Bonsai Log

[jazvessels]

Does anyone using a spreadsheet/log to keep track of their Bonsais? I am just getting started. I already have about 20 or so. A few I bought. Most I created from nursery plant. I want to keep track and am trying to build a Journal/Log. Ideas?

 

[IsaM]

I use an app on my iPhone called “bonsai album” - nothing too fancy but enough to have everything you need

 

[Kodama]

I had app on my phone called Bonsai Droid but found it easier to update on PC using this OT2 software...works great!

OT2 — Bonsai software

OT2 is software for keeping up with your bonsai collection from top to bottom. It has tree and pot management. It contains plenty of room to record events and make notes throughout the life of yo…

southernbonsai.wordpress.com

 

[KleinM]

I use Google sheets to keep track of my trees. I have 2 sheets. One is for tracking the different species that I have. Things like minimum temperatures, sun exposure, evergreen or deciduous. And the other sheet is for all my trees with the dates of when they were repotted.

 

[Crawforde]

I’m using a log as a pot to try and grow a cool shape as the log rots away and exposes the roots.
does that count?

 

[Gaitano]

Notes are an important way to keep track of what you do year to year, especially at re-potting time. When you repot, what soil components you use year to year and what the results are. Container choices, the timing of pruning, trunk chops, refinement techniques etc. I like to see where I've had success and failure, especially when I experience extreme failure (death...). I have a 3" three ring binder full of notebook paper and dividers for conifers, maples, elms, misc. deciduous, flowering and RIP. old school, but it works. I also take photos of each at repot, mid spring and fall to document progression. They each get a folder on an external hard drive. If you do one thing, this is probably the most helpful to see where things started and how far you've come along.

 

[butlern]

a bit old school, but I use Excel spreadsheet with individual tabs for trees, fertilizers and their formulation, sprays (fungicide, insecticide) and their mixing instructions and application rates, and pots I’ve acquired.

Particularly useful is inserting hyperlinks to photos that document changes in progress and tree progressions.

 

[sorce]

Notes are near useless without pictures.

Welcome to Crazy!

I used to keep seperate albums for each tree, but now I just put all the information on threads here!

It may seem not worth documenting here yet, but that all changes in 10 years, and provides everyone with knowledge!

Sorce

 

[Canada Bonsai]

I have seen apps discussed here and there, but I have yet to see one that has grabbed my attention enough for me to use it.

I'd like an app like instagram but with 'folders' for each tree, and an option for folders to be 'public', 'friends only', or 'private (me only)'
The 'caption' and 'comment' section is probably enough to track what I need to track and receive comments from others.
This could also be a great way for at least a few thousands bonsai hobbyists/professionals to stay in touch in a post- or anti- Facebook and instagram world.
I don't know what it costs to produce/run something like this, but I would not mind the occasional advertisement from nurseries, shops, clubs, or events, etc.
Come to think of it, what I would like is not all that different from having a thread for each tree on this forum, except that I am not inclined to start a thread for +300 trees (for example) many of which will be very uninteresting for many years, and may not feel comfortable sharing 'in public' a lot of the quick-and-dirty photos that I take for myself as reminders of things I need to do. How far are we from that technology @Bonsai Nut ? Can Bnut have a sister forum available as an app?

Attached is an image of my current approach.
Every tree gets its own folder.
The images are named according to the date.
The WORD document tracks what I have done, am doing, or plan to do, which functions as a journal for each tree.
In this case I have a folder called "inspiration" as well.

 

[jazvessels]

I had app on my phone called Bonsai Droid but found it easier to update on PC using this OT2 software...works great!

OT2 — Bonsai software

OT2 is software for keeping up with your bonsai collection from top to bottom. It has tree and pot management. It contains plenty of room to record events and make notes throughout the life of yo…

southernbonsai.wordpress.com

This looks great. I am going t try this out

 

[jazvessels]

a bit old school, but I use Excel spreadsheet with individual tabs for trees, fertilizers and their formulation, sprays (fungicide, insecticide) and their mixing instructions and application rates, and pots I’ve acquired.

Particularly useful is inserting hyperlinks to photos that document changes in progress and tree progressions.

I have been trying to start with excel. Not sure what fields to collect. I have been looking for a template or someone who has thought through this stuff so i do not have to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I created an Excel sheet to use as a basic calendar. I copied the timing on everything from the Bonsai Society of San Francisco PDF. I made it so it highlights the Action and Month for whatever cell you click.

I'd be willing to share the file, but please note that the timing would have to be adjusted to your climate and liking. I used their timing as a base and will adjust accordingly for my climate. They have 0-10-10 fertilizing a lot on here, but B-nutters seem to think it's a waste. Adjust for your own needs.

I'm not sure if it's cool to share Excel files, so PM me if you want the file.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Does anyone using a spreadsheet/log to keep track of their Bonsais? I am just getting started. I already have about 20 or so. A few I bought. Most I created from nursery plant. I want to keep track and am trying to build a Journal/Log. Ideas?

I use this site!

Glad to have you here, in the Tiny Forest.. the Woody Dwarves (Pa-is) are pleased.

 

[HorseloverFat]

!

I used to keep seperate albums for each tree, but now I just put all the information on threads here!

 

[PonderingSage:]

I do google sites a page progression for each tree… And the ones that died that way I could take note on mistakes I’ve made.

 

[pweifan]

I use an app on my iPhone called “bonsai album” - nothing too fancy but enough to have everything you need

I use the PC version of Bonsai Album.

 

[pweifan]

I created an Excel sheet to use as a basic calendar. I copied the timing on everything from the Bonsai Society of San Francisco PDF. I made it so it highlights the Action and Month for whatever cell you click.

I'd be willing to share the file, but please note that the timing would have to be adjusted to your climate and liking. I used their timing as a base and will adjust accordingly for my climate. They have 0-10-10 fertilizing a lot on here, but B-nutters seem to think it's a waste. Adjust for your own needs.

I'm not sure if it's cool to share Excel files, so PM me if you want the file.

View attachment 413493

I've thought of doing something like this but never have. Thank you for posting yours! This is a great idea.

 

[Kodama]

I do google sites a page progression for each tree… And the ones that died that way I could take note on mistakes I’ve made.

Hmmm...good idea! Thanks for sharing

 

[Alain BERTRAND]

I had app on my phone called Bonsai Droid but found it easier to update on PC using this OT2 software...works great!

OT2 — Bonsai software

OT2 is software for keeping up with your bonsai collection from top to bottom. It has tree and pot management. It contains plenty of room to record events and make notes throughout the life of yo…

southernbonsai.wordpress.com

Ah, this post made my day. I thought I was the last person to use it. Thanks to Microsoft for keeping binary compatibility for years. Sometimes, I wish I I had the time to fix the little bugs and to adapt it to Android but it is too much of a work for an hobbyist with many trees. Anyone out there interested ? OT2 is free software, you can modify as it pleases you as long as you keep it under the same rule.

 

[Divide_by_zero]

I used to use OT2 but lost the PC that was on about ten years ago along with my collection at the time, long story best left in the past. I've now got an Android tablet and have recently started using an app called "My Bonsai Book". I find it quite useful with the default fields it comes with and the ability to save photos of each tree with dates. It also allows you to customize and add your own fields (like trunk width, ...) and will maintain a to/from history of changes when you make updates. The developer seems very receptive to suggestions for improvement (I suggested the auto history idea and he added that right away, along with the custom fields capability he was already working on).

It's free in the Google Play store.