Plant Pal

Sensor integration in app
Add Mockup
Working model
1st Prototype
Website page

Inspiration

We were inspired by the everyday struggle of keeping houseplants healthy, especially for busy people or those new to plant care. Watching plants wilt due to forgotten watering or poor sunlight reminded us how helpful it would be to have a reliable assistant who ensures every plant thrives. We wanted to create something that helps people care for their plants but also helps them learn about their unique needs in a simple, user-friendly way.

What it does

Plant Pal is a smart plant care assistant that connects to a device with soil moisture and light sensors. It continuously monitors real-time data to give personalized care recommendations based on each plant’s needs. Users can easily pair the device with the app via QR code, receive instant notifications about watering schedules and lighting conditions, and explore a plant database for tailored insights. Users can also add plant names to track individual care routines.

How we built it

Hardware: We used an ESP32 microcontroller as the brain of the device, connecting it with a DHT11 sensor for temperature and humidity data, an LDR (light-dependent resistor) to monitor light levels, a soil moisture sensor to track soil health, and LEDs for visual plant status indicators. We also integrated an OLED display to show live sensor readings directly on the device.

Software & Backend: For the backend, we built a Flask server to handle data processing and communication between the hardware and the app.

Frontend: We developed the app using JavaScript and React Native, creating a smooth, responsive interface for users to view real-time plant health updates and receive notifications.

Deployment: We hosted the backend and connected services using Replit, which allowed us to manage our domain and deploy the project efficiently.

Challenges we ran into

Soldering components: Ensuring stable connections between all sensors and the ESP32 required careful soldering, and troubleshooting loose connections took time.

Setting up the environment: Configuring the development environment for hardware and software, especially syncing the ESP32 with our backend, posed initial difficulties.

Backend and frontend integration: Ensuring the Flask backend communicated smoothly with the React Native frontend was challenging, especially with real-time data updates.

Frontend configuration: Designing and adjusting the frontend interface to meet our functional needs and ensure a user-friendly experience required multiple iterations.

Integrating sensor data into the app: Mapping raw sensor data to meaningful insights within the app took significant effort, including calibration and data formatting for display.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully built a fully functioning prototype that connects hardware to an intuitive app.

Designed a smooth and easy pairing process using QR codes.

Created a user-friendly experience that demystifies plant care, even for beginners.

Developed a scalable database to support more plants as we grow the platform.

What we learned

The importance of precise sensor calibration and testing in different real-world conditions.

Creating an efficient data flow from hardware to app with minimal latency.

The value of user-centric design in making tech feel approachable and helpful.

Small features like QR pairing and timely notifications can significantly enhance user experience.

What's next for Plant Pal

We plan to integrate an AI-powered predictive analysis model to enhance the accuracy of our insights and provide even more precise care recommendations to our users. For larger-scale users, such as farms or greenhouses, we aim to introduce weather stations that consolidate data from multiple sensors onto one centralized platform. Our ultimate goal is to build a self-improving system that continuously learns from data, making Plant Pal smarter and more helpful over time.

Built With

arduinoide
esp32
flask
javascript
perenual-api
python
react-native
replit

Submitted to

MakeNJIT 2025
- Winner Second Place

Created by

I contributed to the development of Plant Pal, a smart plant monitoring system, by designing and implementing a predictive machine learning model using polynomial regression (poly2) to estimate soil moisture based on sensor data such as light intensity, temperature, and humidity over time. I collected and preprocessed real-time data from an ESP32-based sensor system, structured it for analysis using Python (Pandas), and evaluated the model using RMSE and R² metrics. In addition, I led the full-stack development of a cross-platform mobile app using React Native for the frontend and Flask for the backend, enabling users to visualize real-time plant health data, receive actionable notifications, and manage plant profiles. I implemented secure QR code-based device pairing, integrated Firebase for real-time data syncing. My work spanned both software development and machine learning integration, delivering a user-friendly and data-driven Plant Pal experience.

VeditaChoudhary Choudhary
At today's hackathon, I played a key role in bringing Plant Pal to life by contributing across multiple areas of the project. I was deeply involved in the development, helping integrate both hardware and software components. I contributed to the designing phase by working on the 3D model of the device, creating an enclosure that was both functional and user-friendly. I also took the lead on 3D printing, ensuring precise fabrication of the components.

In addition, I performed soldering to connect the electronic parts, and actively participated in the assembling process, making sure everything came together smoothly. On the software side, I supported the web development team by working on the user interface that displays real-time plant data. My role spanned across engineering, design, and execution, ensuring that Plant Pal was a fully working and well-integrated prototype by the end of the event.

Malik Tariq
I served as an all-rounder role for the team while carrying out my own side designing project for an additional auto-water dispensing system. My work was not only related to team logistics and management but also vital communication between the sub-groups. I assisted in the hardware section of the probe and was in charge of all designing and workshop operations of the team. The autonomous water dispensing system worked in the end but we decided to not include it into our final project demo as the product making part of this was rushed.

Shahryar Zafar
I came up with the initial idea for Plant Pal and served as the project manager, helping to coordinate tasks and ensure we stayed on track. I focused primarily on the hardware and electronics side of the project — selecting and wiring components like the DHT11 sensor, soil moisture sensor, LDR, and OLED display. I programmed the ESP32 to read sensor data, evaluate plant health conditions, and trigger LED indicators accordingly. I also built and tested the working prototype that served as the foundation for our system’s real-world application.

Muhammad Bilal
rameel amjad