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Noobwork Plants

Evidence-first triage

What is your plant telling you?

Start with observations, not a diagnosis. This coach helps you choose the safest next check and avoid the most common novice mistake: treating before you know the cause.

The coach does not inspect or save this image. Keep it in your camera roll for visual comparison; the journal stores only its filename.

1. What changed?

Choose 1–3 visible changes. 0 selected.

2. How does the root zone feel at representative shallow and deeper points?

For an ordinary soil-filled pot, insert a clean wooden skewer near the pot edge to about one-third and two-thirds of the pot depth, avoiding thick roots. Do not probe mounted plants, orchids in coarse bark, carnivorous plants, or other sensitive setups—use the substrate indicator appropriate to that setup or ask a local horticulturist. Choose “Not checked” if you did not make a reliable measurement.

3. Can excess water leave the pot?
4. Which plant context best matches?
5. Which container setup best matches?
6. What light does it receive?
7. Did any of these happen recently?

Your plan

Four observations can prevent a harmful guess.

Answer the questions and you will get a prioritized check, what not to do, a recheck window, and clear escalation signs.

This is decision support, not a definitive diagnosis. Species, season, pot, substrate, temperature, and local conditions can change the right action.