How to Use the Botanist in Schedule 1: Your Guide to Automating Your Drug Empire’s Growth

In Schedule 1, mastering the art of growing your own supply is the backbone of building a thriving drug empire. Launched on Steam March 24, 2025, this addictive simulator puts you in the shoes of a criminal mastermind, mixing and selling drugs to rake in cash. But watering plants by hand gets old fast—enter the Schedule 1 Botanist. This NPC employee can turn your small-time grow op into a profit-churning machine. In this Schedule 1 Botanist guide, I’ll show you how to unlock, set up, and maximize the Botanist to skyrocket your earnings. Ready to ditch the watering can? Let’s get growing!

Why the Botanist Matters in Schedule 1

Early in Schedule 1, you’re stuck planting seeds like OG Kush or Green Crack yourself, waiting 10 minutes per harvest for a measly $32-$50 profit. It’s slow, tedious, and caps your output. The Botanist changes that. For a one-time hire cost of $1000-$1500 and $200 daily wages, she automates planting, watering, and harvesting—freeing you to focus on mixing recipes like “Grandaddy Diamond” or selling to NPCs. Whether you’re a rookie or a mid-game hustler, here’s how to use the Botanist in Schedule 1 to level up fast.

Step 1: Unlock and Hire the Botanist

Before your Botanist can start tending crops, you need to bring her onboard. Here’s how:

Progress to Mid-Game: The Botanist unlocks after you’ve expanded beyond Westville, typically around the Northtown phase (10-15 hours in, depending on playstyle).
Check Ray’s Real Estate: Head to Ray’s office downtown, next to Bleuball’s Boutique. Interact with Ray, select “Hire an Employee,” and look for “Botanist” on the list.
Pay the Fee: Fork over $1000-$1500 (price varies by game RNG). She’ll then appear at your base, ready to work.

Pro tip: Save up from early sales (e.g., $50 batches of “Grandaddy Diamond”) to afford her ASAP—she’s worth every penny.

Step 2: Set Up Your Botanist’s Grow Operation

Once hired, the Botanist needs a proper workspace to shine. Here’s the setup:

Buy Grow Pots: Purchase at least 4-8 Grow Pots ($100 each) from Ray’s Real Estate or the Warehouse vendor. More pots = more plants = more profit.
Place Pots Smartly: Position them close together in your base, ideally near a Storage Rack for efficiency.
Stock Supplies: Fill a nearby Storage Rack with:
- Seeds: OG Kush ($10-$15) or Green Crack ($40-$50), depending on your budget.
- Soil: Basic Soil ($5) works, but Long-term Soil ($20) lasts longer (Botanist won’t refill it herself, though).
Assign a Bed: Use your clipboard to assign the Botanist a bed onsite. Drop $200 daily in the briefcase on her bed to keep her working.

Step 3: Assign Tasks to Your Botanist

With the setup ready, it’s time to put your Schedule 1 Botanist to work:

Open the Clipboard: Interact with the Botanist while holding your clipboard.
Set to Grow Pots: Assign her to “Grow Pots” as her primary task. She’ll automatically cycle through planting, watering, and harvesting up to 8 pots at once, as long as supplies are stocked.
Monitor Output: She’ll dump harvested plants (e.g., OG Kush) into the Storage Rack—ready for you or a Packer to process.

Note: Botanists don’t pack or move products beyond harvesting. Pair her with a Packer or Handler for a full production line.

How the Botanist Boosts Your Profits

A single Botanist can transform your cash flow. Here’s the math:

OG Kush Example:
- Cost: $15 (seed + soil) per pot.
- Yield: $32-$40 per harvest (10-minute cycle).
- Profit: $17-$25 per pot.
- With 8 pots: $136-$200 every 10 minutes, or $816-$1200 hourly—minus her $200 daily wage.
Green Crack Upgrade:
- Cost: $50 per pot.
- Yield: $100-$120 per harvest.
- Profit: $50-$70 per pot, up to $400-$560 hourly with 8 pots.

Steam players report earning $5000+ daily with two Botanists, proving she’s a mid-game game-changer.

Tips to Maximize Your Schedule 1 Botanist

Stockpile Seeds: Buy in bulk from the Warehouse (Oscar sells after 6:00 PM) to avoid downtime.
Fix AI Glitches: Community forums note Botanists can “freeze” if pots are too spread out—keep them clustered.
Scale Up: Add a second Botanist ($1500) and more pots once you’ve got $10,000+ in the bank.
Upgrade Soil: Manually swap to Long-term Soil to cut refill hassles—she’ll thank you with steady output.

Common Botanist Questions Answered

“Why isn’t my Botanist working?”
Check her bed’s briefcase—$200 must be there daily. Also, ensure Storage has seeds and soil.
“Can she mix recipes?”
No, that’s the Chemist’s job. Botanists only grow raw plants.
“Is she worth it?”
Yes—her $1500 hire cost pays off in a day with 8 pots running.

Final Thoughts: Grow Smarter with the Botanist

The Schedule 1 Botanist is your ticket to automating your grow op and scaling your empire. From hiring her at Ray’s to setting up pots and watching the cash roll in, this guide has you covered. Whether you’re harvesting OG Kush for quick bucks or Green Crack for bigger hauls, she’s your green-thumbed MVP. Got tips or questions about using the Botanist in Schedule 1? Drop them below—let’s keep those plants growing!