OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
As a plant lover, I used to watch my indoor plants wither without knowing why. Through conversations and research, I realized I wasn’t alone — many beginner plant owners struggle not because they don’t care, but because they lack timely guidance, knowledge, or confidence.
I designed BotaniQ, a smart plant care app uses real-time monitoring, AI diagnosis, and personalized care plans to help users take action early and confidently.
💡Although it’s a personal project and hasn’t shipped yet, user testing showed:
• Users highly valued actionable AI alerts over vague online advice
• 80% preferred the app’s AI diagnosis to asking friends or searching online
• "This would save my plants’ life!" (actual tester feedback)
This project helped me deepen my focus on solving the right problem and creating clarity, not just adding features.
As a plant lover, I used to watch my indoor plants wither without knowing why. Through conversations and research, I realized I wasn’t alone — many beginner plant owners struggle not because they don’t care, but because they lack timely guidance, knowledge, or confidence.
I designed BotaniQ, a smart plant care app uses real-time monitoring, AI diagnosis, and personalized care plans to help users take action early and confidently.
💡Although it’s a personal project and hasn’t shipped yet, user testing showed:
• Users highly valued actionable AI alerts over vague online advice
• 80% preferred the app’s AI diagnosis to asking friends or searching online
• "This would save my plants’ life!" (actual tester feedback)
This project helped me deepen my focus on solving the right problem and creating clarity, not just adding features.
Real-Time Monitoring & Timely Alerts
Continuously track soil, environment, and plant health with sensor integration.
✔️ Get instant alerts before issues become visible, no more late discoveries.
AI Diagnosis & Step-by-Step Guidance
Chat with Ivy, your AI plant expert, via messages or real-time interaction.
✔️ Receive accurate diagnoses and actionable solutions for your plant’s unique needs.
Personalized Care Plan
& Smart Reminders
Personalized Care Plan & Smart Reminders
Build a tailored care plan by answering a few quick questions.
✔️ Stay on top of watering, feeding, and cleaning with auto-scheduled reminders.
Real-Time Monitoring & Timely Alerts
Continuously track soil, environment, and plant health with sensor integration.
✔️ Get instant alerts before issues become visible, no more late discoveries.
AI Diagnosis & Step-by-Step Guidance
Chat with Ivy, your AI plant expert, via messages or real-time interaction.
✔️ Receive accurate diagnoses and actionable solutions for your plant’s unique needs.
Personalized Care Plan & Smart Reminders
Build a tailored care plan by answering a few quick questions.
✔️ Stay on top of watering, feeding, and cleaning with auto-scheduled reminders.
DISCOVERY
DISCOVERY
We are plant parents, but also plant killers
We are plant parents, but also plant killers
📎 Background Info
📎 Background Info
Indoor Plants: Rising Popularity, Troubling Reality
Indoor Plants: Rising Popularity, Troubling Reality
66% of American households own indoor plants.
66% of American households own indoor plants.
7 in 10 millennials call themselves a plant parent.
7 in 10 millennials call themselves a plant parent.
⚠️ However,
⚠️ However,
*Average plant parent has killed 7 houseplants
*Average plant parent has killed 7 houseplants
66% of American households own indoor plants.
7 in 10 millennials call themselves a plant parent.
Houseplant demand surged 18% in the Covid pandemic.
👤 User Profile
👤 User Profile
Why Plants Die Under Our Watch
Why Plants Die Under Our Watch
From surveys and interviews:
78.8%
consider themselves as plant care beginners
consider themselves as plant care beginners
57.1%
cite lack of plant knowledge as top frustration
cite lack of plant knowledge as top frustration
Most
rely on instincts or general online searches for guidance
rely on instincts or general online searches for guidance
Leading to…
Leading to…
Late awareness of plant issue
Late awareness of plant issue
Fail to diagnose issues
Fail to diagnose issues
Take incorrect or no action
Take incorrect or no action
“
“
I would just rely on my experience and intuition to take care of them.
I would just rely on my experience and intuition to take care of them.
”
”
“
“
When I realize there is something wrong with my plants, it’s usually too late.
When I realize there is something wrong with my plants, it’s usually too late.
”
”
COMPETITOR ANALYSIS
COMPETITOR ANALYSIS
Where Existing Apps Fall Short
Where Existing Apps Fall Short
Popular plant care apps: Planta, Blossom, Plantum
Popular plant care apps: Planta, Blossom, Plantum
🪴
Problem Statement
Beginner indoor plant keepers often struggle to care for their houseplants effectively. Due to limited plant knowledge, time, and access to reliable guidance, they tend to notice problems too late, take no action, or follow unreliable guidance, resulting in preventable plant deaths.
Beginner indoor plant keepers often struggle to care for their houseplants effectively. Due to limited plant knowledge, time, and access to reliable guidance, they tend to notice problems too late, take no action, or follow unreliable guidance, resulting in preventable plant deaths.
So I asked...
So I asked...
How might we make indoor plant care feel effortless for those who lack time or knowledge?
How might we make indoor plant care feel effortless for those who lack time or knowledge?
ITERATION
From Confusion to Clarity: Smarter Alerts & Navigation
From Confusion to Clarity: Smarter Alerts & Navigation
❇️
❇️
Iteration 1: Add Actionable Suggestions to Alerts
Iteration 1: Add Actionable Suggestions to Alerts
“
“
I don’t know how much water is too much or too little. If it just tells me the number, I’d feel much safer.
