identify the plants in the photos, PictureThis uses AI to identify plants just seconds after you take a picture. It's important to note that this feature isn't just for houseplants; it can also be used to identify plants out in nature.
Additionally, the app comes with an "AI-powered plant doctor." This tool makes it quick and easy to diagnose plant illnesses so users can quickly begin treating the problem. PictureThis also helps you identify the best areas inside (or outside) of your home to place your plants to ensure that they get the right amount of light.
Download PictureThis for free for Apple and/or Android devices.
Plantnote - a personal plant diary
While apps like PictureThis and Pl@ntNet are great for people who love taking pictures, Plantnote is an excellent option for people who love words. While Plantnote does allow users to take pictures of their beloved greenery, it boasts a robust journaling feature that makes it easy for people to notate what's going on. For example, if you notice that your plant is struggling to grow or appears to be sick, you can quickly make notes to document whether things are improving or getting worse. Journaling isn't the only thing Plantnote has to offer, though. The app also comes packed with several other useful features, including notifications for watering and reminders on when plants need to be repotted.
It's important to keep in mind that even though the Plantnote website shows that the app is available in the App and Google Play Stores, it appears that the Apple version no longer exists (at least in the United States), so iPad/iPhone users are going to have to sit this one out. Although the app can be downloaded for free, users have the option to pay a small fee to unlock more functionality.
Flora - your plant babies will thank you
Flora is easily one of the cutest plant care apps on the market. So, if you want something that's just as fun to look at as it is to use, this app should be at the top of your list. Flora can be especially helpful for people who are just getting started on their plant journey, and the design makes it incredibly user-friendly. This app makes use of AI to help users identify plants and provide helpful information almost instantly. Flora's functionality doesn't stop there, though. Users can also set up customized reminders and track how their plants are going.
However, one of the coolest things about Flora is the way it has gamified plant care. With this app, taking care of your plants will feel less like a responsibility and more like a fun pastime. Flora is also dedicated to building a sense of community so users can enjoy feeling connected to other gardening aficionados.
Flora is available for free (with a monthly subscription option for those interested in unlocking all of its features) on both the App Store and the Google Play Store. However, there are a few other apps that also have the same name, so you'll want to double-check that you download the right one.
Plantminder - perfect for when you need a little reminder
Regular watering is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your plants. However, it's also one of the easiest to forget. With the demands of everyday life, sometimes watering plants is the last thing on a person's mind. Luckily, Plantminder is here to save the day.
This app is all about reminding people to tend to their plants' needs, and it does so in a way that is simple yet engaging. It can remind users to do things like water and fertilize their indoor plants, and it also has a task list to make it easy and fun for users to check things off. In addition, Plantminder has a journaling feature for documenting any changes to your greenery.
iPhone users will also be happy to know that your plant information can be synced with your iCloud account. That said, Plantminder is only available in the App Store this option isn't available for Android users.