Adding Your First Plant - Complete Walkthrough

🎯 What You'll Learn

• Plant entry form - Every field explained
• Species selection - Find correct species
• Care schedule - Set up watering/fertilizing
• Photo tips - Take great plant photos
• Common mistakes - Avoid beginner errors

⚡ Quick Start

Add your first plant in 3 steps:

1. Click "Add Plant" on dashboard
2. Fill required fields: Name + Species
3. Click "Save" - You're done!

Optional: Add care schedule, photos, and details for better tracking.

📚 Complete Guide

Before You Start

What You'll Need (Optional but Helpful):

• 📱 Phone camera - For plant photo
• 📏 Measuring tape - For height/pot size
• 📋 Plant tag - If it came with one (species info)
• 🧠 Memory - When you got plant, where it's located

Time Needed: 2-5 minutes per plant

Accessing the Form

Two Ways to Add Plant:

Method 1: From Dashboard

Most Common:

1. Log into PlantKeeper
2. Dashboard shows (if no plants: "Add your first plant!")
3. Click large "+ Add Plant" button
4. Form opens

Method 2: From My Plants

If You Already Have Plants:

1. Click "My Plants" in sidebar
2. Click "+ New Plant" button (top right)
3. Form opens

Step 1: Basic Information

Required Fields

Plant Name (Required)

What to Enter:

Your Personal Name:

• "My Monstera"
• "Kitchen Pothos"
• "Bob the Cactus"
• "Living Room Ficus"

Tips:

• ✅ Use descriptive names (location + species)
• ✅ Keep it simple and recognizable
• ✅ Make it personal (easier to remember)
• ❌ Don't overthink it (you can change later)

Examples:

• Descriptive: "Bedroom Snake Plant"
• Location-based: "Office Desk Succulent"
• Personal: "Monty the Monstera"
• Numbered: "Pothos #3"

Character Limit: 50 characters

Species (Required)

Select from Database:

How It Works:

1. Start typing species name
2. Autocomplete shows matching species
3. Select from dropdown
4. Scientific name auto-fills

Search Tips:

Common Name:

• Type: "Monstera" → Suggests species
• Type: "Snake Plant" → Shows "Sansevieria trifasciata"
• Type: "Pothos" → Shows "Epipremnum aureum"

Scientific Name:

• Type: "Monstera deliciosa"
• More accurate for rare plants
• Avoids common name confusion

Can't Find Species?:

• Try alternative common names ("Devil's Ivy" = Pothos)
• Search genus only ("Philodendron")
• Use Plant Doctor to identify from photo
• Select closest match, note exact variety in notes

Nickname (Optional)

Fun Personal Name:

• "Monty"
• "Greg" (yes, people name their plants!)
• "Big Bertha"
• "Spike"

Why Add?

• Makes plant care more personal
• Easy to reference ("Did you water Greg?")
• Shows in notifications ("Time to water Monty!")

Common Name (Optional but Recommended)

Everyday Name:

• "Swiss Cheese Plant" (for Monstera deliciosa)
• "Devil's Ivy" (for Pothos)
• "Rubber Plant" (for Ficus elastica)

Auto-Filled: Usually auto-filled when you select species

Step 2: Location & Environment

Where Is Your Plant?

Location (Recommended)

Room Location:

• "Living Room"
• "Bedroom"
• "Office"
• "Kitchen"
• "Bathroom"
• "Outdoor Patio"

Specific Location (More Detail):

• "Living Room - East Window"
• "Bedroom - Top of Dresser"
• "Kitchen - Above Sink"
• "Office - Desk Corner"

Why It Matters:

• Filter plants by room
• Track how location affects health
• Plan care routes ("Water all bedroom plants")
• Correlate light exposure with growth

Light Exposure (Optional)

Select Light Type:

• ☀️ Direct Sunlight - Window-facing, sun hits leaves (6+ hours)
• 🌤️ Bright Indirect - Near window, no direct sun (4-6 hours bright light)
• 🌥️ Medium Light - Away from window, some natural light (2-4 hours)
• 🌑 Low Light - Far from windows, artificial light mostly (<2 hours)

