An orchid tracking system . . .

[Laserbeak]

I sketched out a skeleton relational database schema but need your input on everything that needs to be in the database.

---------- Post added at 01:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:58 PM ----------

So far I have a Grower table so you can have multiple users, an Orchid table with the grower id and orchid id, acquisition date, acquisition source, last repotting date, last fertilization date, genus id, species or hybrid id, var id, last bloom date.

I have a pictures table with orchid_id and filename, a genus table that will have info about the genus, species table that will have info about the species/hybrid, and a var table that will have info about specific vars.

[Tabbyblack13]

Laser, is there a way to put in winter rest and potting medium/mounting info in there too?


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[IcePenguin]

There is an app called Orchid Notebook which isn't too bad. Doing a spreadsheet might not be so bad for someone with few orchids. But when you're talking in the hundreds it would be a daunting task. And hopefully by that time you've been growing for several years and wouldn't have to record each and every plant as you know what they need after years of watching them. Just my 2 cents worth.

[Tabbyblack13]

I tried looking for orchid notebook and it's not in the App Store. I think they took it off.


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[RandomGemini]

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/orch...393149342?mt=8

[MattWoelfsen]

Do you all find Orchid Notebook app useable? I have this app, paid $2.99 for it. This is an app for someone who has the ability to press an arrow and follow the simple prompts. It is very simple and easy to use. It's best feature is putting your plant information with a picture of your plant.

From a technical perspective, the app needs some basic re-write. For example, the wall paper doesn't follow the landscape to portrait mode. It forces you to use the app on portrait. Screen shot below. It does not give you a birds eye view of your collection. It just gives you a list of what you have. You can export your data but you cannot import your data from a spreadsheet.

This is an okay app if you are just starting out. I have kept track of my orchids for a long time with a spreadsheet, I would like to import my information into the app and not have to re-type it. The reason I keep track of my orchids is to journal my plants progress under my care. Many times, my data has helped re-identify a plant, or answer simple questions like, when was this plant re-potted? Where did I buy it? How much did I pay for it?

[terryros]

If you are a Mac/iPhone/iPad user and have a little computer capability, there is an option that can let you customize what you track. I used Excel for a few years and find this next option better. I have no relationship with any product.

Bento is a fairly cheap, simplified database app made by the Apple-affiliated company that makes the big Filemaker database. Bento has a version for a desktop/laptop Mac, iPhone, and iPad AND these communicate through your wireless network.

It is pretty easy to create the design for your record. It is easy to have a field in which to insert a photo.

I use my iPhone or iPad in my growing room to update things right away and I can then sync the other devices to the new information. When I am then off someplace else, like Orchids Limited, I can pull up any plant on my iPhone, including its picture. You can also sort your records in various ways.

I like that I can customize the record to what I care about. I can also modify the record at any time, deleting or adding fields.


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[blackvine]

Bento sounds good! Yes, an actual database Is what a tracking system needs. I wish Bento was Windows-based.

---------- Post added at 11:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 AM ----------

Some day, I WILL get a Mac!

[peeweelovesbooks]

I use a basic excel spreadsheet. I used to be more thorough, but then it just got too tedious. When I stopped tracking every little thing about my orchids, I was able to enjoy the inventorying aspect much more.

[orchidsarefun]

OrchidWiz told me a few months ago that they were developing an app for 2014. That would be great as I find that its difficult/inconvenient to search up ( new ) orchids while at nurseries or Botanic Gardens.