Frequently Asked Questions

About 5 minutes. You'll download the app, create an account, pair your sensor over Bluetooth, connect it to WiFi, and place the probe in soil. Our Quick Start Guide walks you through every step.

Yes. PlantSense uses your home WiFi (2.4 GHz) to send sensor readings to the cloud so you can view them in the app from anywhere. The sensor does not support 5 GHz networks. If your router broadcasts both bands, make sure to select the 2.4 GHz one during setup.

PlantSense Connect works on iPhones running iOS 15 or later and Android phones running Android 10 or later. You also need Bluetooth enabled for the initial sensor pairing. After setup, you can monitor your plants from any device using the web dashboard at app.myplantsense.com.

No, never. PlantSense is a one-time purchase. The app, cloud dashboard, push notifications, and all future software updates are included for free. No monthly fees, no premium tiers.

Several weeks on a single charge. The sensor sleeps between readings (every 90 minutes by default) to conserve power. When the battery drops below 20%, you'll get a push notification so you have plenty of time to recharge via the USB-C port.

The probe shaft is designed to be inserted into moist soil and is fully sealed. The top of the sensor (where the electronics, LED, and USB-C port are) should stay above the soil line and out of standing water. Don't submerge the entire unit.

PlantSense works outdoors as long as the sensor is within range of your WiFi network and protected from heavy rain, direct sprinkler spray, and extreme temperatures. A covered porch or patio is ideal. For garden beds, just make sure the electronics stay above the soil line.

The capacitive sensing area is the bottom 3 inches of the probe. For small pots, 2–3 inches deep is enough. For larger pots and garden beds, push it 4–5 inches deep so the sensing area reaches the root zone. Inserting at a slight angle works well in smaller pots.

Every 90 minutes by default. This gives you regular updates while keeping the battery going for weeks. The interval is optimized for most house plants, which change conditions gradually.

Absolutely! There's no limit to the number of sensors you can connect to your account. Each plant gets its own card in the app with independent readings, thresholds, and alerts. Many of our users monitor 5–10 plants throughout their home.

Yes. Visit app.myplantsense.com and sign in with the same account you use in the mobile app. The web dashboard shows all your plants, historical charts, and settings. It's great for getting a big-picture view on a larger screen.

Open the plant detail screen in the app, tap the gear icon, then tap "Update WiFi". The app uses Bluetooth to push new WiFi credentials to the sensor. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled and you're standing near the sensor when you do this.

It takes time for water to distribute through the soil and reach the probe's sensing area. Tap the "Just Watered" button right after watering. This pauses moisture alerts for 6 hours and helps PlantSense learn your soil's absorption pattern.

PlantSense already limits alerts to once per day per device to avoid notification fatigue. If you're still getting more than you'd like, you can adjust thresholds (widen the acceptable range) in the device settings, mute individual devices, or turn on Do Not Disturb mode in the app settings.

Yes! Go to Settings > Notifications > Email Alerts in the app. Enter the email address you'd like alerts sent to and choose which types of alerts to include. Email alerts are rate-limited to at most one per device per alert type every 6 hours.

First, check that the sensor is powered on (press the power button and look for the LED). If the LED doesn't light up, it may need a charge via USB-C. If it's on but still offline, make sure your WiFi router is working and that the sensor is within range. You can update WiFi credentials from the app's device settings if your network changed. As a last resort, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to restart the sensor.

Make sure the probe's sensing area (bottom 3 inches) is fully inserted into the soil and not sitting in an air pocket or pressed against the pot wall. Different soil types produce different readings, and that's normal. Water your plant thoroughly, tap "Just Watered" in the app, and let the sensor run through 2–3 reading cycles (about 3–4.5 hours) to calibrate. If readings still seem off, try repositioning the probe closer to the root zone.

Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone and that you're within about 3 feet of the sensor. Ensure the sensor is powered on and the LED is pulsing green (pairing mode). Try closing and reopening the PlantSense app. On Android, you may also need to grant the app Location permission for Bluetooth scanning to work. If the sensor is already connected to WiFi (solid green LED), it may have left pairing mode — press and hold the power button for 5 seconds to restart it and re-enter pairing mode.