Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Quick answers to the most common questions about PlantKeeper. Can't find what you're looking for? Try our Troubleshooting Guide or Contact Support!

🎯 What You'll Learn

• Answers to getting started questions
• Feature explanations and usage tips
• Pricing and subscription information
• Plant care guidance
• Account and technical questions

##⚡ Quick Navigation

Jump to section:

• Getting Started - What is PlantKeeper, pricing, accounts
• Using PlantKeeper - Features and functionality
• Plant Care - Watering, Plant Doctor, care advice
• Account & Billing - Email, subscriptions, refunds
• Technical - Browsers, mobile, storage

📚 Complete FAQ

Getting Started

Q: What is PlantKeeper?

A: PlantKeeper is a complete plant care management app that helps you:

• 🌱 Track all your plants in one organized place
• ⏰ Never forget care tasks with smart reminders
• 📈 Monitor growth over time with photos and measurements
• 🤖 Get expert advice from Plant Doctor AI (24/7 assistant)
• 📔 Document your journey with photos, notes, and diary entries

Think of it as: A digital garden journal + care reminder system + plant expert consultant all in one!

Q: How much does PlantKeeper cost?

A: We offer three plans:

Free Plan ($0/month):

• Up to 10 plants
• Basic features (reminders, diary, growth tracking)
• 500 MB photo storage
• Community support
• Perfect for: Beginners, small collections

Pro Plan ($4.99/month or $49/year):

• Unlimited plants 🌱
• All premium features (Plant Doctor unlimited, advanced analytics)
• 5 GB storage
• Priority support
• No ads
• 14-day free trial (no credit card required!)

Team Plan ($14.99/month):

• Everything in Pro, plus:
• Multiple users (up to 5)
• 25 GB shared storage
• Team collaboration features
• Admin controls
• Phone support

Q: Do I need an account to use PlantKeeper?

A: Yes, an account is required because:

• Your data syncs across all devices (desktop, mobile, tablet)
• We need to save your plants, photos, and notes securely
• Reminders are personalized to your profile
• Plant Doctor remembers your conversation history
• You can access from anywhere

Creating an account is free and takes 30 seconds! Just provide email and password (or use Google/Apple sign-in).

Q: Is my data safe and private?

A: Absolutely! Security and privacy are top priorities.

Security:

• ✅ All data encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS 1.3)
• ✅ Passwords hashed and salted (never stored plain-text)
• ✅ Regular security audits by third parties
• ✅ Two-factor authentication available
• ✅ SOC 2 Type II certified (enterprise-grade security)

Privacy:

• ✅ We don't sell your data (ever!)
• ✅ We don't share with advertisers
• ✅ Your plants are private by default
• ✅ You can export and delete anytime
• ✅ GDPR and CCPA compliant

Read our full Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Q: Can I use PlantKeeper offline?

A: Limited offline functionality:

• ✅ View existing plants and data
• ✅ Complete reminders (syncs when online)
• ✅ Read diary entries
• ❌ Add new plants (requires internet)
• ❌ Upload photos (requires internet)
• ❌ Use Plant Doctor (AI requires connection)

Best experience: Use with stable internet connection (WiFi or mobile data).

Using PlantKeeper

Q: How many plants can I add?

A: Depends on your plan:

• Free Plan: Up to 10 plants
• Pro Plan: Unlimited plants 🌱
• Team Plan: Unlimited plants (shared across team)

Notes:

• Archived plants don't count toward limit
• Deleted plants free up space immediately
• Propagations can be tracked as separate plants

Tip: Start with Free plan, upgrade when you hit 10 plants (seamless, no data loss).

Q: Can I track outdoor plants?

A: Yes! PlantKeeper works for all plants:

• 🏠 Indoor houseplants
• 🌳 Outdoor garden plants
• 🌾 Vegetables and herbs
• 🌸 Flowers and ornamentals
• 🌲 Trees and shrubs
• 🪴 Container gardens
• 🌵 Succulents and cacti

Features for outdoor plants:

• Weather integration for smart reminders
• Seasonal care adjustments (spring/summer/fall/winter)
• Frost alerts (coming soon!)
• Garden zone tracking

Q: How do reminders work?

