Cataloging plants: Part II

So my whole index card, cataloging thing sounds like too much work to you? All you need is a system that records what you think is important in a format that works for you. It could be as fancy as a spreadsheet on the computer. Or as simple as collecting plant tags and keeping them for future reference.

Put all your plant tags and seed packages in terra cotta pots and display them on the bookshelves that hold your garden tomes. Or, make it really simple and stash them in a ziplock bag. They’re ready when you need them; all together in one place.

Or forget the tags and just use a highlighter to indicate your purchases right on the catalog pages; though that means a stack of catalogs taking up space down the road. I get a lot of my plants at a wonderful local nursery — The Flower Factory — which has phenomenal plant listings in their catalog, as you can see (below). I highlight what I want to buy and then put a red checkmark next to it when I actually buy the plant. Sometimes they’re out of what I want or I change my mind when faced with the plant in person and the checkmark keeps me from getting confused when I can’t find a highlighted plant in the garden.

These are the organizing and cataloging systems that work for me. Do you have a system you swear by or one that you swear at? Have you got it solved or have you given up keeping track? I’d love to hear about what works for you.

Comments

[ricki]

I find that a card catalog works best for me. I record the name, the nursery (or whatever), the year and where I put it. If it has an esoteric name likely to be forgotten, it will also be filed under its common name. Pictures go in when available. I leave cards for failed plants in the file, to avoid making the same mistake twice. I keep tags in pots too, but more for the satisfaction of seeing how many plants really are out there...too much trouble to sort through them in search of anything in particular.

[EACH LITTLE WORLD]

I took the plunge and finally tossed all my tags. But I do keep all the cards on file even if things have died.

[Nan Ondra]

When I was preparing to move from my previous garden, I came across dozens of pots filled with plant tags. When I realized that each one represented a plant I had killed over the years, I was mortified and tossed them immediately. However, I like the idea that both you and Ricki keep cards for the plants that haven't worked for you, as a reminder to not waste money on them again.
-Nan

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Looking back at the old tags is also a way to gauge your changing taste. Some plants die and you breathe a sigh of relief wondering why you ever bought it in the first place!

[Mr. McGregor's Daughter]

The terra cotta pots are a cute idea. I have my tags stuffed in a box, but I also write down in my garden journal the name & the source of each plant when I plant it.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Those are a pair of my favorite pots, so it gave me a way to enjoy them in the house without all the dirt! But I'm pretty much back to trying to copy the info on my cards and then ditching the tags. I'm trying to downsize!