Orchidwiz - Orchid Board

ronaldhanko · #1 11-11-2010, 03:22 PM

Can someone give me information on Orchidwiz. I have two questions:

(1) How useful is the Journal feature for keeping a database of one's own plants? Is it a full database or does it allow just some basic information? Can it be modified by the user? Does anyone have a screenshot of this feature/

(2) How is it on species? From what I've seen it's really heavy on hybrids and information on them and now very complete on species.

Becca · #2 11-11-2010, 07:14 PM

Hi Ron! I don't currently have a screen shot of the journal feature, but I feel it is very complete! You are able to modify things, like if the drop down list doesn't contain your potting medium, you can add your own to the list. I'm surprised there isn't a trial version for you to try on their website. As far as species, well I've never noticed that it was more heavy on hyrbids then species. I really haven't had problems looking anything up. If you have a challenge for the program, let me know and I'll see what I can look up on it for you!

I do have to say, while I love the program and the journal, I'm a slacker when it comes to entering my plants into the the journal. I have maybe 20 out of 70+ orchids entered...lol. I feel that is is time consuming, but I think thoroughly entering a plant into any data base would still be time consuming. Hope this helps!

ronaldhanko · #3 11-11-2010, 09:22 PM

Becca,
They have a downloadable trial version, but it is very incomplete and doesn't show the journal at all.

Becca · #4 11-11-2010, 10:40 PM

Well if there is anything I can do to help let me know! I don't think I could take a screen shot as I wouldn't know how to save it and send it.

Brotherly Monkey · #5 11-11-2010, 11:41 PM

Ron, if I remember correctly, camilla(sp) previously mentioned that their species information was essentially the culture sheets that the Bakers produced

In fact, just let me post a link to that thread, since it essentially deals with the same topic:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...t-species.html

camille1585 · #6 11-12-2010, 09:15 AM

Yes, the species information is essentially the Baker sheets, although I think there are a few other things tossed in. I use OW mainly for species culture information. The hybrid info is good, (but the culture info is very limited so you have to look up the main species in it to get some idea on how to grow it), but I really like the tabs on the species composition of each and the family trees. I'm not so much into all the award stuff.

As for the journal, hard to say how good it is since I have no other databases to compare it with. Personally I like it very much, although I'm not making full use of it since I don't have time to enter all my orchids in it, and little time to update the journal. I do like that you can add your own photos to it. I don't know what you mean by 'full database', so I'm getting some screenshots for you that I'll post as soon as I'm done.

camille1585 · #7 11-12-2010, 10:15 AM

Ok, here's some screenshots of the journal. I might be missing some features since I haven't had the time to install the June and September updates that I recieved while away working in the USA.

1 is the journal entry of a specific plant

2 is the event journal for that plant where you can list everything that happens to the plant. There's a drop down list of events to chose from, but you can add your own as well.

3 is the general journal list, when you can sort your orchids according to different culture requirements, or by rest period requirement, or alphabetically or whatever.

If you already have an excel orchid list, apparently there is a way to import the list into Orchidwiz

That being said, I think I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon putting this journal to some use and actually finish putting all my orchids in it, and completing their entries!

ronaldhanko · #8 11-12-2010, 11:49 AM

Thanks ever, ever so much Camille. That was exactly what I needed to see. I have a copy that I won in an auction and was deciding whether to use it or dispose of it. Think I'll probably install it.

quiltergal · #9 11-12-2010, 05:08 PM

Ron, I've found mine very useful. I only have 81 or so orchids so it's a little easier for me to keep things up to date. I do my journal entries weekly after I've watered while the new developments are still fresh in my mind. On plants like my Masdies which are constantly in and out of bloom I stopped journaling everything. Too much trouble and the journal would be pages and pages long. Now for those I only note when I repot, or something else that is out of the ordinary. You can import photos of your own plant to your plant list.

I think there is actually more culture information on species than on hybrids. I also really like that it tells you when a plant has been renamed, and also gives all the synonyms.

BikerDoc5968 · #10 11-12-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Thanks ever, ever so much Camille. That was exactly what I needed to see. I have a copy that I won in an auction and was deciding whether to use it or dispose of it. Think I'll probably install it.

Hey Ron, had I know this, I would have had you send it to me and I'd be a sport and pay the postage...