Question 1

How do I identify a plant from a photo?

Accepted Answer

Open the app and tap “Identify Plant” on the home screen. Point your camera at any plant — a houseplant, a garden flower, a tree in the park, or even a weed on the sidewalk — and snap a photo. You can also upload an existing photo from your gallery. Within seconds, Care for Flora will tell you the plant’s common name, scientific name, plant family, and a confidence score showing how certain the match is. For best results, photograph the plant in good natural light and try to capture a clear view of the leaves, flowers, or any distinguishing features. Avoid blurry images or photos taken from very far away. The closer and clearer your photo, the more accurate the identification. Care for Flora can recognise over 400,000 plant species worldwide, including common houseplants, tropical plants, succulents, herbs, wildflowers, trees, and more. After identification, you’ll also receive a care guide with watering, sunlight, soil, and temperature recommendations specific to that species.

Question 2

Can I identify a plant by its leaf shape alone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The app analyses leaf shape, size, vein patterns, colour, texture, and edges to help identify the species. In many cases, a single clear photo of a leaf is enough to get an accurate result. This is especially effective for houseplants, trees, and common garden plants where leaf shape is a strong distinguishing feature. For the most accurate leaf identification, place the leaf flat against a plain background like a table, a sheet of paper, or the ground. Make sure the entire leaf is visible in the frame. If the plant also has visible flowers, fruits, or bark, photographing those as well can improve the match.

Question 3

How many free plant scans do I get per day?

Accepted Answer

Free users can perform up to 3 plant identifications and 2 disease checks per day at no cost. Your scans refresh every day at midnight (your local time). If you need more scans, you can watch a short video to unlock one bonus scan — up to 3 bonus scans per day. Premium subscribers get 15 scans per day, and Platinum subscribers have unlimited scans. All plans include both plant identification and disease detection in the same scan.

Question 4

Does the app work without an internet connection?

Accepted Answer

Care for Flora requires an internet connection to identify plants and detect diseases. Without internet, the app cannot perform new scans. However, you can still browse your previously saved scan results, care guides you have already viewed, and your plant collection — all of this is stored on your device and accessible anytime, even without a signal. If you are going somewhere with poor reception, you can still take photos in the app. The images will be saved on your device and automatically submitted for identification once you are back online.

Question 5

What is the Plant Growth Journal and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

The Plant Growth Journal is a Platinum-exclusive feature that lets you track your plant’s health over time. Each week, you upload a new photo of your plant, and Care for Flora compares it to the previous week’s photo. You’ll receive a detailed report showing whether your plant is improving, stable, or declining, along with specific care recommendations. The journal monitors changes in leaf colour, size, overall health, and can detect new issues like disease or pest damage. It’s like having a personal plant doctor who checks on your plant every week. Please note that journal data is stored on our servers for 3 days after each upload. You’ll receive reminders to download your report (as a ZIP file with photos and a summary) before it’s automatically deleted. This keeps your data private and our storage manageable.

Question 6

What is plant frequency music?

Accepted Answer

Plant frequency music is a curated library of audio tracks tuned to specific sound frequencies — 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1000 Hz — that some research suggests may promote plant growth and health. The concept is based on studies showing that certain sound vibrations can influence cellular activity in plants, potentially encouraging root development, stem strength, and overall vitality. The library launches with 10 tracks and will grow over time as new tracks are added. The tracks are designed to be played near your plants, not necessarily for human listening pleasure (though many users find them calming). You can set a timer so the music plays for 15, 30, 60, or 120 minutes and stops automatically. Background playback is supported so you can use your phone normally while the music plays. Plant frequency music is available exclusively to Platinum subscribers.

Question 7

Why are my plant’s leaves turning yellow?

Accepted Answer

Yellowing leaves are one of the most common plant problems, and there are several possible causes. The most frequent culprit is overwatering — when roots sit in too much moisture, they can’t absorb oxygen, causing leaves to turn yellow and eventually drop. Check if the soil feels soggy; if it does, let it dry out before watering again. Other common causes include underwatering (leaves yellow and feel dry or crispy), too little sunlight (especially lower leaves yellowing first), nutrient deficiency (often nitrogen, causing older leaves to yellow), or natural aging (older leaves at the bottom of the plant yellowing is normal and healthy). For a precise diagnosis, use Care for Flora’s disease detection feature. Upload a photo of the yellowing leaves and the app will identify the likely cause and, for Premium and Platinum users, provide up to 5 treatment remedies with step-by-step instructions.

