Entry Types - All Diary Categories
Explore the 15+ diary entry types for care activities, health events, growth milestones, and observations in your plant journal.
🎯 What You'll Learn
- Care activities - 7 types for routine care
- Health events - 4 types for problems and treatments
- Growth events - 4 types for milestones
- General notes - 4 types for observations and ideas
⚡ Quick Start
Understand entry types in 2 minutes:
Most Common Types:
- 💧 Watering - Log every watering
- 🧪 Fertilizing - Track feeding schedule
- 📝 Observation - General notes
- 📸 Photo - Progress documentation
Result: Know which entry type to use for any plant activity!
📚 Complete Guide
Care Activity Entries
Routine Plant Care - 7 Types
💧 Watering
Log Watering Events
When to Use:
- Every time you water plant
- Document watering method
- Track watering amount
- Record soil condition
Details to Include:
- Amount: "500ml", "2 cups", "Until drainage"
- Method: Top watering, Bottom watering, Soaking (full submersion), Misting (humidity)
- Water Type: Tap (filtered/unfiltered), Rainwater, Distilled
- Soil Condition: Bone dry, Slightly dry, Moist, Wet
Example Entry:
Type: Watering 💧 Date: Oct 24, 2025 9:00 AM Amount: 500ml filtered tap water Method: Top watering until drainage from bottom Soil Before: Top 2 inches dry, but moist below Notes: First watering after 7 days. Leaves were starting to droop slightly. Water drained well, no standing water in saucer.
Benefits:
- Track watering frequency
- Identify overwatering/underwatering patterns
- Reference for adjusting schedule
🧪 Fertilizing
Record Feeding Events
When to Use:
- Every fertilization
- Track fertilizer products
- Document dilution rates
- Monitor feeding schedule
Details to Include:
- Product Name: "Miracle-Gro All Purpose", "Organic Fish Emulsion"
- NPK Ratio: "10-10-10", "3-2-1", "20-20-20"
- Dilution Rate: "Half strength", "1 tsp per gallon", "As directed"
- Application Method: Mixed with water, Granular (top-dressed), Foliar spray, Slow-release pellets
Example Entry:
Type: Fertilizing 🧪 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Product: Miracle-Gro All Purpose (10-10-10) Dilution: Half strength (1/2 tsp per gallon) Method: Mixed with water during watering Notes: Monthly feeding during growing season. Plant responded well last month with 3 new leaves. Using half strength to avoid fertilizer burn.
Benefits:
- Track fertilizer schedule
- Know which products work best
- Avoid over-fertilizing
✂️ Pruning
Document Trimming and Shaping
When to Use:
- Removing dead leaves
- Shaping plant
- Cutting back leggy growth
- Taking cuttings for propagation
Details to Include:
- What Removed: "3 yellow leaves", "20cm leggy growth", "Dead flower stems"
- Amount: Quantity or length
- Reason: Maintenance, Shaping, Health, Propagation
- Before/After Photos: Highly recommended!
