AI Smart Care, Thriving Plants
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Type: Personal Project
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Role: Product Designer
OVERVIEW
DISCOVERY
We are plant parents, but also plant killers
Indoor Plants: Rising Popularity, Troubling Reality
66% of American households own indoor plants.
7 in 10 millennials call themselves a plant parent.
Houseplant demand surged 18% in recent years.
However
*Average plant parent has killed 7 houseplants
Why Plants Die Under Our Watch
From survey and interviews (35 participants in total), key insights are:
78.8%
consider themselves as plant care beginners
57.1%
think a lack of plant care knowledge is the biggest challenge
Most
rely on instincts or general online searches for guidance
Painpoint 1
Late awareness of plant issue
Painpoint 2
Fail to diagnose issues
Painpoint 3
Take incorrect or no action
Where Existing Apps Fall Short
Popular plant care apps: Planta, Blossom, Plantum
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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.
ITERATION
From Confusion to Clarity: Smarter Alerts & Navigation
Key iterations based on usability testing:
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
After
I thought the magnifying glass was for search... I didn’t know it was the AI!
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.
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.
FINAL DESIGN
A Complete Flow: Monitor, Plan, Diagnose
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.
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
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
“Live Plant Care”
Interacting with Ivy
“Chat Care”
Receive the accurate cause and solution specific to the plant’s condition
IMPACT
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.
🚀 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.
TAKEAWAYS
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.