Orchid Record Keeping Systems

[epiphyte]

Couple of questions regarding orchid data/information management.

1. Do you keep track of your orchid data?

2. If so, what orchid information do you keep track of? (ie date acquired, acquired from, current condition, etc.)

3. What method or software or program do you use to manage and organize your orchid data? (ie physical notebook, word processing software, excel, databases, etc.)

I regret not keeping track of my orchid information when I first started growing orchids and encourage those of you just getting started with orchids to keep track of some basic information about your orchids. At the very least you should keep track of which orchids you've acquired, when you acquired them and who you acquired them from. It's also helpful to keep track of which orchids you've killed in order to avoid purchasing those same orchids in the future.

If you grow your orchids outdoors year around then I also highly recommend keeping track of temperature highs and lows that your orchids have tolerated. This information is useful for others growers contemplating growing similar orchids outdoors in climates with similar temperature fluctuations. For example, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Sydney and Cape town all have fairly similar highs and lows. If orchid growers in those locations share with each other their costly trial and error orchid success/failure information then other growers do not have to needlessly reinvent the wheel.

Currently I am using MS Access to keep track of my orchid information and was contemplating creating a simple step by step visual tutorial for using MS Access to keep track of orchid data but first wanted to see if there were enough people out there who currently have MS Access on their computers to warrant the time and effort to do so.

[fred]

nice to see this revived to see what is being used
other threads included are

keeping orchid records

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gen...ctivities.html Access Database for logging plants and activities

[Sharyn]

epiphyte: I started keeping records when I "got serious" about orchids. Presently, I'm using Excel and have taken some tips from Cynthia in using codes for certain things. She had some excellent ideas for record keeping
I'm not sure where her post is right now, but if I find it, I'll post the link.

I believe that mayres set up an Access spreadsheet or something similar that he developed. I'm not familiar with it and my collection is still under 50 and still manageable with a spreadsheet. You might p.m. him to get a copy.

Record keeping is a great help and refreshes my memory. I like to keep track of date acquired, from whom, cost, pot size, repot dates, temperatures and light required, media, spike and/or bloom dates and any pertinent facts that I might want to know at a future date. I also keep a record of my failures and what happened.

It's time consuming, but well worth the time spent.

[kmarch]

I can't give a poll answer because my option "I used to track my orchids but no longer" is not available.

1. Do you keep track of your orchid data?

I used to, but not any more.

2. If so, what orchid information do you keep track of?

When I did keep track, I kept track of everything: when and where I bought it, how much I paid, cultural notes specific to the plant, when it started new growth, when it bloomed, when I repotted, and in some instances, when it died.

3. What method or software or program do you use to manage and organize your orchid data?

I tracked everything on paper, one form for each plant. I only stopped when I got too many orchids to keep track of (for me that was about 200).

The most important thing I learned from doing this was the growing/blooming/resting cycle of my orchids. I've not really talked about this much in other threads but it's really useful to know the cycles of your orchids, when they bloom, when they grow, if or when they rest. Knowing these cycles helps us to know what care to apply.

[PhalPal]

I have a little colored tag in each pot that tells me when it last bloomed and # of spikes. If there is a new growth starting I put 1/2 a lavender tag in the pot so I can keep an eye on it AND be more careful around it.
I really don't care when I re-potted last because I just look at the pot when it is the appropriate time of year and decide if I should or shouldn't. Everyone gets fertilized on the same day and I put a little 'F' on my calendar. That's my record keeping.

I'm not a paper work person; maybe it's all those years of charting every five minutes (or more) when I worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse. I HATE paper and record keeping!!!

[jay]

I keep track of my records on Numbers, which the Apple version of Excel.
I track - purchase date, flowering, new growths, treatments, and repots.

I did purchase Cattleya-Log but have not been able to use it as it is Windows based. The license is still for sale if anyone is interested.

