Plant watering reminders tuned to each of your plants
A monstera, a snake plant and a basil pot all need water on very different schedules, and the same plant needs less in winter. This prompt has your todo.is agent build a watering plan for each of your plants, send one combined reminder on the days something needs checking, and adjust as the seasons change.
The prompt
- Set up plant watering reminders for me. My plants: [PLANTS AND WHERE THEY ARE]. I live in [CITY OR CLIMATE] and my home is [INDOOR CONDITIONS]. Look up the care needs for each plant and give me a watering plan: how often to check, how to tell if it needs water, and how much. Send one combined message on [WHERE TO SEND] at [TIME] on the days any plant should be checked, listing only those plants. Adjust the schedule for the season automatically and tell me when you do. Once a month, add one care tip like feeding or repotting. If I send a photo of a sick-looking plant, tell me the likely cause.
What to change
- [PLANTS AND WHERE THEY ARE]: e.g. "monstera in the living room by an east window, snake plant in the bedroom, basil on the kitchen sill, 3 succulents on the balcony". Or send photos and ask your agent to identify them.
- [CITY OR CLIMATE]: e.g. "Manchester, UK" or "hot dry summers, mild winters".
- [INDOOR CONDITIONS]: e.g. "warm, heating on in winter, fairly dry air".
- [WHERE TO SEND]: WhatsApp, Telegram or email.
- [TIME]: e.g. "8:00" or "Saturday morning".
Example result
- Watering plan (autumn, heating on)
- • Monstera (east window): check every 7 days. Water when the top 5 cm of soil is dry. Water until it drains from the bottom, then empty the saucer.
- • Snake plant (bedroom): check every 14 days, often needs water only every 3 to 4 weeks. Let the soil dry out fully. It hates wet feet.
- • Pothos (bookshelf): check every 7 days. Water when the top half of the pot is dry or leaves look a bit soft.
- • Basil (kitchen sill): check every 2 days. Keep soil lightly moist, never soggy. Water at the base.
- • Succulents (balcony): check every 10 days. Bring inside before the first frost.
- • Peace lily (hallway): check every 5 days. It droops when thirsty and recovers within hours.
- Sample reminder (Saturday 8:00)
- Plants to check today:
- • Monstera: finger test, top 5 cm dry? Then water well.
- • Pothos: check top half of the pot.
- • Basil: likely needs a drink.
- Reply "done" or tell me which ones you watered.
- Season change (1 December)
- Shorter days and less growth. Changing: monstera to every 10 days, snake plant to every 3 weeks, succulents to every 3 weeks indoors. Basil may struggle in low light, a cheap grow light helps.
- Monthly tip (1 November)
- Stop feeding most houseplants until spring. They grow slowly in winter and fertilizer can build up in the soil.
- Photo help
- You send a photo of yellow, soft lower leaves on the monstera.
- > This often means overwatering. Check if the soil is wet deep down and the pot drains. Let it dry out more before the next watering.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and list your plants, or send photos and let your agent identify them.
- Send it to your todo.is agent on WhatsApp or Telegram, or paste it into the Today screen.
- Check the watering plan and correct anything, like a plant that lives somewhere else.
- Reply to reminders when you water, and send photos if a plant looks unwell.
Tips for a better result
- Treat reminders as "check" days, not "water" days. The finger test tells you if the plant really needs it.
- Overwatering kills more houseplants than underwatering. When in doubt, wait a day or two.
- Pots without drainage holes need much less water. Tell your agent which pots have no holes.
- Group plants with similar needs on the same day so you get fewer, more useful reminders.
plant watering reminders: FAQ
- How often should I water indoor plants? It depends on the plant, pot, light and season. Many common houseplants need water every 1 to 2 weeks, succulents and snake plants much less, and herbs more often.
- How do I know if my plant needs water? Push a finger a few centimeters into the soil. If it is dry, most plants need water. Some, like succulents, should dry out completely first.
- Should I water less in winter? Yes, usually. Plants grow slowly with less light, so the soil stays wet longer. Your agent adjusts the schedule by season.
- Can it tell what plant I have from a photo? Yes. Send a clear photo and your agent will suggest what it is and its care needs. Check the result if the plant is rare.
JavaScript is required to use the todo.is app.