FloraSpotter

Handbook & Help Center

FloraSpotter handbook — from basics to Expert

Guides for the scanner, EXIF upload, map, Green Directory, botanical gardens, garden, exchange, FloraPoints and the expert handbook.

Multi-ScannerMap SpotterTrade & BoGaMy GardenPlant exchangeFloraPoints & loyaltyExpert handbook

Multi-Scanner & AI diagnosis

Take a photo, identify the species, check health — in one pass.

Your benefit: You save lookup time and get instant clarity on what is growing in front of you and how to care for it.

  • Photo scan

    Several shots from different angles improve accuracy. AI provides common and botanical names, rarity and a short profile.

  • Disease check

    Odd leaves or spots? Diagnosis mode estimates causes and suggests concrete countermeasures.

  • Mushrooms & herbs

    Identify fruiting bodies and kitchen herbs from a photo — with species name, traits and clear safety notes.

  • EXIF photo upload (offline & retro)

    Upload photos with GPS metadata — even from offline trips or afterwards. FloraSpotter reads EXIF coordinates and places the pin on the world map. Ideal for retro entries and tours without signal. You choose whether location metadata is used; without EXIF GPS you can set the spot manually.

Map Spotter & rarities

The world map shows finds, the Green Directory, urban gardening, parks, geocaches and tours — filterable and explorable.

Your benefit: Discover nearby spots, businesses and community gardens, plan routes, use plant radar and see what really grows on site.

  • World map

    Zoom from globe view to street block. Clusters and pins show spottings with photos and profiles.

  • Species & nature conservation

    Community spots on the world map are shown with a 50-metre accuracy radius for species and nature conservation (protecting sensitive wild plant sites).

  • Search filters

    Categories, rarity and keywords narrow the map — including the Green Directory, urban gardening, parks & community gardens and flora caches.

  • Geocaching discovery tours

    Enable the geocaching layer and follow flora caches on the map. Discover hidden spots, log finds and plan discovery tours — solo or with the community.

  • World route planner

    With PRO you plan routes to multiple spots worldwide: set order, estimate distance and walk the tour on the map — also with offline maps.

  • Plant radar (proximity alert)

    Enable plant radar: when you approach nearby pins, your device vibrates (if allowed). Ideal while walking — without staring at the screen. Location is used locally for proximity; you can turn the alert off anytime.

  • Urban gardening, parks & community gardens

    Create or discover urban gardening spots, parks and community gardens under Gardens & places. Add opening hours and a short description so others know when and why the place is worth a visit.

  • Green Directory

    Nurseries, tree nurseries, horticultural businesses and markets list themselves completely free — with business type, name, location, description and link. Listings appear in the app and on the world map.

Green trade & botanical gardens

Free B2B visibility for the green trade — Enterprise tools for botanical gardens.

Your benefit: Businesses find customers on the map; partner gardens maintain a living collection in staff mode.

  • Free Green Directory

    Nurseries, tree nurseries, horticultural businesses and markets add name, location, description and website completely free. No PRO required — the listing sits directly on the world map.

  • Enterprise for botanical gardens

    Staff photograph plant signs on site, AI reads names and attributes, GPS drops the pin. Living collection with custom fields and media gallery — for botanical partner gardens, not part of the personal PRO plan.

My Garden & collection

Your digital plant archive — from wishlist to bed planning.

Your benefit: Keep stock, wishes and care in view — without paper chaos.

  • Digital collection

    Save specimens with photos, location notes and AI profile. Sort by My Plants, wishlist or saved info.

  • Exact own locations

    Private pins, your own collection entries and plant-exchange listings are located meter-exact for users and trade partners.

  • Care reminders

    With FloraSpotter PRO, watering and care tips remind you in time before leaves droop.

Plant exchange

Share and find cuttings and plants with the community.

Your benefit: Grow your collection sustainably and connect with like-minded people nearby.

  • Post offers

    List cuttings, seeds or surplus plants — with photo, description and desired trade.

  • Location for trade partners

    Private pins, your own collection entries and plant-exchange listings are located meter-exact for users and trade partners.

