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If you’re anything like me, it can feel like everything in your life needs maintenance…

Your hair, car, house, pets… and that’s before the unexpected surprises start rolling in.

Indeed there is! But there’s one thing that, no matter how hard you try, just refuses to cooperate. You water it, you move it, you whisper encouraging words… and yet every day it looks worse than the day before.

Yes, I’m talking about… your plants.

According to Horticulture Magazine, over 50% of houseplant owners have accidentally killed an average of five plants. And in Australia alone, a staggering 72 million indoor plants meet their untimely demise every year.

So the real question is: how do we stop this leafy catastrophe?

Meet Plant with Willow👋

Today we’re heading to the Land Down Under — Australia — where Plant with Willow was born. It’s a clever little startup making plant care… well, actually doable. With smart plant sensors paired to an app that tells you exactly what your plant needs. Water? Light? A little less love? No more guessing.

How it works?🌱

Plant with Willow keeps things simple by tracking four key signals your plant depends on:

• Light

• Soil moisture

• Temperature

• Humidity

Using these readings, the app sends you gentle nudges when your plant needs something — a drink, more sun, less heat, you name it. You can also check a “condition score” anytime to see how your leafy friend is doing.

In other words: your plants finally get to tell you what they need… and you finally get to listen.

Any Challenges?🤔

Some users feel the basic (free) app features don’t offer much beyond what you could figure out yourself — like checking whether the soil is dry or the leaves look droopy. Most of the deeper insights and richer plant data sit behind the subscription, which not everyone loves.

That said, there is real value in letting sensors do the work. They can track subtle changes you wouldn’t catch with the naked eye and save you from constant “Is my plant okay?” check-ups. For many plant owners, that peace of mind — and fewer surprise plant funerals — is worth it.

How well are they doing? 📈

From launching in November 2020 to delivering their first product in 2023, Plant with Willow has already expanded into 35+ countries and landed on the shelves of major Australian retailers. Clearly, people everywhere are serious about keeping their plants alive and thriving.

The plant-care space is booming — who knows, maybe there’s an opportunity in it for you too!

Till next time,

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