The context of the following conversation is Alex kept pace with the growth of their plants by giving it water everyday for weeks.:
Alex says I finished the plant experiment this week..
The friend responds How did that go?.
Alex responds Well, they kept growing and every time they did I had to water them..
The friend responds How did you keep pace with them?.
Alex responds I set up an automatic watering system.  It ran for several weeks..
The friend responds Wow, that's clever..