How do you keep track of plant information?

14 years ago

I have a habit of picking up plants without ID anyway, and I got a ton of plants from friends, plus some was just tossed, so there are a few plants in the landscape that I really have no idea about.

Since I started collecting tropicals I've tried to be a little better about keeping information. Sometimes I leave pokes in with the plant. Often I pulled tags or information off and kind of tossed it in a pile next to the planting materials.

A few months ago I started to systematically catalog information in a table format, figuring I would make one copy to put into a book (magic page photo album or something) and another copy to laminate and stick on the plant.

The table format was great for the outdoor plants I started with but now I'm noticing it isn't quite working as well for the house plants so I might have to make a different format.

I know I can always look up plant information online as long as I have the name, but I don't want to do that ALL the time. I'm just not sure if this way is going to work.

Any suggestions or experiences with keeping plant information handy and useful?

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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

14 years ago

I keep accurate & detailed records on all my plants, though I have found a way to simplify the process and minimize the amount of time and effort it takes to keep these records up to date. I decided that for my purposes, there were only three areas that warranted the keeping account of what my plants were doing & when. The careful selection of these three areas was key in freeing up my time to pursue plant interests aside from record-keeping.

Each time a plant leaves the growing bench without authorization, I mark it down. I strictly enforce the "three strikes & you're out" rule - I simply don't have time to be chasing after plants all day. The "three strikes" strategy seems to be working as the incidence of AWOL plants is very low this year.

2) When a plant pitches a fit & stops transpiring until it turns brown, I make a mental note of it. Before placing a "black mark" on the record, the plant is first put on notice that if it doesn't mend it's ways, it will be discarded, along with its own special page in my book of records. Often, just one quick trip to anywhere in the near vicinity of the compost pile is all it takes to correct this aberrant behavior.

3) Plants that pretend they are suffering for trite reasons (like lack of water or fertilizer, insect infestations or pesky diseases) will be threatened with the same three strikes rule as outlined in example #1. I remind them with something like "There are millions of starving plants in China - so you don't have it so bad". I often tell them if they don't straighten up they will have to wait until spring to be fed. At this time, I still don't mark anything down, choosing instead to put the plants and their records from example #1 in plain view; the obvious implication here being "You could be in their shoes". This usually gets them (and me) through 'til spring without having to mark anything down - but I would if I had to!!!

Let me know, please, if you have need of additional aid in structuring your own set of records.

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Comments (7)

bunnygurl
14 years ago
I'm relatively old school using good ol' pen and paper in a binder. I use my digital camera to take pics of each plant I get, print them on my printer, tape them onto a piece of paper and write down all the info like, the name of the plant - both botanical and common - date acquired, date the pics were taken, description of the plant, what conditions the plant likes and then details on what size container it's in, when it was last fed, when it should be fed next and anything else of remote significance.

And I take pics often, like growth progress pics, pics of any flowers, when I repot or pot up a plant, any problems and the like. It works for me seeing as how I don't have that many plants, but it may get overwhelming if a person has thousands.

I don't like labels in the pots. For some reason those just drive me nuts. What I do with seeds that I plant is I write the name on a little piece of paper, cut it out and tape it to the side of the pot. I like pen, paper and tape. What can I say?

The only thing I really do on the computer is the feeding schedule but even that gets copied onto paper with pen 'cause God knows I've had my comp crash on me enough times therefore losing everything.

Good luck.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
14 years ago
Back in 'the day', when I was trying to learn the Latin (and common) names of hundreds of tropicals (in college), I used to write the names on a label...usually wooden Popsicle sticks or tongue depressers. I would also keep a detailed notebook on the plants, each with their optimum growing conditions, propagation techniques, and pest problems.

You can find permanent ink pens for this purpose. The wooden stakes looked better, in my measly opinion, than white labels.
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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
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I keep a couple journals, as well.
I have a "master list" of all my plant species, quantities of each, and a note to whom certain plants or cuttings have gone.
I keep track of when I re-pot or prune, when the first buds break, when leaf-color begins to change, et cetera.

I take pictures of everything, too.

Josh
birdsnblooms
14 years ago
Every year, I get a, 193 page, Daily Planner from Birds & Blooms Magazine.
From page 16-38, lists a Monthly Calendar and Monthly Reminders..
On the calender side, I enter, yes with a pen, lol, days plants are fertilized, ST'd, etc, and which plants are in bloom.
To the right under Monthly Reminders I jot down, Nurseries or stores a plant is purchased, Name of Plant and dates plant is purchased. If there's enough room, I describe the plant..eg, number of leaves, height and condition.

I stopped using labels long ago, but recently decided to restart..Name of plant on one side, and date purchased on the other.
BTW, I use a water-proof marker, otherwise, after 'x' amounts of watering, information is 'deleted,' um smeared. lol.

I thought about starting a computer program, but to be honest, I find it easier the old-fashioned way, though a program isn't a bad idea. My fear is losing information when my computer kicks the bucket..although info can be stored on a disc..Toni

Whichever way is easier and makes one comfortable is the best way.

Also, it's nice looking back.. Toni
drvongirl
14 years ago
Wow, some of you really keep detailed list, I'm impressed!I keep the name of the plant, when it was last watered and fertilized, I think I will start writing down the time it was purchased so I can know how long I have had it. With so many plants, I have over 45 house plants, I used to baby the ones that were'nt doing so good along because I just couldn't bare to throw them out, now if it doesn't improve within a reasonable amount of time, out it goes and is replaced with a new one!
Ellen
User
14 years ago
At one point, I tried to keep an improvised database of my plant collection. Problem is the more plants one has (as mentioned above) the larger & more laborious a chore this becomes.

After amassing upwards of 200 plants in a studio apartment, I realized the record-keeping was becoming a project in itself; too hard to keep up w/ & stealing time I felt was better spent caring for the plants than recordkeeping.

After 10 yrs. in a Cactus & Succulent Society & in an Indoor Gardening Society AND dating a serious plant collector, my collection just got too large for this.

I reverted to plain old white plastic plant labels, written in #2 pencil, which doesn't smudge or rub off. (Old venetian blinds recycle well for this purpose.)

The most important info (to me) goes on the label:

Origin of plant (where I got it);

Date potted up (or date plante din mix if it had been water rooted);

If flowered, when

If insecticide used (like systemic Marathon), date & manner of application

Date & circumstance of repotting or potting up

Type of mix (if mine or someone else's)

Also, I learned a great trick from a dear friend. She places TWO labels in her pots. One regularly visible & the other way down under the mix in bottom of pot. Then a year or 2 later when repotting, she comes across the original, buried label which has often saved her if the original label was lost or broken (they dry out & can become brittle). Brilliant idea Crassulady Norma, thanks for sharing it!

How do you keep track of plant information?

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

Comments (7)

bunnygurl

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

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