Verdia · Library
What should be recorded when a new indoor plant arrives?
Start a new plant record with identity, condition and source information that can be checked later.
Record what arrived, not an assumed diagnosis
Give the new plant a persistent identifier and keep the seller’s label, purchase or arrival date and initial photographs. Describe visible condition at arrival without assuming that a later symptom was already present or that a common name establishes species identity. Keep the original label even if the name is corrected later.
An initial indoor inspection can provide context for later comparisons. Record what was actually examined and any visible organisms or damage. An arrival record does not certify that a plant is pest-free, select a treatment or establish pet safety; those questions need their own appropriate evidence.
A first-entry checklist
- Record the plant identifier, arrival date and supplied name with its uncertainty.
- Photograph the whole plant and relevant details using a repeatable method.
- Keep the initial location, container and any actual care event as distinct dated records.