Example Entry:
Type: Pruning ✂️ Date: Oct 24, 2025 What Removed: 5 lower yellow leaves, 1 dead stem Reason: Maintenance (natural leaf drop as plant grows) Notes: Used sterilized scissors. Cut at 45° angle close to main stem. Plant looking healthier without yellowing leaves blocking light from lower foliage. Photos: Before (5 yellow leaves visible) → After (clean base, all green leaves)
Benefits:
- Track pruning frequency
- Document why you pruned
- Reference for future pruning decisions
🪴 Repotting
Log Repotting Events
When to Use:
- Moving to larger pot
- Refreshing soil
- Checking root health
- Dividing plant
Details to Include:
- Old Pot Size: "6 inch" → New Pot Size: "8 inch"
- New Soil Type: "Succulent mix", "All-purpose potting soil", "Custom blend (50% potting soil, 30% perlite, 20% orchid bark)"
- Root Condition: Healthy (white/cream), Root bound (circling pot), Signs of rot (brown/mushy)
- Amendments Added: Perlite, Vermiculite, Orchid bark, Worm castings, Activated charcoal
Example Entry:
Type: Repotting 🪴 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Old Pot: 6" plastic → New Pot: 8" terracotta Soil: All-purpose potting soil + 30% perlite for drainage Root Condition: Slightly root bound (roots circling bottom), otherwise healthy white roots Notes: Gently loosened root ball before repotting. Plant was showing slow growth and water running straight through pot (signs of root bound). Expect growth spurt in coming weeks! Photos: Root ball, new pot setup, repotted plant
Benefits:
- Track repotting history
- Know when to repot again (typically 1-2 years)
- Reference soil mix that works
📍 Relocating
Track Location Changes
When to Use:
- Moving plant to different room
- Changing window placement
- Indoor/outdoor transitions
- Rotation for even light
Details to Include:
- From: "Living room, north window"
- To: "Bedroom, south window"
- Reason: "More light", "Too cold", "Space constraints", "Trial different location"
- Expected Result: What you hope to achieve
Example Entry:
Type: Relocating 📍 Date: Oct 24, 2025 From: Bedroom (north window, low light) To: Living room (south window, bright indirect light) Reason: Plant showing slow growth, leggy stems (light stretching). Needs more light. Expected: Faster growth, more compact growth pattern, deeper green leaves Notes: Will monitor for 1 month and compare growth rate. May need to adjust watering frequency (more light = more water needed).
Benefits:
- Identify best location for plant
- Correlate location with plant health
- Document indoor/outdoor schedule
🧹 Cleaning
Log Leaf Cleaning Sessions
When to Use:
- Dusting leaves
- Showering plant
- Removing pests manually
- Polishing leaves
Details to Include:
- Method: Damp cloth wipe, Shower, Spray bottle, Leaf shine product
- Reason: Dust removal, Pest removal, Aesthetic
- Frequency: Weekly, monthly, as needed
Example Entry:
Type: Cleaning 🧹 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Method: Damp microfiber cloth, wiped both sides of each leaf Reason: Heavy dust accumulation (reduces photosynthesis) Notes: While cleaning, inspected for pests - all clear! Leaves now shiny and clean. Plant looks healthier already. Will do monthly to prevent dust buildup.
Benefits:
- Track cleaning frequency
- Combine with pest checks
- Improve plant health (dust blocks light)
🔍 Inspection
Regular Health Checks
When to Use:
- Weekly or bi-weekly plant checks
- Looking for pests/disease
- Monitoring plant health
- General observation
Details to Include:
- Checklist: Leaves, stems, soil, roots (if visible)
- Findings: Healthy, Issues found, No change
- Pests: None, Spider mites, Aphids, Scale, etc.
- Overall Health: Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor
Example Entry:
Type: Inspection 🔍 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Checklist: ✅ Leaves: All green, no yellowing, 2 new leaves unfurling ✅ Stems: Firm, upright, healthy color ✅ Soil: Moist but not soggy, no mold ✅ Pests: None found (checked underside of leaves) Overall Health: Excellent (9/10) Notes: Plant thriving! Consistent care paying off. Will continue current routine.