A: Reminders notify you when plants need care:

5-Step Process:

1. Create Reminder: Set task type (water, fertilize, inspect, custom) and frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, custom)
2. Get Notified: Push notification, email, or both at your scheduled time
3. Complete Task: Mark as done in app (tap/click reminder)
4. Auto-Log: Completion automatically creates diary entry (optional but recommended)
5. Reschedule: Next reminder scheduled automatically based on frequency

Customizable:

• ✅ Any frequency (every 3 days, every 2 weeks, etc.)
• ✅ Choose notification time (e.g., 8:00 AM)
• ✅ Set priority levels (low, normal, high)
• ✅ Snooze when needed (15 min, 1 hour, 1 day)
• ✅ Pause temporarily (vacations)

Smart Features:

• Group multiple reminders at same time
• Adjust based on season (water more in summer)
• Health-based alerts (overdue tasks)

See Creating Reminders guide for details.

Q: What is Plant Doctor?

A: Plant Doctor is your AI plant care assistant powered by Google Gemini 2.0.

What it does:

• 🔍 Identifies plants from photos (85-90% accuracy)
• 🏥 Diagnoses problems (yellowing, pests, diseases)
• 💡 Provides care advice (watering, light, fertilizing)
• ❓ Answers questions ("Can I propagate this?" "Why is it drooping?")
• 📚 Explains plant biology (educational)

How it works:

1. Click Plant Doctor in sidebar
2. Ask a question or upload a photo (or both!)
3. Plant Doctor analyzes your input (5-30 seconds)
4. Get instant, personalized advice
5. Ask follow-up questions in same conversation

Best practices:

• Upload clear, well-lit photos (multiple angles for problems)
• Provide context (watering schedule, light conditions, recent changes)
• Ask specific questions ("Why yellow leaves?" vs "What's wrong?")
• Start new conversation for different plants/issues

Limitations:

• AI-powered, not a substitute for professional botanist
• General advice may not fit unique situations
• Serious issues need expert consultation

See Plant Doctor guide for tips on getting better answers.

Q: Can I share plants with others?

A: Yes! Multiple sharing options:

Share Plant Details (All plans):

• ✅ Generate public link (view-only, no account needed)
• ✅ Export as PDF care sheet (print or email)
• ✅ Share photos on social media (Instagram, Twitter)
• ✅ Copy plant information (text)

Collaborate (Team Plan only):

• ✅ Multiple users manage same plants
• ✅ Shared reminders and notes
• ✅ Team activity feed (who did what)
• ✅ Assign tasks to team members
• ✅ Role-based permissions (admin, editor, viewer)

Privacy Control:

• Plants are private by default
• You control who sees what
• Can revoke access anytime
• Links can be password-protected

Q: How accurate is Plant Doctor?

A: Plant Doctor is very good, but not perfect:

Accuracy Rates:

• Plant Identification: ~85-90% accurate with good photos (95%+ for common plants)
• Problem Diagnosis: Reliable for common issues (over/underwatering, light, pests)
• Care Advice: Based on established horticultural knowledge (conservative recommendations)

Best Results:

• Upload clear, well-lit, in-focus photos
• Provide detailed descriptions (symptoms, timeline, care history)
• Include context (location, climate, recent changes)
• Ask specific questions (focused is better)

Remember:

• AI gives general advice (may not fit unique edge cases)
• Serious issues need professional help (rapid decline, valuable plants)
• Always verify critical decisions with research
• Use as helpful guide, not absolute truth

When to consult real expert:

• Rapid plant decline despite treatment
• Suspected pest infestation (needs specific products)
• Valuable/rare plant (don't risk it)
• Multiple AI treatments failed
• Legal/safety concerns (poisonous plants around pets/kids)

Q: Can I track multiple plants of the same species?

A: Absolutely! No limit on same species.

Organization Tips:

• Give each unique name ("Kitchen Pothos 1", "Bedroom Pothos 2")
• Use locations to differentiate ("North Window Snake Plant", "South Window Snake Plant")
• Add photos to visually identify at a glance
• Use tags to group ("All Succulents", "Propagation Batch 2024", "Thriving")
• Add nicknames in notes ("Big Bertha", "Frank the Fern")

Why track separately?:

• Different care needs (one may be in brighter spot)
• Individual growth tracking
• Separate reminder schedules
• Compare success rates (which location/care works best?)