How to Determine:

• Direct: Plant in south/west window, sun touches leaves
• Bright Indirect: 3-5 feet from bright window, or sheer curtain
• Medium: North/east window, or 5-10 feet from bright window
• Low: Interior room, hallway, bathroom with small window

Why Track?:

• Correlate light with plant health
• Identify if relocation needed
• Match plant's light requirements

Temperature & Humidity (Optional)

Room Conditions:

Temperature:

• "18-24°C" (typical indoor)
• "22-27°C" (warm room)
• "15-20°C" (cooler room)

Humidity:

• "30-40%" (Low - typical indoor)
• "40-60%" (Medium - with humidifier)
• "60%+" (High - bathroom, greenhouse)

Measure:

• Use thermometer/hygrometer (cheap on Amazon)
• Estimate based on room (bathroom = higher humidity)
• Track only if concerned or tropical plants

Step 3: Physical Details

Plant Characteristics

Pot Size (Optional)

Diameter or Volume:

• "6 inches" (15 cm)
• "8 inches" (20 cm)
• "10 inches" (25 cm)
• "2 gallons"

Why Track?:

• Know when to repot (every 1-2 pot sizes up)
• Track repotting history
• Correlate pot size with watering needs

Tip: Measure across top of pot rim.

Soil Type (Optional)

What Soil Mix:

• "All-purpose potting soil"
• "Succulent/cactus mix"
• "Orchid bark mix"
• "Custom blend (50% potting soil, 30% perlite, 20% orchid bark)"

Why Track?:

• Know when soil was last changed
• Understand drainage characteristics
• Plan repotting with same/better mix

Current Height (Optional)

Plant Size:

• Measure from soil surface to highest point
• "45 cm" or "18 inches"
• Estimate if precise measurement difficult

Why Track?:

• Baseline for growth tracking
• See how fast plant grows
• Track growth spurts after care changes

Current Leaf Count (Optional)

How Many Leaves:

• Count all leaves (except yellow/dying)
• Include new unfurling leaves
• "8 leaves"

Why Track?:

• Another growth metric
• Spot leaf loss (health issues)
• Track leaf production rate

Step 4: Acquisition Information

Plant History

Acquisition Date (Optional)

When You Got Plant:

• Exact date: "October 24, 2025"
• Approximate: "Mid-October 2025"
• Unknown: Leave blank or estimate

Why Track?:

• Know plant's age in your care
• Track growth over time
• Plan anniversary celebrations 🎉

Source (Optional)

Where You Got It:

• "Plant shop downtown"
• "Home Depot"
• "Gift from friend"
• "Propagated from mother plant"
• "Online order (Etsy)"
• "Rescued from office"

Why Track?:

• Reference if need to return/report issues
• Remember good plant sources
• Track propagation lineage
• Fun plant stories!

Purchase Price (Optional)

How Much It Cost:

• "$25"
• "€15"
• "Gift" (free)
• "Propagated" (free)

Why Track?:

• Know investment in collection
• Track collection value
• Budget for plant purchases
• Insurance purposes (valuable plants)

Step 5: Care Schedule

Set Up Reminders

Watering Schedule

How Often to Water:

Frequency Options:

• Every X days (3, 5, 7, 10, 14 days)
• Weekly (every Monday)
• Bi-weekly (every other Monday)
• Monthly
• Custom schedule

Set First Reminder:

• "Next watering: Tomorrow at 9:00 AM"
• Or select date/time

How to Determine Frequency:

1. Check species care guide (auto-shown for selected species)
2. Consider pot size (larger pots = less frequent)
3. Factor in light (more light = more water needed)
4. Adjust season (less in winter)

Start Conservative: It's easier to water more often than fix overwatering!

Fertilizing Schedule

How Often to Fertilize:

Frequency Options:

• Monthly (during growing season)
• Every 6 weeks
• Every 2 months
• Seasonally (spring + summer only)

Fertilizer Type (Optional):

• "Miracle-Gro All Purpose 10-10-10"
• "Organic fish emulsion"
• "Custom NPK"

Growing Season: March-September in Northern Hemisphere

Other Care Tasks (Optional)

Additional Reminders:

Pruning: Every 3-6 months Repotting: Every 1-2 years Rotating: Weekly (even light exposure) Pest Check: Weekly Leaf Cleaning: Monthly

Add Later: You can add these reminders anytime from plant details.

