Best Way to Track Bonsai Work

D

DMac74

Seed
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Location
Roseville, CA
Hi Bonsai Nuts-

I am new to the forum and still somewhat new to the hobby. Like any new enthusiast, my "collection" keeps expanding. Some trees good, some (most?) not so good. Anyway, one of the things that interests me most is trial and error in the process of creating new trees. At this point, this involves a lot of trident and zelkova saplings (plentiful in my yard). I am looking for tips in tracking the work done on these saplings in order to review/refine the techniques applied to the trees. Any thoughts?
 
Welcome! Many of us just create threads here to document our trees over time. That's what I've been doing. Not only is it good for documenting long processes, but others can see and learn from you. I certainly have learned a lot by checking out people's progression threads.

I think there are also some apps for this, but I don't have specific recommendations for that.

Excel can work too. Even a simple notebook and pencil can be a good way to log your actions.
 
My bonsai file on my phone has now reached over 300 photos. I think this is great way and a privilege most people have in the modern world. You can study your trees and not always have to be at your bench. I even have found that it helps with issues as well. I was able to tell exactly when one of trees was not doing well through well documented photos. Definitely get all different angles of your trees as well.
 
Wulfskaar said:
Welcome! Many of us just create threads here to document our trees over time. That's what I've been doing. Not only is it good for documenting long processes, but others can see and learn from you. I certainly have learned a lot by checking out people's progression threads.

I think there are also some apps for this, but I don't have specific recommendations for that.

Excel can work too. Even a simple notebook and pencil can be a good way to log your actions.
Click to expand...
im also fairly new here… how do y’all normally start these threads without cluttering the main feed? Or is that half the fun?
 
Albums in Google photos (can add captions to images), and threads here!
 
I take digital photos and save them to files by tree or project. About 5k pictures now and another couple hundred that need filed. I (sometimes) take pictures to document deaths. I am always disappointment in myself when I fail to take pictures, usually at a workshop or something. I have been unwell for the last couple of years and missed taking LOTS of pictures so I have a bunch of stuff that will be missing documentation in '23 and '24.
 
@DMac74 When you get a moment, fill in your location profile so we can easily see where you are. No need to be specific, just a nearby city and that USDA zone are helpful for us. You may end up with a question that's location/climate related and it will be easier to help you when it's next to your name.

I'm a terrible photographer. But, after over 10 years of this type of journey, it's clear to me the best way to keep records is with photographs. Many of us have a plain wall in our garage or home that's painted an off-white or beige. Lighting can be as easy as a soft desk lamp angled from the side. You're not taking portraits here, just making records for yourself. It's been recommended to me to make both before and after pictures when working on a tree. Certainly, on longer term projects, a picture every year will give you good developmental reference points.

I also tag each of my trees with an aluminum tag made from a cut piece of soda can. I write on the inside of the metal (non-printed side)with a ballpoint pen which presses into the metal and leaves it embossed with the info in a way that will never fade. If loosely wired to the tree, it'll never be lost.

By the way, a warm welcome to "crazy"!
 
Do as I say not as I do (I plan to do this but have not actually done it yet). Get some numbered metal tags, hang a tag on a branch or tie it loosely around a tree trunk, and keep a spreadsheet or a word document or something that you can update when you do something to a tree, like "JBP tag #30: repotted spring 2022, pruned sacrifice branch fall 2023, decandled summer 2024" etc

also be sure to make backups of your files on a thumb drive or two
 
WIlliam_Butler_Yeets said:
Do as I say not as I do (I plan to do this but have not actually done it yet). Get some numbered metal tags, hang a tag on a branch or tie it loosely around a tree trunk, and keep a spreadsheet or a word document or something that you can update when you do something to a tree, like "JBP tag #30: repotted spring 2022, pruned sacrifice branch fall 2023, decandled summer 2024" etc
Click to expand...
You know, it's funny how accurate you describe my recent motions. With an inch or two of wire, I twisted it into a half-coathanger-looking hook and hung a piece of masking tape to write on. I numbered the trees, then made a spreadsheet based on a few log templates I found on the forums. It needs refinement, but I think there's something to it. I'd be happy to share and/or collaborate on it.

In the current form it's intended to be used monthly to log an action, or a few actions, such as: free growing, fertilizing, wiring, unwiring, hard pruning, soft pruning, repotting to show pot, repotting to training pot, etc.

I haven't used it consistently, but I can tell it's an improvement from relying on what's in my skull. It's a work in progress.

I like the tags. I'm conflicted on the log

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1000003446.jpg
 
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