I don’t know how much water is too much or too little. If it just tells me the number, I’d feel much safer.
”
”
Before
Before
After
After
❇️
❇️
Iteration 2: Clarify Entry Point & Navigation for Ask AI
Iteration 2: Clarify Entry Point & Navigation for Ask AI
“
“
I thought the magnifying glass was for search... I didn’t know it was the AI!
I thought the magnifying glass was for search... I didn’t know it was the AI!
”
”
Before
Before
Ask AI was hidden under an unclear icon in the bottom nav. Users couldn’t tell what it did or how to start a diagnosis.
Ask AI was hidden under an unclear icon in the bottom nav. Users couldn’t tell what it did or how to start a diagnosis.
After
After
Replaced the icon with a clear entry point “Ask Ivy”, and separated it into Live Plant Care and Chat Care. Clear action buttons guide users to start right away.
Replaced the icon with a clear entry point “Ask Ivy”, and separated it into Live Plant Care and Chat Care. Clear action buttons guide users to start right away.
FINAL DESIGN
FINAL DESIGN
A Complete Flow: Monitor, Plan, Diagnose
A Complete Flow: Monitor, Plan, Diagnose
🟩
🟩
Real-Time Plant Monitoring Made Simple
Real-Time Plant Monitoring Made Simple
Users can add their plants, connect a sensor, and instantly track soil, environment, and leaf conditions in real time.
When issues arise, like low moisture, they receive timely alerts with clear, actionable suggestions to prevent plant damage.
Users can add their plants, connect a sensor, and instantly track soil, environment, and leaf conditions in real time.
When issues arise, like low moisture, they receive timely alerts with clear, actionable suggestions to prevent plant damage.
Homepage-new user-
when no plant has been added
Add plant, fill out name and type, connect the sensor
Get real-time monitor for plant’s status
Receive alerts when problems occur
🟩
🟩
Personalized Plant Care Plan in a Few Taps
Personalized Plant Care Plan in a Few Taps
Answer a few quick questions to get a customized care plan for watering, feeding, and cleaning.
Tasks are scheduled and tracked by plant, with reminders to help users stay consistent and confident.
Answer a few quick questions to get a customized care plan for watering, feeding, and cleaning.
Tasks are scheduled and tracked by plant, with reminders to help users stay consistent and confident.
Plant list
Add a care plan
Personalizing questions
Receive reminder and mark as completed
🟩
🟩
Diagnose Plant Issues with Ivy, Your AI Plant Expert
Diagnose Plant Issues with Ivy, Your AI Plant Expert
Users can interact with Ivy in two ways to diagnose plant problems:
Live Plant Care (AI Agent): Open the camera and talk to Ivy in real time. Ivy will guide users through the diagnosis based on what she sees and hears.
Chat Care: Send a photo or describe the symptoms to receive tailored diagnoses and step-by-step solutions through chat.
Users can interact with Ivy in two ways to diagnose plant problems:
Live Plant Care (AI Agent): Open the camera and talk to Ivy in real time. Ivy will guide users through the diagnosis based on what she sees and hears.
Chat Care: Send a photo or describe the symptoms to receive tailored diagnoses and step-by-step solutions through chat.
“Live Plant Care”
Interacting with Ivy
“Chat Care”
Receive the accurate cause and solution specific to the plant’s condition
IMPACT
IMPACT
Turning Beginners into Confident Plant Owners
Turning Beginners into Confident Plant Owners
Although BotaniQ has not yet been launched to the market, testing showed strong positive reactions from potential users. Users especially appreciated the real-time alerts and actionable AI support, setting it apart from typical plant care apps.
BotaniQ shows strong potential to reduce plant loss and improve user confidence by offering smarter, more proactive support.
Although BotaniQ has not yet been launched to the market, testing showed strong positive reactions from potential users. Users especially appreciated the real-time alerts and actionable AI support, setting it apart from typical plant care apps.
BotaniQ shows strong potential to reduce plant loss and improve user confidence by offering smarter, more proactive support.
“
“
The AI diagnosis would save my plants’ life!!
The AI diagnosis would save my plants’ life!!
”
”
🚀 What's next:
🚀 What's next:
The ultimate success of BotaniQ depends heavily on the reliability of sensor data and AI diagnosis, two components that can't be fully validated through a prototype alone.
The next step would be to test and iterate on the AI’s plant diagnosis accuracy and explore sensor integration, which are both critical for delivering on the product’s promise of real-time, actionable care.
The ultimate success of BotaniQ depends heavily on the reliability of sensor data and AI diagnosis, two components that can't be fully validated through a prototype alone.
The next step would be to test and iterate on the AI’s plant diagnosis accuracy and explore sensor integration, which are both critical for delivering on the product’s promise of real-time, actionable care.
TAKEAWAYS
TAKEAWAYS
Solving the Right Problem, Not Just Adding Features
Solving the Right Problem, Not Just Adding Features
Building BotaniQ taught me the importance of prioritizing real solutions over surface needs. Instead of overwhelming users with plant knowledge, I focused on creating an effortless, proactive care experience. This project sharpened my ability to make intentional trade-offs and stay centered on solving the true user problem, always staying focused on solving, not pleasing.
Building BotaniQ taught me the importance of prioritizing real solutions over surface needs. Instead of overwhelming users with plant knowledge, I focused on creating an effortless, proactive care experience. This project sharpened my ability to make intentional trade-offs and stay centered on solving the true user problem, always staying focused on solving, not pleasing.