Day one: tell PotPal what you have
You have two ways to add a plant. Take a photo and PotPal asks its AI to identify the plant. Or skip the photo and pick a common plant from a short list in one tap. The list covers eight everyday plants, including pothos, succulents, snake plant and monstera, and you can add a photo later. If identification fails, PotPal sends you to choosing the species by hand and keeps the photo you just took.
Day one: say where it lives
Light, pot material and size, and location all change how fast soil dries. PotPal asks for them because they feed the watering estimate. University extension guidance says clay pots dry faster than plastic or glazed ones, and an oversized pot holds extra moisture.
The first week: check the soil before you water
The practical rule from UConn extension is to push a finger about an inch into the mix and water thoroughly only if it feels dry. When PotPal reminds you, do that check. If it is still damp, tap Not dry yet. PotPal then treats your observation as the answer.
Ask it when something looks off
- Look at it. Take a photo and PotPal describes what it sees, with a status from five levels and up to three suggestions. It describes. It does not diagnose disease.
- Chat. Ask a question about a plant. The chat can use your plant's name, species and environment, and up to two saved photos.
Free accounts get a daily AI allowance of 10 identifications, 10 observations and 50 chat messages. PotPal Pro removes the limit.
Sources: UConn Home and Garden Education Center, Houseplant Watering Recommendations (homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu), checked 2026-10-13. PotPal's estimates are suggestions, not guarantees, and it does not diagnose plant disease.