Quick Start Guide - Get Running in 5 Minutes

🎯 What You'll Learn

• Sign up - Create your free account
• Add first plant - Quick plant entry
• Explore dashboard - Navigate interface
• Set reminder - Schedule first watering
• Next steps - Continue your journey

⚡ Quick Start (5 Minutes)

Let's get you up and running!

Step 1: Create Your Account (1 min)

Sign Up

Choose Your Method:

1. Visit PlantKeeper.com
2. Click "Get Started Free"
3. Choose sign-up method:
   • 📧 Email + Password
   • 🔐 Google Account (fastest)
   • 🍎 Apple ID
   • 🐙 GitHub

Email Sign-Up:

• Enter email address
• Create strong password (8+ characters)
• Verify email (check inbox/spam)
• Click verification link

Result: ✅ Account created!

Choose Your Plan

Free Forever:

• ✅ Unlimited plants
• ✅ Core features (reminders, diary, growth tracking)
• ✅ Plant Doctor AI (basic)
• ✅ Mobile + web access

Premium ($4.99/month):

• ✅ Everything in Free
• ✅ Advanced analytics
• ✅ Unlimited photo storage
• ✅ Priority AI processing
• ✅ Export features

Start with Free: You can upgrade anytime!

Step 2: Add Your First Plant (2 min)

Click "Add Plant"

Big green button on dashboard

Quick Entry Method

Fastest Way (30 seconds):

1. Plant Name: "My Monstera" (or whatever you call it)
2. Species: Type "Monstera" (autocomplete suggests species)
3. Location: "Living Room"
4. Click "Save"

Done! Your first plant is in the collection 🎉

Detailed Entry (Optional - 2 min)

Want to add more info? Click "Add More Details":

Basic Information:

• Common Name: "Swiss Cheese Plant"
• Scientific Name: Monstera deliciosa (auto-filled)
• Nickname: "Monty" (fun personal name)

Care Schedule:

• Watering: Every 7 days
• Fertilizing: Monthly
• Location: Living Room, East Window

Physical Details:

• Pot Size: 8 inches
• Acquisition Date: When you got it
• Source: "Plant shop downtown"

Photo (Recommended):

• Click camera icon
• Take or upload photo
• Helps identify plant later

Save Plant ✅

Step 3: Explore Your Dashboard (1 min)

Dashboard Overview

What You See:

Top Section:

• 🌱 Plant Count: "You have 1 plant"
• 💧 Today's Tasks: "Water Monstera" (if set)
• 📊 Quick Stats: Health overview

Main Area:

• Plant Card: Your Monstera appears!
• Photo: Plant photo (if uploaded)
• Quick Actions: Water 💧, Fertilize 🌱, Add Diary Entry 📝

Sidebar (Left):

• 🏠 Dashboard
• 🌿 My Plants
• ⏰ Reminders
• 📊 Growth Tracking
• 📖 Diary
• 🤖 Plant Doctor

Click Your Plant

Plant Details Page Opens:

Tabs Available:

1. Overview - Health snapshot, recent activity
2. Care Info - Watering, light, temperature needs
3. Growth - Charts and measurements
4. Diary - Care history timeline
5. Reminders - Active reminders
6. Photos - Photo gallery

Take a Look Around! (30 seconds)

Step 4: Set Your First Reminder (1 min)

Create Watering Reminder

From Plant Details:

1. Click "Reminders" tab
2. Click "+ New Reminder"
3. Type: Select "Watering 💧"
4. Frequency: "Every 7 days"
5. Next Due: Tomorrow at 9:00 AM (or your preference)
6. Notifications: ✅ Enable push notifications
7. Click "Create Reminder"

Result: ✅ You'll get reminded to water every week!

Quick Action Alternative

Even Faster:

1. From dashboard, click plant card
2. Click "💧 Water" quick action button
3. Check "Remind me to water again"
4. Select frequency: "In 7 days"
5. Done!

Reminder auto-created from quick action ✅

Step 5: Complete First Action (30 sec)

Log Your First Watering

Mark Task Complete:

1. Today's Tasks shows "Water Monstera"
2. Click "Complete" button
3. Optional: Add quick note "Watered with 500ml"
4. Entry auto-created in diary

Congratulations! 🎉 You've:

• ✅ Added your first plant
• ✅ Set a reminder
• ✅ Completed your first care task
• ✅ Created your first diary entry

📚 What's Next?

Continue Your Setup

Add More Plants

Build Your Collection:

• Click "Add Plant" again
• Add all your plants (5-10 min)
• Set reminders for each
• Take photos for reference

Tip: Don't add everything at once if overwhelming. Start with 1-3 plants, learn the system, then add more.

