How We Review Plant Care Articles
Every article on Greg is written with AI assistance and reviewed by a plant scientist before publication. Here's exactly what that process looks like.
Step 1
Species data collection
Before any writing begins, we pull the botanical profile for the species from Greg's database. The relevant attributes depend on the topic, but typically include:
• Growth pattern (upright, spreading, vining, rosette)
• Branching structure (apical dominance, lateral bud behavior)
• Growth rate and mature size
• USDA hardiness zones
• Dormancy period and growing season
• Drought stress tolerance
• Flowering habit (bloom timing, flower position)
• Known toxicity (ASPCA classification, affected species)
These attributes come from Greg's botanical database, maintained by our team and cross-referenced against USDA PLANTS, university cooperative extension programs, and the Royal Horticultural Society.
Step 2
AI-assisted draft
An AI model generates the first draft using the species data as input. The draft follows a structured template specific to the article topic (pruning, watering, toxicity, etc.).
We use AI because we cover over 10,000 plant species. Writing original articles for each from scratch isn't feasible. But the AI draft is a starting point, not the finished product.
Step 3
Botanist review
A plant scientist on Greg's team reviews the draft against the species data. The review is topic-specific. Here's what we check for the topics where accuracy matters most.
Toxicity articles
Classification accuracy
Does our toxicity classification match ASPCA Poison Control and published toxicology data?
Affected species
Are the correct animals and risk groups identified (cats, dogs, children)?
Toxic compounds
Are the named compounds (calcium oxalates, saponins, cardiac glycosides) correct for this plant?
Symptom accuracy
Do described symptoms match published case reports?
Severity framing
Is the severity appropriately communicated? We don't overstate mild irritants or understate genuinely dangerous plants.
Benefits and edibility articles
Health claims
We do not publish unverified health or medicinal claims. Traditional uses are noted as cultural context, not medical advice.
Edibility accuracy
Is the edibility classification correct? Are preparation requirements noted where relevant?
Sourcing
Are claims backed by published ethnobotanical or nutritional research?
All other topics
For watering, fertilizing, soil, light, propagation, and other care topics, the reviewer verifies that recommendations match the species' documented care requirements in Greg's database and are consistent with published horticultural guidance.
If the draft contains errors, the reviewer corrects them. Where explicit source data is missing or incomplete, we use first principles to fill in the gaps.
Step 4
Publication and updates
After review, the article is published with the reviewer's name and credentials, the species data points the review was based on, and the date of the most recent review.
We re-review articles when our underlying species data is updated, when users report inaccuracies, or when new horticultural research changes best practices. The "Last updated" date on each article reflects the most recent review, not just a cosmetic edit.
Who reviews our content
Kiersten Rankel M.S.
Botanical Data Lead at Greg
Kiersten holds a Master of Science in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University and is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist. She reviews all articles across every care category before publication.
Our data sources
Greg's botanical database
Species-specific growth data, care parameters, and user-reported outcomes from our community of plant owners
USDA PLANTS Database
Hardiness zones, native range, conservation status
ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Pet toxicity classifications
University cooperative extension programs
Regional care guidance, pest/disease identification, pruning techniques
Royal Horticultural Society
Cultivation advice, plant classification
How to report an error
If you find incorrect information in any Greg article, email support@greg.app. We investigate every report and update the article if the correction is warranted.