Benefits:
- Catch problems early
- Track plant health over time
- Establish routine checking habit
Health Event Entries
Problems and Treatments - 4 Types
🐛 Pest Found
Document Pest Infestations
When to Use:
- Discover pests on plant
- Track pest type and severity
- Plan treatment
- Monitor infestation progress
Details to Include:
- Pest Type: Spider mites, Aphids, Mealybugs, Scale, Fungus gnats, Thrips
- Severity: Mild (few bugs, localized), Moderate (noticeable, spreading), Severe (heavy infestation, plant-wide)
- Location: Underside of leaves, Stems, Soil, Roots
- Treatment Plan: Immediate action and follow-up
Example Entry:
Type: Pest Found 🐛 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Pest: Spider mites Severity: Mild (spotted on 3 leaves, underside) Location: Lower leaves, underside Treatment: 1. Isolated plant immediately 2. Showered plant to wash off mites 3. Applied neem oil spray (3% solution) 4. Will reapply in 3 days, then weekly for 3 weeks Photos: Close-up of webbing, affected leaves Follow-up: Check in 3 days for improvement
Benefits:
- Track pest history
- Know which treatments work
- Prevent future infestations
🍄 Disease
Log Plant Diseases
When to Use:
- Fungal infections
- Bacterial issues
- Viral diseases
- Root rot
Details to Include:
- Disease Type: Fungal (powdery mildew, root rot), Bacterial (leaf spots), Viral
- Symptoms: Yellow spots, Brown edges, Wilting, Mold
- Affected Areas: Leaves, Stems, Roots, Entire plant
- Suspected Cause: Overwatering, Poor drainage, Contaminated soil
Example Entry:
Type: Disease 🍄 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Disease: Root rot (suspected fungal) Symptoms: Yellow leaves, wilting despite wet soil, mushy stems Affected: Roots (brown, mushy), lower stems Cause: Overwatering + poor drainage Treatment: 1. Removed from pot, trimmed all brown mushy roots 2. Repotted in fresh well-draining soil 3. Reduced watering frequency (every 10 days instead of 5) 4. Monitoring closely for 2 weeks Photos: Brown roots before trimming, healthy roots after, new pot
Benefits:
- Identify disease patterns
- Track treatment effectiveness
- Prevent recurrence
💊 Treatment
Record Treatment Applications
When to Use:
- Applying pest/disease treatments
- Tracking medicine schedule
- Monitoring treatment results
- Follow-up treatments
Details to Include:
- Treatment Type: Neem oil, Insecticidal soap, Fungicide, Hydrogen peroxide
- Dosage: "3% neem oil solution", "1 tbsp per liter"
- Application Method: Spray, Soil drench, Wipe on leaves
- Frequency: One-time, Daily, Weekly, As needed
- Expected Results: When to see improvement
Example Entry:
Type: Treatment 💊 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Treatment: Neem oil spray Dosage: 1 tbsp neem oil + 1 tsp dish soap per liter water Application: Sprayed all leaf surfaces (top and bottom), stems Frequency: Reapply every 3 days for 2 weeks (total 5 applications) Target: Spider mites found 3 days ago Expected: Mites gone after 2 weeks, new growth healthy Notes: First application. Plant tolerated well, no leaf burn. Will continue schedule.
Benefits:
- Track treatment schedule
- Know what works/doesn't work
- Avoid over-treating
💪 Recovery
Celebrate Plant Recovery
When to Use:
- Plant recovered from pests/disease
- Bounced back from stress
- Successful treatment results
- Milestone achievement
Details to Include:
- What Happened: Problem that was solved
- Treatment Used: What worked
- Recovery Time: How long it took
- Lessons Learned: What you'd do differently
Example Entry:
Type: Recovery 💪 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Recovery From: Spider mite infestation Treatment: 5 neem oil applications over 2 weeks + isolation Recovery Time: 3 weeks total Results: ✅ No mites visible for 1 week ✅ 2 new healthy leaves growing ✅ No more webbing ✅ Plant returned to normal location Lessons Learned: - Early detection is key (weekly inspections) - Isolation prevents spread to other plants - Neem oil works if applied consistently Photos: Healthy new growth, no pest damage
Benefits:
- Document successful treatments
- Learn what works
- Celebrate wins!
