What's your Orchid Diary?

[Sugar Magnolia]

So how does everyone keep their orchid diary? ..like where and when ya got it, name, blooming, fertilizing schedule, repotting, etc.

[patticake]

I just keep a running list of what I have. Many of them I remember where or when I got them, but I'm not a really organized person. When I get a new chid, I add it to my computer list. when one "bites the dust" I delete it. That way I always have a current list.

[kmarch]

I used ot keep a special sheet I made out for ever orchid but when I got a lot, it was just too much work so I stopped. I don't keep any sort of diary now.

[Orchidementia]

It's all in my head. Probably should write it down somewhere in case ... well, just in case.

[myorchid]

I keep a list on the computer, adding my new ones. I write the date I got it, where I got it, how it looks, and where I put it. I add things as they change.

So far it is working for me.

[kid a]

I used to have log sheets for each plant where I kept all my notes in detail but it became to tedious and my then 3 yr old got ahold of them and colored on them so I tossed em out. I started doing a blog to keep track of exciting moment I wanted to remember or things I though might be useful for next year. Of course anything exciting is always posted here and on facebook first, so I am a usually a week behind or so behind on the blog when some finally gets posted tot he blog. But I like it becasue I can look by month & year to see what was happening, I can store all my orchid photos on there, and I actually have three followers lol. That's not a whole lot but at least a few people enjoy reading it or find it useful. There are some other blogs on there that I follow of orchid growers as well. I also especially like the idea of keeping an onine blog becasue my son can't scribble all over it, I can't spill water on it and ruin it, and just in case of a fire or something all my photos are stored on there. My blog link is my signature below

[mehitabel]

I keep a three ring notebook in three sections.

One is alphabetical for quickly looking something up or making sure I really do or don't have it. Here I list the name, where and when bought, the cross, and the species ancestry.

A second section is arranged by pot size, and there I keep a note of when potted up, and when new leaves appear. This is useful so far.

The third section is for general notes on things-- the weather, any new ideas or insights, etc etc.

Someday I might put this on a computer.

[janet_a]

got a little blank book for christmas one year. i had been jotting the plants down on bits of paper, and finally put them all in the book. i just keep name, who i got it from, grower, date, a brief description, and when it dies or i give it away. comes in handy when i realize that every plant i got from a particular grower/nursery has had cooties and died, or every one of a particular type has died. keeps me from making future purchasing mistakes.

[ALJ]

My "diary" is a notebook where I document each orchid's name (I also make up my own names for them ), when I got it, the dates I water/fertilize and any observations that are important (i.e. leaves turning brown, repotting, change in lighting or insecticide applied). I only have 25 'chids so it works for now. I also take pictures which I store on my computer to go along with my observations for future reference. Just in case my memory goes bad, which it often does. I also have a few pages in the back dedicated to my wish list. For the wish list alone I might need a new book!!

[CharliesAngel51]

Sometime around the first of the year there was a thread asking basically the same thing. I don't remember who started it. Someone posted a link to what they used and I adapted the idea. I have 2 pages for each orchid. One is for the name and description of it, date and place purchased. It also has a place for notes ie re pot, bloom and etc. The other page is strictly a chart for recording when and how I water, feed and etc. I use symbols for this so I can get a lot of info in a small space.

I keep all of this in a 3 ring notebook. Each of my orchids has a number. This number is on the pot also on each info page. My notebook is divided by Genera. All of my Phal are in the section for phals along with the culture sheet for them. Each Genera has it's own section. Since my collection is small I am able to keep up with this. I know this wouldn't be good for anyone with a large collection. Too time consuming. For now it works for me.

I also take a picture of each orchid when I first get it.

[syndywindy]

I have my son helping me as I am so computer stupid. He set up a program for me to enter all my orchids and any information I want to record, etc. I include a photo of each orchid, when bought, from whom, light requirements, watering needs,repotting, etc. As of right now, it's still a work in progress and he tweaks things for me as I come up with some catagory I hadn't thought of. As my collection grows, and I get everything into the computer, then I can burn a CD.