Q: Can I export my data?

A: Yes! You own your data, export anytime.

Export Formats:

• JSON: Complete data backup (all fields, re-importable)
• CSV: Spreadsheet format (Excel, Google Sheets)
• PDF: Human-readable care sheets (printable)

Export Includes:

• ✅ All plant information (names, species, locations, etc.)
• ✅ Complete diary history (entries, notes, dates)
• ✅ Growth records (all measurements)
• ✅ Photos (original resolution in JSON, links in CSV)
• ✅ Reminder schedules and completion history
• ✅ Settings and preferences

How to Export:

1. Settings → Data & Privacy → Export
2. Choose format (JSON/CSV/PDF)
3. Select scope (all data, date range, specific plants)
4. Click Generate Export
5. Download link sent to email (within 1 hour)

Use Cases:

• Regular backups (recommended monthly)
• Switch to different app
• Share with plant sitter (PDF care instructions)
• Data analysis in spreadsheets
• Archive before major changes

See Data & Privacy guide for details.

Q: What if I'm going on vacation?

A: Plant Care While Away:

In PlantKeeper:

1. Pause Reminders: Settings → Notifications → Pause All (temporarily)
2. Pre-Water: Mark plants as watered before leaving
3. Share Access: Give plant sitter your login or create public care sheet (PDF export)
4. Resume After: Re-enable reminders when you return

Physical Care Tips:

• Water thoroughly before leaving
• Move plants to less sunny spots (reduce water needs)
• Group plants together (increases humidity)
• Consider self-watering globes/systems
• Ask friend to check on high-maintenance plants
• Leave instructions (printed PDF care sheets)

Pro Tip: Export care sheets for each plant, highlight priority tasks, leave for plant sitter!

Plant Care Questions

Q: How often should I water my plants?

A: It depends! Every plant is different.

General Guidelines:

• Succulents/Cacti: Every 2-4 weeks
• Tropical Plants: Every 5-7 days
• Ferns: Every 3-5 days (keep moist, not soggy)
• Most Houseplants: When top 1-2 inches of soil dry

Better Method (Don't water by calendar!):

1. Check soil moisture - Stick finger 1-2 inches into soil
2. Water when needed - Dry = water, moist = wait
3. Observe plant - Learn its signals (drooping, leaf texture)
4. Adjust seasonally - More in summer (hot/dry), less in winter (cool/dormant)

Use PlantKeeper:

• Set initial watering schedule (best guess)
• Adjust based on plant response (edit reminder frequency)
• Use reminders as checks, not rigid schedule
• Ask Plant Doctor for species-specific advice
• Track completions to find optimal schedule

Key Rule: It's better to underwater than overwater (most plants die from overwatering)!

Q: My plant is dying! Can PlantKeeper help?

A: Yes! Here's exactly what to do:

Immediate Action:

1. Take clear photos of problem areas (multiple angles, close-ups)
2. Open Plant Doctor (sidebar → Plant Doctor)
3. Upload photos and describe:
   • What symptoms (yellowing, drooping, spots, etc.)
   • When started (today, last week, etc.)
   • Recent changes (moved, repotted, fertilized)
   • Care history (watering frequency, last fertilized)
4. Get diagnosis and treatment plan (AI analyzes 5-30 seconds)
5. Follow recommendations exactly
6. Monitor and update - Take daily photos, note changes

Common Issues Plant Doctor Helps With:

• 🟡 Yellowing leaves (overwatering, nutrients, light)
• 🟤 Brown tips (humidity, water quality, over-fertilizing)
• 💧 Drooping (watering issues, temperature shock)
• 🐛 Pests (spider mites, mealybugs, aphids)
• 🟣 Spots on leaves (fungal, bacterial, sunburn)
• 🌱 Slow/no growth (light, nutrients, root-bound)

When to Seek Professional Help:

• Rapid decline despite following treatment
• Suspected poisoning (pet/child ingested)
• Valuable/rare plant (don't risk experimenting)
• Multiple treatments failed
• Unknown pest (needs identification and specific treatment)

Document in PlantKeeper:

• Add diary entries about symptoms and treatments
• Track progress with daily photos
• Update health status regularly
• Note what works (or doesn't)

Q: Do I need to identify my plant species?

