Turn Your Phone into a Plant Identifier

If you’ve ever found yourself admiring a plant on the street, in a park, or even in your backyard without having any idea what species it was, you’re not alone.

The good news is that nowadays, with the help of technology, identifying plants is as easy as taking a photo with your phone.

Plant identification apps are a real lifesaver for nature lovers, whether as a hobby or profession.

These apps offer a world of information right at your fingertips, allowing you to discover curiosities about the flora around you quickly and in a fun way.

Let’s explore some of the best apps for this, like PictureThis and Seek by iNaturalist, and see how they can transform the way you interact with nature.

PictureThis

PictureThis is one of the most popular apps when it comes to plant identification. With a huge database and a user-friendly design, it allows you to identify plants in seconds simply by pointing your phone’s camera. The app also offers detailed information about the plant, including care tips and specific characteristics.

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Key Features:

• Instant Plant Identification: Take a photo of the plant you want to identify, and PictureThis does the rest. The app compares the image with its database, which includes over 10,000 species, and gives you an accurate response in just a few seconds.
• Plant Care Tips: Besides identifying, the app also helps you care for the plants. It provides information on the best ways to water, prune, and keep the plant healthy, according to the species.
• Problem Diagnosis: Noticed that your plant isn’t looking too good? PictureThis can help with that too. The app analyzes the plant’s condition and offers suggestions to fix issues like pests or nutrient deficiencies.

PictureThis is ideal for both beginners and long-time enthusiasts, making plant care much more accessible and fun.

Seek by iNaturalist

Seek by iNaturalist is an incredible option for those who want to learn more about the biodiversity around them. Created in partnership with National Geographic, this app is perfect not only for identifying plants but also animals, fungi, and much more. It uses your phone’s camera to identify species with the help of the iNaturalist community, which feeds the app’s database.

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Key Features:

• Species Identification by Photo: Just like PictureThis, Seek allows you to take a photo of the plant or animal you want to identify, and the app quickly gives you an answer. The database is vast and is constantly updated by the scientific community and users worldwide.
• Observation Challenges: Seek goes beyond simple identification by offering observation challenges that encourage users to explore different species and habitats. Each time you identify a new species, you earn a badge, making the experience even more fun and educational.
• Detailed Species Information: After identifying a plant, Seek provides a complete profile with information such as natural habitat, flowering season, and unique characteristics. This helps enrich your knowledge of the natural world.

Seek by iNaturalist is perfect for those who want to dive deep into the world of botany and zoology, with an educational and gamified approach.

How to Enable These Apps on Your Phone

Getting started with these amazing apps is super simple:

1. Access the App Store: If you’re using Android, go to the Google Play Store. If you’re an iPhone user, open the App Store.
2. Search for the App Name: Type “PictureThis” or “Seek by iNaturalist” in the search bar.
3. Download the App: Click on “Install” and wait for the download to complete.
4. Open the App: After installation, open the app and follow the setup instructions. Usually, you’ll need to grant camera access for the app to identify plants.
5. Explore and Have Fun: Now, just start taking photos and learning more about the plants and other living things you encounter!

Conclusion

Apps for identifying plants, such as PictureThis and Seek by iNaturalist, are powerful tools that transform the way we interact with the natural environment.

They not only make species identification easier but also encourage learning and care for nature.

Whether to satisfy your curiosity, better care for your garden, or join a global community of nature enthusiasts, these apps are indispensable companions.

So, the next time you come across an unknown plant, don’t hesitate to grab your phone and let technology guide you on this botanical journey.