Question 8

What are the brown spots on my plant’s leaves?

Accepted Answer

Brown spots on plant leaves can be caused by several things. Fungal infections are among the most common — they typically appear as brown or black spots with a yellow halo, often starting on lower leaves. Bacterial leaf spot looks similar but may feel wet or slimy to the touch. Sunburn can also cause brown spots, especially if a plant that prefers indirect light is placed in direct sunlight. These spots are usually dry, crispy, and appear on the side of the plant facing the light source. Hard water deposits and over-fertilisation can also leave brown marks, usually on leaf tips and edges. To identify the exact cause, snap a clear photo of the affected leaves using Care for Flora’s disease detection mode. The app will analyse the pattern, colour, and location of the spots to determine the most likely diagnosis.

Question 9

How do I treat root rot in my houseplant?

Accepted Answer

Root rot is caused by overwatering or poor drainage, allowing fungi to attack the roots. Here’s how to save your plant. First, remove the plant from its pot and gently shake off the old soil. Examine the roots: healthy roots are white and firm, while rotten roots are brown, black, or mushy. Using clean scissors, trim away all the damaged roots. If more than half the roots are gone, trim back some of the foliage too, so the remaining roots can support the plant. Let the roots air-dry for a few hours. Repot into fresh, well-draining potting mix in a clean pot with drainage holes. Do not reuse the old soil. Water lightly and place in a spot with bright indirect light. Wait at least a week before watering again. Going forward, always check that the top inch or two of soil is dry before watering. Care for Flora’s Premium plan provides detailed treatment remedies for root rot and hundreds of other plant diseases, tailored to your specific plant species.

Question 10

How often should I water my indoor plants?

Accepted Answer

There’s no single watering schedule that works for all plants. Watering frequency depends on the species, pot size, soil type, humidity, light levels, and season. As a general starting point, most common houseplants like pothos, monstera, and peace lilies prefer to be watered when the top 1–2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Succulents and cacti need much less water — typically every 2–3 weeks, or even less in winter. Ferns and calatheas prefer consistently moist (but not soggy) soil and may need watering every 3–5 days. The best approach is to check the soil rather than follow a fixed schedule. Stick your finger an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, water thoroughly until water drains from the bottom of the pot. If it still feels moist, wait a day or two. Care for Flora provides species-specific watering advice for every plant you identify. Premium and Platinum users also get care recommendations adjusted to their local climate and current season.

Question 11

Which houseplants are safe for cats and dogs?

Accepted Answer

Many popular houseplants are toxic to pets if ingested, so it’s important to choose carefully. Some of the best pet-safe houseplants include spider plants, Boston ferns, parlour palms, calatheas, peperomias, haworthias, and air plants (tillandsia). These are all non-toxic to cats and dogs. Plants to avoid if you have pets include monstera, pothos, philodendrons, peace lilies, snake plants, and dieffenbachia. These contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing in cats and dogs. Every plant you identify with Care for Flora includes a toxicity warning that tells you whether the species is harmful to pets, harmful to humans, or safe. This information appears in the care guide immediately after identification.

Question 12

What are the best low-maintenance houseplants for beginners?

Accepted Answer

If you’re new to plant parenthood, start with species that tolerate neglect, irregular watering, and a range of light conditions. Here are 10 great options. Pothos (devil’s ivy) thrives in low light and only needs watering when the soil dries out. Snake plants are nearly indestructible and can go weeks without water. ZZ plants tolerate low light and drought. Spider plants are forgiving and produce charming baby plants. Peace lilies tell you when they’re thirsty by drooping dramatically, then perk right back up after watering. Succulents like echeveria and jade plants are perfect for sunny windowsills and only need water every 2–3 weeks. Rubber plants grow steadily with minimal fuss. Chinese evergreens handle low light beautifully. Aloe vera is useful and low-maintenance. And cast iron plants live up to their name — they’re almost impossible to kill. Identify any of these instantly with Care for Flora and get a personalised care guide to help you succeed from day one.