A: Optional but very helpful!

Benefits of Knowing Species:

• ✅ Better care recommendations from Plant Doctor (species-specific advice)
• ✅ Specific needs (light, water, humidity requirements)
• ✅ Expected growth patterns (know what's normal)
• ✅ Potential problems to watch for (common pests/diseases for that species)
• ✅ Easier research (find care guides, forums, videos)
• ✅ Accurate reminders (optimal watering/fertilizing frequency)

Don't Know Species?

• Use Plant Doctor to identify from photo (85-90% accuracy)
• Track and care for plant anyway (doesn't prevent using features)
• Add species later when you find out
• Many common names work fine ("Spider Plant" vs "Chlorophytum comosum")

You Can Still:

• Track watering and care
• Set reminders (adjust frequency as needed)
• Monitor growth
• Take photos
• Use all PlantKeeper features

How to Identify:

1. Take clear photo of whole plant
2. Take photo of leaves (close-up, top and bottom)
3. Take photo of flowers (if blooming)
4. Upload to Plant Doctor → "What plant is this?"
5. Get species name and care requirements

Q: Can PlantKeeper remind me to buy plant supplies?

A: Creative solution - Yes!

Method 1: Supply Tracking Plant

1. Create a plant called "Supplies" or "Garden Shed"
2. Add custom reminders:
   • "Check fertilizer stock" (monthly)
   • "Order potting soil" (quarterly)
   • "Buy perlite" (when running low)
   • "Replace grow light bulbs" (yearly)
3. Get notifications as reminders!

Method 2: Plant-Specific Reminders

1. Add custom reminder to any plant
2. Type: "Custom"
3. Task: "Check if fertilizer needed"
4. Frequency: Monthly
5. Notes: "Fertilizer brand: X, buy from: Y"

Method 3: Use Notes

• Add shopping list to plant notes
• Review when you get reminder
• Check off items as purchased

Alternative:

• Use regular to-do app for non-plant tasks
• PlantKeeper for plant-specific care only
• Keeps everything organized by purpose

Account and Billing

Q: How do I change my email address?

A: Update Email Process:

1. Go to Settings → Account → Profile
2. Click "Change Email"
3. Enter new email address
4. Enter current password (security verification)
5. Click "Send Verification"
6. Check new email inbox (and spam folder!)
7. Click verification link (valid for 24 hours)
8. Email address updated!

Security Notes:

• Must verify current password
• Verification required (prevents unauthorized changes)
• Login email updates immediately after verification
• Notifications sent to new email going forward

Troubleshooting:

• Verification email not received? Check spam, wait 5 minutes, request new link
• Link expired? Request new verification email
• Can't access old email? Contact support with proof of ownership

Q: How do I upgrade to Pro?

A: Upgrade Steps:

1. Go to Settings → Subscription
2. Click "Upgrade to Pro"
3. Choose billing period:
   • Monthly: $4.99/month (cancel anytime)
   • Yearly: $49/year (save 20%!)
4. Enter payment information (credit/debit card)
5. Click "Start Pro Trial" or "Subscribe Now"

Free Trial (14 days):

• No credit card required for trial start
• Full Pro access immediately
• Cancel anytime during trial (no charge)
• Reminder before trial ends (3 days notice)
• Auto-converts to paid after trial (only if you added payment)

Immediate Benefits:

• ✅ Unlimited plants (add more right away!)
• ✅ 5 GB storage (10x more photos)
• ✅ All Pro features unlocked
• ✅ Priority support (faster response times)
• ✅ No ads (cleaner interface)

Seamless Upgrade:

• No data loss
• All plants preserved
• Reminders continue
• Instant feature access

Q: How do I cancel my subscription?

A: Cancel Anytime Process:

1. Go to Settings → Subscription
2. Click "Manage Subscription"
3. Click "Cancel Subscription"
4. Select reason (optional, helps us improve)
5. Click "Confirm Cancellation"
6. Receive confirmation email

What Happens:

• ✅ No further charges (billing stops)
• ✅ Pro access until period ends (paid until date)
• ✅ Automatic downgrade to Free plan (on renewal date)
• ✅ All data preserved (no loss!)

