diff --git a/init_db.py b/init_db.py
index b3ea5a9..4e40954 100644
--- a/init_db.py
+++ b/init_db.py
@@ -1,12 +1,33 @@
 from app import app, db, User
 from flask_migrate import upgrade
+from sqlalchemy import text
 
 def init_db():
     with app.app_context():
-        # Create all tables
-        db.create_all()
-        # Run any pending migrations
-        upgrade()
+        try:
+            # Try to run migrations first
+            upgrade()
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Migration error (this is normal if tables exist): {e}")
+            
+            # Check if section_id column exists in plant table
+            try:
+                result = db.session.execute(text("SELECT section_id FROM plant LIMIT 1"))
+                print("section_id column exists")
+            except Exception:
+                print("Adding section_id column to plant table")
+                try:
+                    # Add section_id column if it doesn't exist
+                    db.session.execute(text("""
+                        ALTER TABLE plant 
+                        ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS section_id INTEGER 
+                        REFERENCES section(id)
+                    """))
+                    db.session.commit()
+                    print("Added section_id column successfully")
+                except Exception as e:
+                    print(f"Error adding section_id column: {e}")
+                    db.session.rollback()
         
         # Create default admin user if it doesn't exist
         admin = User.query.filter_by(username='admin').first()