Question 13

Is Care for Flora free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Care for Flora is free to download and use. The free plan includes 3 plant identifications and 2 disease detections per day, general plant care guides for every species identified, and access to your full scan history. No credit card is required to start using the app. For users who want more, Premium and Platinum plans unlock additional features like disease treatment remedies, climate-specific care advice, higher daily scan limits, and an ad-free experience. But the core plant identification and disease detection features are completely free.

Question 14

What is the difference between Free, Premium, and Platinum?

Accepted Answer

Care for Flora offers three subscription tiers. The Free plan gives you 3 daily identifications, 2 disease detections, and general care guides at no cost. Ads are displayed to support the free service. The Premium plan includes everything in Free plus up to 5 disease remedies per diagnosis with step-by-step treatment instructions, plant care advice tailored to your country’s climate and current season, 15 daily scans, and a completely ad-free experience. The Platinum plan includes everything in Premium plus the Plant Growth Journal (weekly photo uploads with comparison reports and personalised care adjustments), plant frequency music (a growing library of tracks at 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1000 Hz), and unlimited daily scans. Platinum is designed for serious plant enthusiasts who want to actively monitor and optimise their plants’ health over time.

Question 15

How do I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

You can cancel your subscription at any time. The process depends on how you subscribed. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store: open your iPhone’s Settings, tap your name at the top, tap Subscriptions, find Care for Flora, and tap Cancel Subscription. If you subscribed through Google Play: open the Google Play app, tap your profile icon, tap Payments & subscriptions, tap Subscriptions, find Care for Flora, and tap Cancel. If you subscribed through the website (PWA): go to Profile → Settings → Subscription → Manage, and click Cancel. After cancellation, you’ll keep access to your paid features until the end of your current billing period. After that, your account will revert to the Free plan. Your scan history and saved plants are never deleted when you downgrade.

Question 16

What happens if I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

If you cancel your Premium or Platinum subscription, you will keep access to all your paid features until the end of your current billing period. After that, your account automatically reverts to the Free plan. On the Free plan, you can still identify plants, detect diseases, and access your full scan history — just with the free tier limits (3 identifications and 2 disease checks per day). Ads will be displayed again to support the free service. Your saved plant collection, scan history, and account data are never deleted when you downgrade. If you decide to resubscribe later, all your data will still be there and you can pick up right where you left off.

Question 17

How many plant species can the app identify?

Accepted Answer

Care for Flora can identify over 400,000 plant species, making it one of the most comprehensive plant identification tools available. This includes common houseplants, garden flowers, tropical plants, succulents, cacti, herbs, trees, shrubs, wildflowers, aquatic plants, and more. The identification database is continuously expanding. When you scan a rare or unusual species that’s not yet in our database, the result is reviewed by our team and added to improve future identifications for all users.

Question 18

Is my data safe and private?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your privacy is a top priority. Here is how we handle your data. Plant photos you upload are used solely for identification and disease detection. They are not shared with third parties for advertising or any other purpose. Photos are stored securely on encrypted servers. For Platinum users, Plant Growth Journal data (photos and reports) is stored on our servers for exactly 3 days after upload. You will receive reminders to download your data before it is automatically and permanently deleted. This ensures your journal data does not live on our servers longer than necessary. Your personal information (name, email, country) is protected with industry-standard encryption both in transit and at rest. You can request deletion of all your data at any time through Profile → Settings → Delete Account.

Question 19

What platforms is Care for Flora available on?

Accepted Answer

Care for Flora is available on three platforms so you can use it however you prefer. On mobile, download the app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iOS). The mobile app gives you the full experience including camera access for instant plant scanning, push notifications, background music playback, and offline access to your saved collection. On desktop or laptop, visit careforflora.com in any modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) to use the web version. You can upload photos from your computer for identification and access all the same features. You can also install it to your desktop for quick access — in Chrome, click the install icon in the address bar and it will appear as a standalone app. Your account syncs across all platforms. Plants you identify on your phone will appear in your collection on your computer and vice versa. Your subscription also carries across — subscribe on any platform and you are covered everywhere.

Question 20

How do I contact support?

Accepted Answer

You can reach our support team through the in-app contact form. Go to Profile → Help → Contact Support, fill in your message, and submit. On the website, visit careforflora.com/contact to access the same form. We aim to respond to all support requests within 24 hours. For faster help, check this FAQ first — your question may already be answered here.

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