First Impressions
If you’ve ever looked at one of your houseplants and wondered whether it’s secretly plotting its own demise, this might be the product that saves it. The Willow Starter Pack is designed to take the guesswork out of plant care by giving you real-time insight into how your plants are actually doing — not just whether the soil looks dry.
Out of the box, it feels smartly put together. The pack includes one Sensor, one Hub, a USB cable, and a coin-cell battery already fitted inside the Sensor. The packaging is slim, tidy, and lightweight — it feels more like unboxing a piece of lifestyle tech than a gardening tool.
The Sensor itself has a minimal, modern look. It’s slim enough to disappear into the pot and doesn’t distract from the plant itself. I tested it on a few different pots and found that its flexible, slightly matte finish helps it blend in well. It feels thoughtfully made rather than gimmicky — exactly what you want in something that’s meant to live among your plants.
Setup & Everyday Use
Setup is straightforward and refreshingly frustration-free. You plug in the Hub via the included USB cable, connect it to your WiFi, then pair the Sensor through Bluetooth in the Willow app. The whole process takes only a few minutes before you’re up and running.
Once the Sensor is in the soil, it quietly monitors moisture, light, temperature, and humidity, sending updates to your phone. The first time you check your dashboard, you’ll probably realise how wrong your guesses usually are — I did. One plant I’d been dutifully watering turned out to be far too soggy, while another was practically begging for help.
It’s not just about moisture either. The light and humidity readings revealed which corners of my home were better suited to each plant, and I ended up rearranging a few based on what the app suggested. Within a week, they looked noticeably healthier — or maybe that’s just me finally feeling like I know what I’m doing.
Design & Build
The Sensor and Hub both carry that same minimalist, well-considered design language. The Hub is small enough to tuck discreetly behind a plant pot or on a shelf, while the Sensor’s long probe makes it suitable for most indoor pots up to about 20 cm deep.
Everything feels durable but not bulky. The Sensor’s body has a soft-touch finish that resists fingerprints and dust, and it’s sealed well enough to handle a bit of moisture when watering. It also uses a standard coin-cell battery, so no odd charging cables or proprietary nonsense — just swap it out when needed.
The aesthetic is clean and neutral, which means it fits easily into most home setups. It’s more “modern apartment” than “garden shed,” which I appreciate. The Willow branding is subtle, and the whole package feels like it’s been designed to live alongside your furniture, not hidden behind it.
Performance & Practicality
Over a few weeks of testing, what struck me most was how quietly useful it is. The readings are frequent enough to feel up-to-date without nagging you, and the app’s notifications are genuinely helpful rather than intrusive.
The moisture tracking alone completely changed how I water. I found myself waiting for a proper low reading rather than sticking a finger in the soil and guessing. The light data made me realise some plants that looked fine were actually living in dim corners, and a simple relocation boosted their “happiness” almost immediately.
If you’re the type of person who forgets when you last watered something — or who keeps killing ferns and can’t figure out why — the Willow gives you just enough insight to break those habits. It doesn’t feel like over-engineering; it feels like guidance.
One small consideration: if you have very deep pots, the standard probe length may not reach the root zone fully, but Willow sells extensions for that. For typical indoor plants, the default size works perfectly.
The Verdict
The Plant With Willow Starter Pack feels like the future of houseplant care — calm, considered, and quietly clever. It bridges that gap between tech and nature in a way that feels natural rather than forced.
At around £39, it’s not a throwaway gadget, but it earns its price. You get thoughtful design, reliable data, and a genuine sense that you’re finally listening to your plants instead of guessing.
It won’t water them for you, but it will make you better at knowing when to. And for anyone who’s ever over-watered a peace lily out of love — that alone is worth it.