Orchid Collection Database (OCD) - ideas!

[Marty]

I'm about to implement an Orchid Collection Database system here (OCD ). This will be to keep tabs and track your own collection. You will be able to allow others to view it or make it totally private. The really cool thing about it is that it will be fully searchable. You will be able to add photos for each entry.

In essence it will be a database. I was just thinking of the fields that we should have for each orchid entered into this system. What information would be most relevant to you ???
for example...

Scientific name
Hybrid
Type of Fertilizer used
Purchased from
Purchase data
Bloomed (yes/no)
Awards Won
Pests fought
Growing Conditions (could be dropdown - greenhouse/window/lights/terrarium/etc)
etc, etc

we can have whatever fields you wish to have that you think would provide relevant info for searching and cross referencing.

Say we have 10,000 plants in this database and you're curious about something... then you cross reference say P. lowii/Andy's Orchids/and growing under lights/bloom-YES

to get a list of people that bought P. lowii from Andy's and are growing it under lights and managed to get it to bloom. This is just an example, but we could form a database that would be able to cross reference anything and everything and potentially offer us a ton of useful info.

Let me know what you think about this. This will be a great addition to our forum.

[Call_Me_Bob]

this will be a great addition! great idea as well.

my database has, in addition to what you have,

-pot size
-pot type
-potting medium
-date divided
-fragrant yes/no
-winter and summer growing places
-allince ( catt, phal, onc...)

[RosieC]

What a cool idea. I think... potting medium & whether it's fragrant would be useful things to store/search on.

[Marty]

I agree, good suggestions, keep'em coming

[Call_Me_Bob]

no problem ill go back and look at my database and see what i have there.

i also have max/min temps. but i dont always folow my own database

[Tindomul]

Very nice idea! I love it. I think potting media and fragrance is important too. What about cultivars and varieties? To some thats really important. Humidity!

[cb977]

Marty...you just keep making this place better and better...

I'm the worst when it comes to keeping track of my chids but the suggestions so far seem to be on track. What a great idea!

I know I haven't been very active lately...but sooner or later (HOPEFULLY SOONER!) my life will calm down a bit and I can ease back into one of my favorite places...
Orchid Board

If this is an option we'll have, it will give me the incentive to update the plant list I have here...I've killed a few and added a few since the last update

Rock on Marty...rock on!

[camille1585]

I think it's a cool idea, especially the cross referencing part. Everyone can have their own personal database, but being able to compare several plants could give lots of nice info.

Originally Posted by RosieC

What a cool idea. I think... potting medium & whether it's fragrant would be useful things to store/search on.

Just what I was going to suggest. Other useful ones would be if it's potted or mounted, or the blooming season, or average number of bloomings per year. Perhaphs the hardiness zone of each person would be useful to have while cross referencing, since how well an orchid grows can be affected by that (eg, cool growers in warm places or hot growers in cool places). If you really want to put the focus on cross referencing then maybe very specific details (eg pot size, repotting dates and so on) are not necessary.

[Hedge]

I find it useful to note last repotting and / or division dates in my records, as well as blooming date.

I think this is a great idea but I am sooo lazy, I find it hard to keep my own records up to date.

[Call_Me_Bob]

yes, pot type is important and pot or mount, like someone else said


thanks marty!