After Cancellation:

• Access continues until current period ends (you paid for it!)
• On renewal date: Downgrade to Free plan
• Free plan limits apply:
  • 10 plants max (archive excess)
  • 500 MB storage (delete/compress photos if over)
  • Some Pro features locked

Changed Your Mind?

• Can reactivate before period ends (Settings → Subscription → Reactivate)
• No penalty for canceling/reactivating
• Data never deleted (unless you exceed free limits for 30+ days)

Q: Do you offer refunds?

A: Yes! Fair refund policy.

Full Refunds:

• ✅ Charged in error (accidental duplicate, etc.)
• ✅ First month dissatisfied (within 30 days of signup, one-time)
• ✅ Technical issues preventing use (prorated if beyond 30 days)

Prorated Refunds:

• ✅ Service downtime (significant outages)
• ✅ Persistent bugs preventing core functionality

No Refunds:

• ❌ Partial months (already used the service)
• ❌ Forgot to cancel (reminders sent before renewal)
• ❌ Changed mind after free trial ended
• ❌ Didn't use the service (subscription model)

How to Request Refund:

1. Email support@plantkeeper.com
2. Subject: "Refund Request - [Your Email]"
3. Include:
   • Reason for refund
   • Order number (from confirmation email)
   • Account email address
4. Response within 48 hours
5. Refund processed within 5-7 business days (to original payment method)

Good Faith Policy:

• We review each request individually
• Reasonable requests honored
• First-time customers prioritized
• Long-term users: prorated refunds considered

Technical Questions

Q: Which browsers are supported?

A: Fully Supported (Best Experience):

Desktop:

• ✅ Chrome 90+ (recommended - best performance)
• ✅ Firefox 88+
• ✅ Safari 14+ (macOS)
• ✅ Edge 90+ (Chromium-based)

Mobile:

• ✅ Mobile Safari (iOS 13+)
• ✅ Chrome Mobile (Android 8+)
• ✅ Samsung Internet (latest)

Not Supported:

• ❌ Internet Explorer (discontinued by Microsoft, security risk)
• ❌ Very old browsers (5+ years old)

Recommendation: Use latest version of Chrome for best experience (performance, features, security).

How to Check Browser Version:

• Chrome: chrome://version
• Firefox: Menu → Help → About Firefox
• Safari: Safari → About Safari
• Edge: edge://version

Q: Is there a mobile app?

A: Progressive Web App (PWA) - Works like native app!

Current:

• ✅ Install from browser (iOS and Android)
• ✅ Home screen icon (looks/feels like app)
• ✅ Offline viewing capability
• ✅ Push notifications
• ✅ Fast, app-like experience

How to Install PWA:

iPhone/iPad (Safari):

1. Open PlantKeeper in Safari
2. Tap Share button (square with arrow)
3. Scroll and tap "Add to Home Screen"
4. Name it "PlantKeeper"
5. Tap "Add"
6. Find icon on home screen!

Android (Chrome):

1. Open PlantKeeper in Chrome
2. Tap menu (three dots)
3. Tap "Add to Home Screen" or "Install App"
4. Tap "Add" to confirm
5. Find icon in app drawer!

Coming Soon:

• 📱 Native iOS app (App Store)
• 📱 Native Android app (Play Store)
• Estimated: Q2 2025

PWA Advantages:

• No app store approval delays (instant updates)
• Works on all devices (one codebase)
• Smaller size than native apps
• Automatic updates

Q: Can I use PlantKeeper on multiple devices?

A: Yes! Data syncs across all devices.

Supported Devices:

• 💻 Desktop computers (Windows, Mac, Linux)
• 📱 Smartphones (iOS, Android)
• 📱 Tablets (iPad, Android tablets)
• 🖥️ Multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

How Sync Works:

1. Log in with same account on all devices
2. Changes sync automatically (cloud-based)
3. Works across all devices simultaneously
4. No limit on number of devices
5. Changes appear within seconds (usually instant)

Sync Requirements:

• Internet connection (WiFi or mobile data)
• Logged into same account
• Recent app/browser version

Sync Tips:

• Pull to refresh if data seems old (mobile)
• Refresh page if data delayed (desktop)
• Log out/in if sync issues persist
• Changes to one device appear on all others

Use Cases:

• Start on desktop, complete reminder on mobile
• Add plant on mobile, edit on desktop
• View on tablet, update on phone
• Share account with partner (both manage plants)

Q: How much storage do I get?