[Andrew]

I'm currently using a free demo version of a record keeping program. I've decided to try and set up my own Access program. As for what I record mainly use it as a back up to my labels so I really just record the name against a catalogue number + original location data, the source & date of purchase + a photo of the flower. I do find keeping such records handy especially when labels fade or you want to keep track of what's a division and what's a different clone. I don't keep track of performance etc for practical reasons (I use the back of the label for that). I usually just enter a plant when I get a new one and forget about it until I get rid of it/it gets rid of itself.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I generally donate my divisions to our orchid society for their silent auction, unless I have someone in particular in mind for the division. But, if I decide to completely get rid of a plant because of deciding the plant really isn't for me, I put it on the silent auction with an owner's asking price of what I paid for it. This is where knowing what you paid for a plant comes in. I usually buy cheap and grow the plant well enough that I have no trouble selling it. Knowing where you bought a plant from helps in judging the quality of plants from a dealer, prevents you from buying more of the same plant (variations in some species are wonderful), and when you find a plant is virused, you know who to blame.

[FLaCo]

1. Do you keep track of your orchid data?

Yes.

2. If so, what orchid information do you keep track of?

Date re-potted, when and what fertilizer (bloom booster/ or a high nitrogen), when hormones and/or insect/fungicide were applied, from buds to bloom, from bloom to fallen flowers. Small details like when spikes appear, etc.

3. What method or software or program do you use to manage and organize your orchid data?

I use a physical composition book. Although ,I want to transfer my info to Excel:Mac I just got. The only benefit about a physical notebook is the ability to take it with you as you observe the plants. So you are able to write down real-time data...small details, etc.

[PhalPal]

Carlos talk to Mayres; a while back he developed a program using Access. Unfortunately many of us don't have this software and it is pretty expensive to purchased seperately.

[epiphyte]

Thanks everybody for sharing your systems! I read through Mayres post and agree with him that using Access is considerably more effective than using Excel for keeping track of your orchids.

Sounds like he was working on setting up quite a sophisticated system. My intent wouldn't be to offer a ready made system but instead to offer a simple visual screenshot tutorial on some of the basic features and functions of Access.

Doesn't sound like there are currently enough members to warrant starting an Access tutorial thread... but if somebody is willing to send me their orchid Excel spreadsheet for me to use as an example...then I'll create the thread anyways. Basically I'd use the example spreadsheet to demonstrate step by step how to transfer your orchid data from Excel to Access. I'd also demonstrate using some of the basic features of Access like filtering by form and filtering by selection.

[Sam_Smith]

Originally Posted by PhalPal

I have a little colored tag in each pot that tells me when it last bloomed and # of spikes. If there is a new growth starting I put 1/2 a lavender tag in the pot so I can keep an eye on it AND be more careful around it.
I really don't care when I re-potted last because I just look at the pot when it is the appropriate time of year and decide if I should or shouldn't. Everyone gets fertilized on the same day and I put a little 'F' on my calendar. That's my record keeping.

I'm not a paper work person; maybe it's all those years of charting every five minutes (or more) when I worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse. I HATE paper and record keeping!!!

I thought I invented that idea, the F on the calender ,
I record when I last watered and especial when I feed, I write the month/year I repoted on the plant tag, this way I can judge how well the plant is doing 3 years from now Since I like species more then hybrids recording were I buy isn't that important to me.

Sam.

[Susan]

I started out with the free version of CattleyaLog (up to 5 plants) and of course quickly had to purchase the full version. I am very glad I did so. It allows y ou to keep track of a great number of things if you wish, or just the names of your plants and where you purchased them. I feel that one of the most interesting things to know is when the plant has flowered and how many flowers you have -- it makes it easy to know when to expect the flowers and lets you know how well you're growing when the number of flowers increase over time.

[made4engineering]

How about the "I obsess over every little detail about my orchids so it all just sticks in my head anyway" system? It works well for me

[Hummer344]

I set up an Excel program to follow my orchids then promptly didn't use it. It is now hopelessly out of date. When I move my orchids out side I will inventory them and try to set up Excel again.
On my program I had:
Type
date purchased
Date Repotted
Date spiked
Date bloomed
Date out of bloom
Notes

[psyc1210]

I take notes about once per month on what each one is doing at that time. If spiking, how long the spike is, new roots, number of buds or flowers open, etc.

I also have a separate paper with all my orchid names and month/year that I bought them.