I keep a spreadsheet ... with, likely, all of the details you mentioned, ... plus significant events (i.e. aquisitions, treatments, repottings, first bloomings, passings, etc.).

Plus, I record my impressions of my plants at various intervals ...

Aegis, just like a scientist.

Mine is simple. I just record name, bloom style (double, pink, white edge, something like that), leaf (variegated pink). I left cost out because I purposely don't want to know. If it's still only a leaf, I mark "leaf" in a column then the next column is the leaf put down date. In the first column I write my verdict, love, ok, purge.heeeehe.

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hmmm,,oh yeah,,,,I do that to!!! Only with pencil & paper! Rosie

I started using Excel for my roses back years ago when my collection numbered in the hundreds and even though my collection is much more modest these days, the spreadsheet helps me keep track of it all especially now that I can no longer reliably keep even the names in my head let alone other information about them. It felt quite natural to start another sheet when my AV plants began to be of the named persuasion rather than a windowsill of NOIDS. I track them alphabetically by name, then type, description, date I acquired it and in what form (leaf, plug or plant,) the source of my acquisition and inventory (how many plants, plantlets, leaf cups with or without babies.) The final column is a space for notes such as for problems, pests, or for those with fantasy notes on whether or not they have bloomed true to description. One thing I track for roses that I never have for AV's is the hybridizer and year introduced. I sometimes think of going back and putting in that information just for my own knowledge (I never "show" and never will) but it seems too much trouble now. I, too, have a sheet for "Past" violets - now that's a scary long list, but I think it's good to be reminded of what once was and why it no longer is. I've made a lot of mistakes in my time of growing AV's and hopefully I'm learning something. Ha!

It occurs to me that our spreadsheets give us opportunity to VENT our excitements/dissapointments about our "pets" (other than Gardenweb, of course), ... as, typically, such comments as "Picasso is blooming again !!!" draws only ho-hum reponses from those persons who share our spaces ...

AAAAAgggghhhhh,,,,,All of you are killing me!!!!! I think I'm getting a massive migraine!!!!! My head hurts just thinking about all of that, PLUS I don't have a clue how to navigate a spreadsheet! I have no where near all that info on my violets! Oh, my head hurts! lol Remember,,,,,I am computer challenged!!!!

Ok, but it is so much easier to just write it in a book (pencil and paper!) than to keep my computer open as I "tend" my violets, which is when I do the paper keeping. And if I get dirt on my computer, OH NO!!!!, but on the other hand if dirt drops on my paper,,,no big deal, just blow it off. And yes my hands have dirt on them. I do get dirty "tending" my violets. And no,,,,I can't remember everything to sit down and enter it into my computer. Am I not understanding something????? Pencil and paper is so easy! (for me).

And before anyone chastises me for calling it dirt,,,when it is on my hands, falls on the floor, gets on my keyboard (and it would) it is DIRT. When I have to clean it up it is DIRT. However when it nicely sits in a pot, kcup or baggie,,,nurturing a violet, plant or cutting it is lovingly called,,,,SOIL. <:)

Aegis,,,never think a response from me is anything but "ho hum". I am excited to read everyone's responses!!!! I appreciate every bit of information and eye candy on this forum from each person who takes the time to post.

I do think this AV forum is one of the most active! I have tried to post in other plant forum threads but there is not too much response unless it is someone who also belongs here!!!!! Go figure!!!!

But if I were to understand a spread sheet, I can agree it might be a good idea. I will go that far! After all,,,there is more than one way to build a better mousetrap!!!! Rosie

Rosie, at base, a spreadsheet is a word processor with fields :)

dbarron you should have seen me try to navigate a spreadsheet. OMG! Someone sent me one and I figured (wrongly so lol) I could just continue from there. haha,,,not so much. By the time I was done, I erased some stuff I shouldn't have and couldn't figure out how to get from here to there without messing it up more. Squares disappeared and I don't know how to get them back. It is a mess.

In my next life, I will ask for technology brains! See, in this life when they were passing out Technology brains I thought they said trains and said nope! wrong line!!! lol Rosie

PS. Shortly I will be visiting a friend who might be able to show me how to do this.

I can never get myself to keep up with the maintenance. :-)

I still think my notebook(not computer notebook, paper spiral, 70 sheets, college rule!) is easier. And I can take it outside and not worry about it, it doesn't take a long time to load, it doesn't freeze up, I never lose my cursor (pencil), and if I do I just go get another pencil !!!! and most important, I don't accidentally push the wrong button and close everything I have been working on!!!!! If I do it with my paper notebook I just turn the page back and viola! Right back to where I should be. I know, I know, I am hopeless. Rosie

Don't feel hopeless, Rosie! With your large notebook, you are way ahead of me! In the last year or so, I have started to jot down the plants I received from a trading partner and what I sent. That way I hope to avoid sending out the same varieties again or worse, send a variety he/she originally sent me! Aside from those, written down on a note pad, I keep no records.