A: Storage Limits by Plan:

Free Plan: 500 MB

• About 500 photos (1 MB each, compressed)
• Unlimited text data (plants, diary entries, notes)

Pro Plan: 5 GB (10x more!)

• About 5,000 photos (1 MB each)
• Unlimited text data

Team Plan: 25 GB (shared across team)

• About 25,000 photos
• Unlimited text data

What Counts Toward Limit:

• ✅ Photos (original uploads)
• ✅ Attachments (if future feature)
• ❌ Text data (plants, entries, notes - unlimited)
• ❌ App itself (doesn't use your storage)

Check Storage Usage:

• Settings → Data & Privacy → Storage
• View breakdown by type
• See available space remaining

Tips to Save Space:

• Compress photos before upload (online tools, phone apps)
• Delete blurry/bad photos regularly
• Archive old plants (photos stay but compressed)
• Use lower resolution (1080p instead of 4K)

Need More Storage?:

• Upgrade to Pro (5 GB)
• Upgrade to Team (25 GB)
• Additional storage: $1.99/month for +5 GB

Q: What happens if I cancel my subscription?

A: Canceling Pro/Team Plan:

Immediately After Cancel:

• ✅ No further charges (billing stops)
• ✅ Pro access continues until period ends (you paid for it)
• ✅ All data preserved

On Renewal Date (when Pro expires):

• ⚠️ Downgrade to Free plan automatically
• ⚠️ Free plan limits apply:
  • 10 plants max (hide excess or archive)
  • 500 MB storage (delete photos if over)
  • Pro features locked

30-Day Grace Period:

• ✅ Can view all plants (read-only if over 10)
• ✅ Can access photos (if under 500 MB after cleanup)
• ⚠️ Can't add plants if at/over 10
• ⚠️ Photos over 500 MB won't load

To Avoid Issues:

1. Export data before canceling (full backup)
2. Archive plants to get under 10 (or delete test plants)
3. Delete photos to get under 500 MB (keep favorites)
4. Or resubscribe anytime!

Resubscribe Anytime:

• All features restored immediately
• Data intact (never deleted unless you delete account)
• Same price as before
• No penalty for canceling/reactivating

Data Deletion:

• Data never deleted unless:
  • You manually delete account (Settings → Account → Delete Account)
  • Account inactive for 2+ years (with notice emails)
  • Over free limits for 90+ days without action

💡 Pro Tips

Getting Started:

• Start with Free plan (10 plants, learn features)
• Use Plant Doctor to identify plants
• Set up reminders for top 5 neediest plants first
• Take initial progress photos (before/after comparison)

Maximize Features:

• Enable notifications (Settings → Notifications)
• Customize dashboard (show what matters to you)
• Use tags to organize (groups by care level, location, etc.)
• Export data monthly (backups!)

Best Practices:

• Complete reminders in real-time (not batching)
• Add diary entries when you observe changes
• Take monthly progress photos (consistent angle/lighting)
• Adjust reminders based on plant response

Get Help:

• Try troubleshooting guide first (solves 70% of issues)
• Ask Plant Doctor for plant-specific questions
• Search documentation (likely already answered)
• Email support if stuck (support@plantkeeper.com)

❓ Still Have Questions?

Additional Resources:

• User Guide - Complete documentation hub
• Troubleshooting Guide - Fix common issues
• Plant Doctor - AI plant care assistant
• Contact Support - Personalized help

Quick Links:

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• Status Page
• Changelog

🔗 Related Topics

• Quick Start Guide - Get started in 5 minutes
• Troubleshooting - Fix common problems
• Contact Support - Get personalized help
• Keyboard Shortcuts - Work faster

💡 Question Not Answered? Email support@plantkeeper.com - we're happy to help and will add popular questions to this FAQ!