Growth Event Entries
Milestones and Development - 4 Types
🌿 New Leaf
Celebrate New Growth
When to Use:
- New leaf unfurling
- First leaf on cutting/propagation
- Significant leaf production burst
- Unique leaf variation
Details to Include:
- Leaf Count: New total
- Leaf Characteristics: Size, color, pattern
- Growth Location: Where on plant
- Since Last Entry: Days since last new leaf
Example Entry:
Type: New Leaf 🌿 Date: Oct 24, 2025 New Leaves: 2 (bringing total to 47) Characteristics: Both large (8 inches), deep green with beautiful fenestrations (Monstera) Location: Top of plant, from newest growth point Since Last: 18 days (faster than usual!) Notes: After increasing light exposure last month, growth rate improved significantly. New leaves larger and healthier than older ones. Current care routine is perfect! Photos: Unfurling leaves, comparison to older leaves
Benefits:
- Track leaf production rate
- Identify growth spurts
- Correlate care with results
🌸 Flowering
Document Blooming Events
When to Use:
- First bloom ever
- Regular flowering cycle
- Unusual flowering
- Flower milestones
Details to Include:
- Bloom Type: Flower, Bud, Multiple blooms
- Count: Number of flowers/buds
- Characteristics: Color, size, fragrance
- Pollination: Self-pollinating, needs pollination, N/A
Example Entry:
Type: Flowering 🌸 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Milestone: First bloom ever! (plant is 2 years old) Bloom: Single white flower, 3 inches diameter, light vanilla scent Bud Count: 3 more buds forming (exciting!) Notes: After consistent care and proper dormancy period, plant finally bloomed! Used bloom fertilizer (higher phosphorus) last 2 months. Will continue this for future blooms. Photos: Full flower, buds forming, plant with bloom
Benefits:
- Track blooming cycles
- Know what triggers flowering
- Celebrate major milestones
🌱 Propagation
Log Propagation Attempts
When to Use:
- Taking cuttings
- Leaf propagation
- Division/separation
- Seed starting
Details to Include:
- Method: Stem cutting, Leaf cutting, Division, Seed
- Number: How many cuttings/divisions
- Rooting Medium: Water, Soil, Perlite, Sphagnum moss
- Success: Rooted, Growing, Failed
Example Entry:
Type: Propagation 🌱 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Method: Stem cuttings in water Number: 5 cuttings (each 6 inches, 3-4 nodes) Preparation: - Cut below node at 45° angle - Removed bottom leaves - Placed in water (changed weekly) Location: Bright indirect light, 20-24°C Expected: Roots in 2-3 weeks Notes: Parent plant is thriving, so taking cuttings for gifts and backup. Will monitor root development and pot in soil once roots are 2+ inches. Photos: Cuttings in water, parent plant after cutting
Benefits:
- Track propagation success rate
- Know which methods work best
- Document plant family tree
📏 Measurement
Link to Growth Records
When to Use:
- Recording growth measurements
- Tracking plant size
- Monitoring development
- Monthly growth check
Details to Include:
- Height: Current measurement
- Width: Spread measurement
- Leaf Count: Total leaves
- Growth Since Last: Change from previous measurement
Example Entry:
Type: Measurement 📏 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Height: 65 cm (+5 cm from last month) Width: 45 cm (+3 cm from last month) Leaf Count: 47 leaves (+2 from last month) Growth Rate: 5 cm/month (excellent!) Notes: Consistent growth continuing. Plant responded well to increased light last month. On track to reach 100 cm goal by end of year! Photos: Full plant for visual size reference Linked: Growth record #24
Benefits:
- Auto-created when measuring growth
- Connects diary to growth charts
- Track growth consistency
General Observation Entries
Notes and Ideas - 4 Types
📝 Observation
General Notes and Comments
When to Use:
- Interesting developments
- Behavior changes
- Environmental observations
- Random thoughts about plant
What to Include:
- Detailed description
- Context (what's different)
- Questions or hypotheses
- Plans for investigation
Example Entry:
Type: Observation 📝 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Observation: Leaves turning toward window more dramatically than usual Context: Moved plant 2 feet away from window last week. Plant clearly stretching toward light source. Hypothesis: Plant not getting enough light at new distance Plan: Move back closer to window (1 foot away) and monitor for 1 week Notes: Also noticed new leaves are slightly lighter green than older ones - another sign of insufficient light.