[maria1971]

Here's my system thus far:

My stuff is divided into binders:

Binder #1:

* Orchid care log: this is where i put watering, fertilizing, potting, etc. of all my orchids combined

* Orchid Seedling log: this is where I keep everything related to the seedlings that I 'm growing

* Inventory sheets: I have a spreadsheet for every type of orchid, ie. catts, phals, vandas, miniatures etc, laelias etc.

Each inventory sheet contains the following information:
-name
-vendor
-when purchased
-bloom color
-bloom history
-initial size/culture information
-new/current culture information

* Supplies Needed List:
-I keep a running list of the supplies that I need so that I remember to buy.

* Orchid Wish list:

-I also keep a typed wish list, organized by grower/vendor.

Binder #2:
*Culture sheets from the Bakers. These are general culture sheets if I have only one or two of the same species. If I start getting 3 or more, they go to their own binder, so therefore, I have

Binder#3: species cattleyas (I plan to put the inventory thereof in their respective binder)

Binder #4: Mexican Laelias

binder #5: Brazilian Laelias

Binder #6: Rupicolous Laelias

Binder #7: Renantheras

Binder #8: Coelogynes

*random articles/information goes in their respective binder.


I need to get more organized though. UGH.

[Sugar Magnolia]

WOW! So many different ideas going on here! Personally, I am doing the "it's all in my head" diary. It's starting to get outta hand so I'm about to start something formal. I keep so much info on the puter, but it's so scattered that I can't find anything quickly.
I usually post everything on my myspace or facebook when I get it. I think it may be starting to alienate me from everyone though. lol.
Thanks everyone for posting the great ideas!!

[solay]

I wish I was more organized. I try to keep everything on a memory stick with pics. and names but lately with so many new plants I've gotten behind.

One day I may try again to be up to date with my list.

[fred]

I thought this topic was covered in another thread
has someone got a link to that
as some geeks have and use alot of different methods

[Sugar Magnolia]

Originally Posted by fred

I thought this topic was covered in another thread
has someone got a link to that
as some geeks have and use alot of different methods

?? I didn't know what else to call it but a "diary". Not finding anything in the search... if I'm using it correctly. Would love to see more!

[jay]

I use Cattleya-log. It is easy to use and to customize. I even keep it on a thumb drive so I can open it from any computer.

[bemarine]

I just keep a calender of when I watered them, since some are biweekly etc. I usually write when I made the Worm Tea and used Essentials/Companion etc.

[PhalPal]

I just recently made a list of all my orchids (as I was repotting them) and included when I purchased them, when (and if) they passed away, last time repotted and date of last bloom. I typed it all into Excel so it is easy to rearrange the list to what is important to me at the time. When an orchid goes to Heaven I don't delete it; I want to know what I killed and maybe why so I keep it on the list with pertinent notes.

I still use the 'write on a calendar' method of record keeping. I write an 'F' for fertilizer day, Cal-Mag for Cal Mag day, etc. I spent too many years as a nurse charting every breath to translate it to my hobby!

I didn't keep any records at all until I found myself buying orchids that I already had.

[tangers40]

wonderful ideas everybody. i need to start some kind of logs or record keeping for my plants as well but haven't gotten around to it...it's been on my to-do list for months now. i have something similar for my fish and it's great to keep track of important things that i may not otherwise remember. same goes for my orchids. i might combine some of everybody's ideas to make mine work for my situation. thanks!

[plucker]

I use Excel and have different tabs for different types. Everything can be added and I include prices, flower dates and durations, size, color both flower and plant, crosses used to make it, year registered etc.

It does save a fair bit of confusion when looking at potential new purchases, saving doubling up.

Every now and then I do a stocktake, to recheck plant sizes and potential flowers.

I do a backup regularly on other media, since this sheet has taken lots of time.

[Witchypoo]

I made a database, and for each orchid I have fields for photo; name; date received; where I got it from; and a field for notes where I can place other details eg medium planted in; first bloom. For those that havenever flowered yet I place a photo of my plant with an inset of the pic of what it should look like-I do that using Paint Shop Pro. It works for me.
WP

[janet_a]

maria-- WOW. very impressive.

yes, there was a thread on this. no, i don't know where it went. (helpful, amn't I?)

as for fertilizer--i have a pad that i jot down when i fertilize and when i start dry rests on, that sort of thing.

and i take photos of the plants in bloom and stick a photo in the back of the book for future ID purposes if i lose a tag.