Orchid Record Keeping - Excel Template/s?

[Uechi]

Nothing wrong wth 50 orchids or more. Start at your own pace and start with easy to grow plants. I have some easy and some intermediate care orchids, lots of books, a spread sheet and Florida weather to help. All orchids are fascinating and most are beautifu. I prefer beauty with a nice fragrance, preferably strong.

[gmdiaz]

Originally Posted by Blondie

This is making me want to buy like 50 orchids and sit around and track them. Mmmmm....orchids.... Sadly, mine would mostly say:

Orchid still not doing anything. Check.

Order 50 news ones. . .check!

[gmdiaz]

Originally Posted by razka3

I can send you a copy of mine if you want - I got it from Gwen a little while ago. Check your private messages.

Thank you for taking care of that!

[cneos]

I made my own access database that I now use to manage 300+ plants.
There is / was a program called PlantTrakker that is pretty simple to use - includes ability to display photos in each record, similar to access. I downloaded the program from swconnection.com but a recent visit to the website does not list it anymore. You may want to e-mail Rick Hillier at support@swconnection.com to see if you can get the program. Or you can pm me and I'll send you the file.
BTW, SW makes an excellent program called "orchid show management" that many societies are using to register show plants for judging.

[Lindafvb]

Uechi, I have my 65 plants in an excel spreadsheet. I like to print it out when I go to shows so I do not buy the same ones. I also have them color coded for what's in spike; in bloom; even the dead ones remain in the old spreadsheet. I write in the blanks and update every few months. I think it is my obsessive/complusive disorder showing itself.

[cneos]

I keep the dead ones in the file too - it's a good way to remember to replace it or avoid it as a 'problem' (for me) plant

[Uechi]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who likes to keep a handle on what orchids he has and what he wants. Regards to all.

[Witcherty]

Hello to everyone! it's actually a very interesting topic.. Thank you Uechi for opening it! I'd only like to expand it a bit and ask everyone what columns you have in your spreadsheets. I,for example, keep my with Name, pic sample, date of purchase, origin, and comments (all about plant condition and what has happened to it.) I understand that you may have a more professional approach to data records, so please, can you share with us your experience?

[Uechi]

I'm not done with the form, but it currently has representative picture of the orchid temp ranges i.e Hot, intermediate and cool, Light requirements again High,medium and Low. Amount of watering required with same kind of label High, Medium etc. Fertilizer requirements, purchase date, name of grower or place of purchase, price. Type, strength and time of day of Fragrance. Ease of culture. Bloom size, bloom description, size of mature plant. Notes on culture, place of origin/county. Whether species or hybrid ( if hybrid description of cross ) media plant is cultured in and notes. On Temps, Light etc. I have symbol legend so all you have to do is put in one letter like L for Low. As I said not done yet I may add additional items or delete some. Thanks for the question. I am sure others will have things I have forgotten that should be added.

[TheNewGuy]

I just used, literally just used, Excel to make a geneological record of a hybrid that I have, hehe. I cobbled mine together myself, because it was really on the fly. I've never really thought about using Excel for all of the above suggestions, I'll have to give it a try!