Step 6: Plant Photo

Visual Reference

Taking Great Plant Photos

Photo Tips:

Lighting

• ✅ Natural indirect light (best!)
• ✅ Overcast day (diffused light)
• ✅ Near window (not in direct sun)
• ❌ Avoid flash (harsh shadows)
• ❌ Avoid dim indoor lighting (blurry)

Framing

• ✅ Include whole plant (top to pot)
• ✅ Straight-on angle (not from above)
• ✅ Fill frame (plant is main subject)
• ✅ Clean background (no clutter)

Focus

• ✅ Clear, sharp focus
• ✅ Tap screen to focus on plant (mobile)
• ✅ Hold camera steady (or use timer)

Photo Upload Methods

Three Ways:

1. Take Photo Now:

• Click camera icon
• Camera opens on mobile/web
• Take photo
• Confirm and upload

2. Upload from Gallery:

• Click "Upload Photo"
• Select from device photos
• Choose best photo
• Upload

3. Skip for Now:

• Click "I'll add a photo later"
• Add from plant details later

Recommended: Take photo now! It's helpful for:

• Plant Doctor identification
• Before/after progress comparison
• Visual reference when shopping for similar plants
• Sharing with community

Step 7: Notes (Optional)

Additional Information

Notes Field

What to Include:

Health Status:

• "Healthy, growing well"
• "Some brown leaf tips (low humidity?)"
• "Recovering from overwatering"

Special Care:

• "Needs misting daily"
• "Bottom watering only (sensitive to wet leaves)"
• "Fertilize at half strength"

Experiments:

• "Testing new location (more light)"
• "Using rainwater instead of tap"

Personal Story:

• "Gift from mom for my birthday"
• "First plant ever - learning as I go!"
• "Propagated from my thriving office plant"

Anything Noteworthy:

• Future you will appreciate the context!

Step 8: Save Your Plant

Finalize Entry

Review Before Saving

Quick Check:

• ✅ Plant name makes sense
• ✅ Species selected correctly
• ✅ Location entered
• ✅ At least one reminder set (watering)
• ✅ Photo uploaded (optional but recommended)

Edit Anytime: All fields can be changed later!

Click "Save Plant"

What Happens:

1. Plant added to collection ✅
2. Appears on dashboard
3. Reminders activated
4. Plant detail page created
5. Success message: "Plant added successfully!"

You're Done! 🎉

After Adding Plant

Next Steps

View Plant Details

Automatically Opens:

• Overview tab shows
• Health status: "New" (no data yet)
• Care info based on species
• Empty diary (add first entry!)
• Active reminders listed

Explore Tabs: Click through all 6 tabs to familiarize yourself.

Add First Diary Entry

Document Starting Point:

1. Click "Diary" tab
2. Click "+ Add Entry"
3. Entry type: "Observation 📝"
4. Notes: "Just added to PlantKeeper! Plant looks healthy with 8 leaves."
5. Add photo (if didn't upload during plant entry)
6. Save

Benefit: Baseline for future comparisons.

Complete First Watering

If Reminder Is Due:

1. Dashboard shows "Water [Plant Name]"
2. Click "Complete"
3. Quick note: "Watered with 500ml"
4. Marks complete + creates diary entry

Or Water Now:

1. From plant details, click "💧 Water" quick action
2. Creates diary entry
3. Resets watering reminder

💡 Tips & Tricks

Start with Accurate Species

Why It Matters:

• Auto-fills care requirements (watering frequency, light needs)
• Plant Doctor gives species-specific advice
• Care info tab shows detailed guide
• Wrong species = wrong care advice

If Unsure: Use Plant Doctor to identify from photo before adding!