Explore Key Features

Try These Next:

🤖 Plant Doctor (5 min):

• Click "Plant Doctor" in menu
• Ask: "How do I care for a Monstera?"
• Upload plant photo for identification
• Get personalized care advice

📖 Diary (2 min):

• Click "Diary" tab on plant
• See your watering entry auto-created
• Add manual entry: "Plant looks healthy!"
• Include a photo

📊 Growth Tracking (3 min):

• Click "Growth" tab
• Click "Record Growth"
• Measure height: "45 cm"
• Count leaves: "8 leaves"
• Plant will show growth over time

⚙️ Settings (2 min):

• Click profile icon (top right)
• Choose notification preferences
• Set default watering frequency
• Customize display options

Learn Core Concepts

Understand How It Works:

• Read Core Concepts (10 min)
• Understand reminders, diary, growth tracking
• Learn best practices
• Master the system

Join the Community

Connect with Plant Lovers:

• Follow on social media (tips and inspiration)
• Join Discord/Reddit community
• Share your plant journey
• Ask questions, get help

💡 Tips for Success

Start Small

Don't Overwhelm Yourself:

• ❌ Don't add 50 plants on day one
• ✅ Add 1-3 plants, learn system
• ❌ Don't set 20 reminders immediately
• ✅ Start with watering reminders only
• ❌ Don't try every feature at once
• ✅ Master basics first, explore gradually

Why: You'll stick with it if it's manageable!

Be Consistent

Build the Habit:

• Check PlantKeeper daily (even 30 seconds)
• Complete reminders when they appear
• Log care activities (even quick notes)
• Take weekly photos for progress

Result: Within 2 weeks, plant care becomes automatic!

Use Mobile + Web

Best of Both:

• Mobile: Quick actions, reminders, photos
• Web: Detailed entry, data analysis, bulk operations

Download mobile app for notifications on the go!

Don't Stress Perfect Data

It's Okay to:

• ✅ Estimate measurements ("about 40 cm")
• ✅ Approximate dates ("mid-August")
• ✅ Skip optional fields
• ✅ Add details later

Goal: Track progress, not perfection!

Ask for Help Early

Use Plant Doctor:

• Not sure about care? Ask AI!
• Plant looking sick? Get diagnosis
• Confused about feature? Check docs or ask support

We're Here to Help: support@plantkeeper.com

Common First-Day Questions

Q: Do I need to add all plants at once?

A: No! Start with 1-3 plants you care about most. Add others gradually as you get comfortable. Many users add plants over weeks.

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

A: Use Plant Doctor to identify:

1. Click "Plant Doctor"
2. Upload photo
3. Ask "What plant is this?"
4. AI will identify species Then add to collection with correct name!

Q: How often should I check PlantKeeper?

A: Daily for 30 seconds to 1 minute:

• Morning: Check today's reminders
• Evening: Complete tasks, add quick diary notes
• Weekly: Review growth, take photos, plan care

Q: Can I use PlantKeeper offline?

A: Mobile app has limited offline mode:

• View plant collection ✅
• See scheduled reminders ✅
• Add diary entries (sync later) ✅
• Plant Doctor requires internet ❌

Q: What if I miss a watering reminder?

A: No problem! PlantKeeper is flexible:

• Reminder stays until completed
• Mark complete when you actually water
• App learns your patterns
• No penalties for delays

Q: How do I delete a plant if I gave it away?

A:

1. Open plant details
2. Click ⚙️ Settings (top right)
3. Scroll to bottom
4. Click "Delete Plant"
5. Confirm (can't be undone)

Alternative: Mark as "Archived" to keep history but hide from active collection.

🚀 Ready to Go!

You've completed the Quick Start Guide! You now know:

• ✅ How to add plants
• ✅ How to set reminders
• ✅ How to navigate dashboard
• ✅ How to complete care tasks
• ✅ Where to go next

Start managing your plants with confidence!

🔗 Related Topics

Essential Reading

• Your First Plant - Detailed first plant setup
• Understanding the Interface - Full UI guide
• Core Concepts - How PlantKeeper works

Core Features

• Dashboard Overview - Master dashboard
• Adding Plants - Detailed plant entry
• Creating Reminders - Advanced reminders

Getting Help

• FAQ - Common questions
• Troubleshooting - Fix issues
• Contact Support - Get help

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

💚 Welcome to PlantKeeper! We're excited to help you grow your plant collection and become a better plant parent. Happy planting! 🌱