I’ve recently downloaded an app called Plant Nanny, a cute and interesting app that’s a lot like taking care of a pet. Except it’s not a game, it’s like a tamagotchi without the cleaning and the games.
It’s basically an app that allows you to take care of a virtual plant alongside meeting your daily drinking water needs.
So what is Plant Nanny really all about? It’s about drinking water. And as a lot of my IRL friends know, I do not like drinking water….at all. But of course, one just cannot choose to not drink water at all. And as I’ve been constantly reminded, I need to drink more water, which is why I downloaded this app to sort of encourage me to drink more. The app works on the concept that your plant is you, so whatever amount of water you drink, it drinks. And unlike the concept that plants can die if they’re over-watered, this doesn’t work the same way with your plant on Plant Nanny. Based on your weight and activity, Plant Nanny estimates how much water you need a day, and that’s how much your plant would need to be fully healthy.
So let’s say that based on my weight and lifestyle, which is Sedentary (you choose between that, Normal, and Active), I need at least 2000mL of water a day. I choose from a variety of containers (like a drinking glass, or a tumbler) and choose an amount of water for your chosen image – let’s say 500mL. Based on my cup, I would need to drink at least 4 (500mL) cups a day. If for example I don’t seem to be drinking enough water, Plant Nanny sends you a reminder saying that your plant is thirsty. A few days ago, out of my required daily water intake, I had only 30-35%. Plant Nanny sent me a note saying that if I didn’t drink enough water the next day, my plant could die. And that within 1 day of starting the app.
Plant Nanny allows you to see your progress and track how much water you’ve taken today compared to the last couple of days. And if your plant is well-fed and happy, it eventually grows up and you can pick another plant to take care of, while your old plant gets sent to your garden. Each plant you help to mature gives you seeds, and you can use those seeds to buy other plants. Initially, the only plants for free are the Devil’s Ivy and Dandelion, but later you can use your seeds to buy a Cactus and other plants. You can also use your seeds to buy other pot designs, and background designs.
From looking around the app, I’ve discovered that you can actually use money to buy items that will help your plant grow. So if someone gets attached to their plant and doesn’t want them to die, they always have the option to spend real money to keep it alive. Not that I would though.
I was able to help my first Dandelion mature (see photo above), and now I’m onto my second plant. I’m proud to say that though I haven’t met the daily required 2.2L of water that I have to drink, I’ve been drinking so much more water. It took my plant 18 days to reach full maturity. Hopefully, the following plants will take less time? Hopefully.
Soo, if you have Plant Nanny on your phone, how do you find it?