Use Descriptive Locations

Be Specific:

• ❌ "Living Room" (vague)
• ✅ "Living Room - East Window" (precise)

Benefits:

• Know exact light exposure
• Track if location change improves health
• Filter plants by window direction

Take Photo in Good Light

First Impression Matters:

• Photo is your plant's profile picture
• Used for Plant Doctor identification
• Before/after comparisons
• Progress documentation

Take Time: Good photo = better tracking!

Set Realistic Reminders

Don't Over-Schedule:

• Start with watering only (most critical)
• Add fertilizing after 1-2 weeks
• Add other tasks gradually
• Better to under-remind than overwhelm

Adjust as Needed: You'll learn plant's rhythm in first month.

Add Notes Liberally

Future You Will Thank You:

• "Leaves were pale when I got it"
• "Pot has drainage holes"
• "Soil was wet, didn't water for first week"
• "Nursery said it's 2 years old"

Context Helps: When diagnosing issues or tracking progress.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Rushing Through Form

Problem: Miss important fields, have to edit later

Solution:

• Take 5 minutes to fill completely
• Add photo (saves time later)
• Set initial reminder
• Add basic notes

Worth It: Complete data from start = better tracking!

Mistake 2: Wrong Species Selection

Problem: Get incorrect care advice

Solution:

• Double-check species before saving
• Use scientific name if common name is ambiguous
• Verify with Plant Doctor photo ID
• Research if unsure (Google Image Search)

Red Flag: If care requirements seem very wrong, species might be incorrect.

Mistake 3: No Photo

Problem: Can't use Plant Doctor effectively, no progress reference

Solution:

• Take photo during setup (even quick shot)
• Can always replace with better photo later
• Multiple photos allowed

5 Seconds: Worth it for long-term tracking!

Mistake 4: Forgetting Acquisition Date

Problem: Can't track growth over time accurately

Solution:

• Estimate if you don't remember exact date
• "Mid-October 2025" better than nothing
• Check email receipts/order history
• Ask whoever gave it to you

Even Approximate: Helps establish plant age.

Mistake 5: Setting Too Many Reminders

Problem: Reminder fatigue, stop using app

Solution:

• Start with watering only
• Add fertilizing after comfortable with app
• Add other tasks gradually (monthly pruning, pest checks)
• You can always add more reminders later

Keep It Simple: Especially for your first plant!

❓ Common Questions

Q: What if I don't know my plant's species?

A: Use Plant Doctor to identify first:

1. Click "Plant Doctor" in menu
2. Upload clear photo of plant
3. Ask: "What species is this?"
4. AI identifies species (with confidence %)
5. Use identified species when adding plant

Alternative: Add as "Unknown" initially, identify later, then edit plant entry.

Q: Can I edit plant information later?

A: Yes! Everything is editable:

1. Open plant details
2. Click "Edit Plant" (top right)
3. Modify any field
4. Save changes

Even: Species, name, location - all can be changed anytime.

Q: Should I add all plants at once?

A: No, unless you have 1-3 plants:

• 1-3 plants: Add all now (10-15 min total)
• 4-10 plants: Add 2-3 per day (learn system gradually)
• 10+ plants: Add as you water them over a week

Why Gradual?: Prevents overwhelm, lets you learn features, builds habit.

Q: What if I skip optional fields?

A: Totally fine! Required fields:

• ✅ Plant name (required)
• ✅ Species (required)
• ⬜ Everything else (optional)

Add Later: You can always edit plant and add details as you learn more.

Q: Can I add multiple photos?

A: Yes! Initial form allows one photo, but:

1. After saving plant
2. Go to "Photos" tab
3. Click "Upload Photos"
4. Add unlimited photos (free plan: up to 50 per plant)

Tip: Add "before" photo now, "after" photos monthly for progress tracking.

🔗 Related Topics

Essential Reading

• Quick Start Guide - Overall getting started
• Core Concepts - Understand PlantKeeper system

Detailed Guides

• Adding Plants - Advanced plant entry
• Plant Details - Explore plant details page

Next Steps

• Creating Reminders - Set up care schedule
• Recording Growth - Track plant size

Last Updated: October 24, 2025
Document Version: 2.0 (Modular Structure)