  • Direct contact (PRO)

    PRO members message sellers directly — faster handovers, less back and forth.

FloraPoints, ranks & loyalty bonus on PRO

Community contributions earn FloraPoints — and with rank your PRO price drops permanently.

Your benefit: You are rewarded for strengthening the community: higher ranks automatically unlock better monthly and yearly FloraSpotter PRO prices.

  • Earn FloraPoints

    Public spots on the world map give +10 FloraPoints. Sharing the app once on social media gives +20 FloraPoints and the Flora Ambassador badge. Private collection, your garden and the exchange itself give no FloraPoints — fair play with daily limits.

  • Climb ranks

    From Seedling (0 FloraPoints) via Sprout (100), Gardener (300), Collector (750) to Exotic Master (1500 FloraPoints): the more FloraPoints, the higher your rank. Rank ups appear in profile and achievements.

  • Permanent discount price

    Only Standard is bookable (3,99 €/month or 39,90 €/year — equals 3,33 €/month). Advanced (2,99 € / 29,90 €, equals 2,50 €/month) and Master (1,99 € / 19,90 €, equals 1,66 €/month) are locked loyalty tiers — unlock from 750 FloraPoints or 1500 FloraPoints, not sold separately. The discount applies automatically to monthly and yearly plans. The yearly plan is cheaper than paying monthly; under the yearly price you see the effective monthly price (e.g. Standard equals 3,33 € / month). Details in the Terms and under /pricing.

Expert Mode · PRO

Expert handbook: pro tools in detail

With Expert Mode and FloraSpotter PRO you get the fertilizer engine, light assistant, volume estimation (LiDAR/AI photo) and the hemisphere clock. This handbook covers purpose, how-to and limits — practical, not jargon-heavy.

Enable Expert Mode

Expert Mode unlocks the pro strip in the map legend. You get gold tools for fertilizer, light and volume — each as a dedicated Expert Tool, not a playground.

  • Turn on Expert Mode in profile or via the Expert chip
  • PRO subscription required for full unlock
  • Tools open one at a time, focused on one job
  • Settings are saved in the plant journal

Fertilizer engine (NPK & substrates)

The fertilizer engine derives a transparent NPK guidance from plant profile, pot volume, growth phase and substrate — including pro substrate recommendations. Less guesswork, documented in the journal.

  • NPK suggestions by phase (growth, bloom, rest)
  • Pro substrates and mixes for exotic plants
  • Accounts for pot volume and concentration
  • Save as guidance — always adjust with judgment

Light assistant

The light assistant helps judge site and lighting: live sensor (where available) or manual input. Plan natural light and grow lights without requiring expensive meters.

  • Live sensor vs. manual estimate modes
  • Target ranges for hours and intensity
  • Tips on shade, windows and grow lights
  • Config stays attached to the plant

LiDAR & AI photo volume

Where the device allows, LiDAR supports volume/pot estimates; otherwise AI approximates from photos. Results feed fertilizer and care — as estimates, not lab values.

  • LiDAR on supported devices
  • AI photo fallback without a sensor
  • Better basis for dose and substrate amount
  • Always cross-check with tape or experience

Hemisphere clock

The hemisphere clock aligns care and fertilizer rhythms with season and hemisphere (north/south). Rest and growth windows stay consistent for travel and worldwide collections.

  • Accounts for north vs. south hemisphere
  • Seasonal cues for fertilizing and watering
  • Fits showcases and global collections
  • Not a substitute for local weather watching

Expert tools are fully usable with Expert Mode on and FloraSpotter PRO (or admin). Without PRO, gold tools appear dimmed; tapping opens “PRO members only”. All calculations are decision aids — not a growth guarantee (see Terms).

Want more freedom with PRO?

Community spots: 50 m protection radius for species and nature conservation. Your collector pins, private finds and exchange listings: meter-exact. Plus FloraPoints loyalty bonus: Standard is bookable; Advanced & Master unlock with FloraPoints (automatic discount, not sold separately).

View FloraSpotter PRO