Click on the audio player below for a discussion of this post by two AIs, in podcast format, created by Google’s NotebookLM AI.
In the sci-fi novel ‘Semiosis’ by Sue Burke (2019), we are introduced to the planet Pax and its dominant life form – Stevland – a multimillion-year-old plant. I highly recommend the novel as well as its sequel, ‘Interference’. As the story develops, the human settlers of Pax, once they realize what, and more importantly, who Stevland is, greet her with the phrase “Sunshine and water.” A wish for healthy and nutritious future days.
Reading Burke’s two novels, as well as ‘The Light Eaters’ by Zoe Schlanger (2024), fundamentally changed my relationship with my houseplants, as well as those I met while exploring the supernatural majesty of British Columbia.
So what happens when an iOS app developer and AI apprentice begins to worry about wrinkly leaves on their 35-year-old jade plant? Naturally, I checked in with AI (ChatGPT 4, the reasoning one, in this case) and got some advice.
Me: My jade plant gets wrinkly leaves like in this picture. What am I doing wrong?
ChatGPT 4o: Wrinkly or puckered leaves on a jade plant (Crassula ovata) are a classic sign of underwatering — especially when the rest of the plant looks healthy but individual leaves appear shrivelled, as in your photo.
ChatGPT 4o: Here’s what might be going wrong: <insert loads of great advice>.
ChatGPT 4o: If you correct watering and drainage, those wrinkled leaves may drop off, but new growth will come in plump and healthy.
ChatGPT 4o: Want me to help you create a watering log or quick plant care tracker for this jade?
A plant care tracker? Like the code for the app? No way! Sign me up!
Me: Yes. Create a quick plant care tracker. I’m an experienced and published iOS developer who uses Swift, SwiftUI and the MVVM design pattern.
ChatGPT 4o: Perfect, Doug! Here’s a lightweight SwiftUI app that serves as a Plant Care Tracker, tailored for your experience level. It lets you track multiple plants, log watering, and view last watered dates—designed in a scalable MVVM pattern with extensibility for reminders, fertilizing, or repotting later.
Me: Sunshine and water.
ChatGPT 4o: Creates Plant.swift (the model), PlantViewModel.swift (the view-model) and ContentView.swift (the view)
Me: Nice.
<Opens Xcode>
Click here to download a zip file of the Swift source files for this app.
Start to finish – 15 minutes.
Forefront Systems 