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After hearing that broken petunia stems could be replanted, a Hacker News user asked Claude how to do it. Following its advice, they started several new petunia plants that are now thriving, and joke that their petunias are basically immortal.
A stem has broken off my [PLANT], and I'd like to grow a new plant from it. I'm in [CLIMATE/REGION], it's [MONTH], and I have [WHAT YOU HAVE: POTS, COMPOST, ROOTING POWDER, A SUNNY WINDOWSILL]. Give me simple step-by-step instructions for taking and rooting the cutting, how to tell if it's working, common mistakes, and when to move it outside or into a bigger pot.
Replace the [PLACEHOLDERS] with your own details before you send it.
How to try it
- Tell Claude which plant it is and what you have at home.
- Follow the steps for a couple of cuttings at once, as not all of them will root.
- Check back with a photo if leaves wilt or rot, and ask what to change.
More home & family use cases
Write a firm letter to a landlord about unfixed repairs with ChatGPT
A New York tenant whose building's washer and dryer had been broken for over two years got a rent rise notice. She asked ChatGPT to act like a housing lawyer and draft a reply; it cited the local rent code, and the landlord fixed both machines that month.
Act as an experienced housing adviser. I rent in [CITY/COUNTRY]. [DESCRIBE THE REPAIR PROBLEM AND HOW LONG IT HAS LASTED]. I've reported it on [DATES]. My landlord has now [E.G. RAISED THE RENT]. Draft a firm, polite email that sets out the timeline, refers in general terms to the tenant rights that apply where I live, and asks for the repair by a specific date.
Check for a simple fix before calling out a repair engineer
A 72-year-old mum, facing a three-day wait and a £180 call-out for her washing machine, asked ChatGPT what might be wrong. It suggested a solution and she fixed it herself: it was literally a button press.
My [APPLIANCE AND MODEL] is doing this: [DESCRIBE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS, ANY ERROR CODE, LIGHTS FLASHING]. Before I book a repair, what simple causes should I rule out, such as child locks, reset buttons, filters or settings? Give me numbered steps in plain English.
Point Gemini’s camera at a home problem for step-by-step help
One homeowner uses Gemini's camera feature for repairs, saying it helped them reset their breaker panel, fix the sump pump and find the shut-off valves, like having a technician on a video call.
I'm showing you [WHAT, E.G. MY FUSE BOX / UNDER MY SINK] through my camera. I'm trying to [GOAL, E.G. RESET A TRIPPED SWITCH / FIND THE WATER SHUT-OFF]. Tell me what you can see, then guide me step by step. Tell me straight away if this is something I should leave to a professional.
Reference: Hacker News