Benefits:
- Document anything noteworthy
- Build plant knowledge
- Track behavior patterns
📸 Photo
Visual Documentation
When to Use:
- Progress photos
- Beauty shots
- Detail documentation
- Before/after comparisons
What to Include:
- Photo caption/description
- Context (what photo shows)
- Comparison notes
- Time since last photo
Example Entry:
Type: Photo 📸 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Subject: 6-month progress comparison Description: Side-by-side of plant on May 1st (30cm, 20 leaves) vs today (65cm, 47 leaves) Context: Documenting growth journey for social media post Notes: Amazing transformation! Plant more than doubled in size. Biggest factors: consistent watering, monthly fertilizing, bright indirect light. Photos: May 1st photo, Oct 24th photo, side-by-side comparison
Benefits:
- Visual growth record
- Share progress with community
- Motivation to continue care
❓ Question
Document Questions and Research
When to Use:
- Something confuses you
- Need to research
- Wondering about care decisions
- Planning to ask Plant Doctor
What to Include:
- Specific question
- Why you're asking (context)
- What you've tried so far
- Urgency level
Example Entry:
Type: Question ❓ Date: Oct 24, 2025 Question: Why are lower leaves turning yellow and dropping? Context: Bottom 3 leaves yellowed over past 2 weeks and fell off. New growth at top looks healthy. What I've Tried: - Checked for pests: None found - Soil moisture: Appropriate (not overwatered) - Light: Adequate (bright indirect) Research: Natural for mature plants to drop lower leaves as they grow taller? Plan: Monitor for 2 more weeks. If continues, consult Plant Doctor. Urgency: Low (new growth healthy, seems natural)
Benefits:
- Track questions over time
- Document research process
- Remember to follow up
💡 Idea
Plans and Experiments
When to Use:
- Care experiments to try
- Display/arrangement ideas
- Propagation plans
- Collection goals
What to Include:
- Idea description
- Why you want to try it
- Expected results
- Implementation plan
Example Entry:
Type: Idea 💡 Date: Oct 24, 2025 Idea: Test self-watering pot vs regular watering Why: Going on vacation next month, need reliable watering solution Experiment Plan: 1. Move plant to self-watering pot 2 weeks before vacation 2. Test if plant tolerates new setup 3. If successful, use during 2-week vacation 4. Compare plant health before/after vacation Expected: Plant maintains health with less frequent manual watering Timeline: Start Nov 1, vacation Nov 15-30, evaluate Dec 1
Benefits:
- Document experiments
- Plan care improvements
- Track ideas before implementing
💡 Tips & Tricks
Choose Right Entry Type
When Unsure:
- Care activity = Something you did TO the plant
- Health event = Something wrong WITH the plant
- Growth event = Something NEW from the plant
- Observation = General notes ABOUT the plant
Combine Entry Types
Example: Pruning + Propagation
- Main entry: ✂️ Pruning (removing excess growth)
- Second entry: 🌱 Propagation (using cuttings in water)
- Both link to same event, different perspectives
Use Tags for Cross-Referencing
Tag Examples:
- #experiment-2025-light (track specific experiment)
- #fertilizer-miraclegro (all uses of one product)
- #success (positive outcomes)
- #problem (issues to watch)
❓ Common Questions
Q: Which entry type is most important?
A: Watering 💧 - Track every watering to identify patterns and adjust schedule. Second: Observation 📝 (catch problems early).
Q: Do I need to use every entry type?
A: No! Use what's relevant. Minimum: Watering, Fertilizing, Observation. Add others as needed.
Q: Can one event have multiple entry types?
A: Yes! Example: Repotting day:
- 🪴 Repotting (main event)
- ✂️ Pruning (trimmed damaged roots)
- 📸 Photo (documented root condition)
- 💧 Watering (watered after repotting)
Q: What's the difference between Observation and Photo entries?
A:
- Observation 📝: Text-focused notes (can include photos)
- Photo 📸: Photo-focused documentation (can include captions)
Use Observation for thoughts, use Photo for visual records.
🔗 Related Topics
Essential Reading
- Creating Entries - How to make diary entries
- Diary Views - Timeline, calendar, filtered views
Related Features
- Diary Tab - Access diary interface
- Quick Actions - Fast entry creation
Care Correlation
- Growth Analysis - Link diary to growth
- Reminders - Auto-create entries
Last Updated: October 24, 2025
Document Version: 2.0 (Modular Structure)