Terri

Thanks Terri,,,,I have the following columns: (Su)(St)(Sm)(M)(Mm)(Tr) I only choose the appropriate abbreviation that I need,,,Supreme-Standard-Semi miniature-Miniature-Micro Miniature-Trailer and this goes to the left in the margin right after the punched holes/ Violet name/ (Plant) (Leaf) (Sucker) and above each word I put the number I have in pencil so if the number changes I can erase!/ who I got it from/ Year & Month and in this column I put the date I last checked on it or tended it, again in pencil so I can erase and enter the next date tended. Really easy system for me. And I can carry it wherever I go.

And this my violet friends is my interpretation of a spread sheet!! Rosie

Rosie, do you make backups of your spreadsheet (teasing..couldn't resist).

OMG you are sooo funny!!! haahahaha I didn't even think of that. But to answer your question,,,,,,,No.

Here is another thing. If a plant no longer exists in my world, I go to its name, and use white out!!!!! And then I erase everything across the line in prep for the next plant that I may get! Remember,,,I write in pencil except for the actual name of the plant. That is in ink. Why? I don't know. Maybe so I can see it better. No wasted space here!!!! Rosie

So you're saying 'White Out' is your 'Delete'...ok...I think I understand :0

YES!!!! And my eraser for the rest of the info! Now finally someone who understands me!!! Well, at least a little,,,lol!!!!! Rosie

Y'all are funny. I should have titled the thread, "Let's Make Fun of Spreadsheets!"

OK, I see Rosie's point about a notebook and pencil being less frustrating for her (although she's such a savvy smart lady that I'm sure with a bit of instruction in her program she could use it just fine!) For me using a spreadsheet really is easier because I use simple ones at my job every day. I can alphabetize, sort or move from current to past sheets with a click. That alone is a plus as I don't loose any of the information on varieties that I have failed at growing or that I was unhappy with or that were unhappy growing in my conditions. I keep it all so that I know where I went wrong or I know what I might want to replace and it keeps me from making some mistakes over and over. Erase your pencil notes and all that is wiped away.

But there is no right or wrong way to keep track; I guess it's all in what you're comfortable with using. Still, if you're going to have more than a few named AV's and you want to know what you have, sooner or later you're going to have to record all that information somewhere. Memories (esp. as we age!) can be such unreliable things. ;-)

Thanks Anne! One thing I can't do is alphabetize and it makes me crazy!!!! But I am thinking that maybe my friend that I will be visiting shortly will help me understand a spread sheet. I can see where it would make life easier. And who knows? I may even adapt to it! Which means you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!!! lol Rosie

No Rosie, you can alphabetize, it just depends upon you cutting your paper into clear lines and moving them around (lol). There's always a way!

Yes, I believe you'll like using a spreadsheet, chances are you'll still use paper to gather data, then type it in afterwards.

Oh that's right! Never thought of cutting the paper on the lines and doing it that way. Good idea dbarron!!!! roflmao!!!!

You're right about gathering the data on paper and typing it in. I can see (sort of) where it may be easier. We will see. Depends on whether or not my friend can make me understand in the little time we have to visit! Rosie

Rosie, you could used 3x 5 index cards stored in a little plastic box with alphabet letter tabs! Or, you could separate your plants by type, then alphabetize. And you could keep a separate box called the mausoleum for your dearly departed AVs.

You organized people slay me!!! I don't even keep a list anywhere of my current varieties. If I were to do so, that would mean I'd end up knowing how many violets I own and I can't face the fact that number is way too high! Ignorance is bliss!!! Ha, ha!!

Terri

Amy 3X5 cards are only for my recipes! I do prefer the folder! You know, college ruled etc???? And besides,,,if I drop my 3X5 box it could break, or all my little cards would end up on the floor, kind of like playing the card game 52 pickup. But drop my folder? No big deal,,,just one thing to pick up. lol

BUT...........Terri the longer this thread goes I think I am going to trash my list! Ignorance might just be bliss!!! But then what do I do when someone says Rosie, got this??? got a leaf of that??? I can just get my paper notebook, open it and say yes or no! Otherwise I have to say "Wait and give me a couple days to go through baggies and kcups! aaagggghhhh

NOT trashing the Wish List. But the "paper" spread sheet. It takes longer to look up every name on the sheet and enter information than it would if I would just tend the darn plants! And FYI I only keep a list for the violets. But I do think my problem is not my record keeping. It is that I have too many propagations going!!!! But how can you throw away a good leaf???? And then I need to know how many I have if someone should want to trade for a variety I don't have and really, really want! OH NO have me committed NOW!!!!! I am getting a huge headache!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop the madness!!!!! Rosie

Rosie, revised suggestion. 3x5 cards with holes punched and held together with rings (that open and close to add cards)!

Yay! And you could keep RIP violets on a separate ring. I would punch two holes, or else your booklet will become all uneven and crazy.

Good idea!!!! I like it more and more!!! Rosie

Yes I do! I keep two Google Docs spreadsheets: One for other houseplants, and one for my violets. Granted, I don't even have that many compared to most (I had 40 and needed to downsize, now it's about 20), but it's really helpful.

I like to record: The fertilizers I use; what soil it's got; when I last repotted and the pot size; and if there are any other notable events (fungus scare, pest scare, whatever).

Here's a screenshot if anybody would like a starting point:

Your sheet is nice, but I think I like Amy's suggestion! Now hers is something I can understand!!!!! Oh and Amy,,,thanks but I don't need an R.I.P file. I just use my eraser! lol Rosie