PlantFiles Checkbox Guidelines

It's agreed upon that we should have some type of guidelines set up for checking the detail checkboxes so we keep all the entries consistent. I've asked lots of questions, talked to several people, gathered opinions, and from all that have come up with this general guideline list according to what was decided on.

Let's use 'Rain Man' as an example. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/131336/

Since I don't have the CD, Gail is working ahead of me, putting the First Class description in the comments section. If you have the CD, and are working on a letter section alone, it would probably be easiest for you to add the description in the comments section first, then come back and work on the detail checkboxes.

Also, the size of the plant (standard, large standard, semiminiature trailer, etc) is not part of the description, but is listed in another place on FC. Please be sure to put the size of the plant at the end of the FC description in your comment. That makes it nice for people looking up the plant, as well as makes it easier for you to fill out the checkboxes. Example for 'Rain Man': "Semidouble-double dark blue large star/wide white-green edge. Dark green, quilted, glossy/maroon back. Large" This particular entry has had "Large" added to the end. If you prefer to expand to "Large Standard" that is fine, too.

Joan said to not mark positive or negative and the system will automatically flag it as neutral, since it's just information, not an opinion. Unless you have an opinion of that particular plant, then you could select the correct option and add your opinion. :o)

Important informtion about submitting an error report! Please, only use the red button at the top of the PlantFile entry page that says "Report an error" to submit corrections. It is right beside the green button that says "Search plants". When you use that button, a link to the exact entry you're referring to will be included with your error report, which makes it so much easier for Joan and mystic to correct the problems.

Then the Checkboxes. They're not hard, and most of the information is either standardized or comes from the FC description.

Size/Type
That's what you're putting at the end of the FC description. Simply check the appropriate checkbox/es.

Height
Check 6-12 inches for standards and large standards
Check less than 6 inches for minis and semi-minis

Bloom Color
Found in the FC description. Check only the main color of the bloom. So for 'Rain Man' which has the description "Semidouble-double dark blue large star/wide white-green edge", you would check only "Dark Blue". Do not include fantasy, edging, eye or other colors. The exception is Chimeras. Please select the two main colors of a Chimera bloom.

Flower Characteristics
Found in the FC description. Again, 'Rain Man' - I checked Double, Semidouble, Star, and Edged. Please be sure to read the description closely and check all the indicated characteristics.

Leaf Shape/Type
See FC description - For 'Rain Man' - Dark green, quilted, glossy/maroon back - I checked Quilted. If there are several words describing leaf shape/type, please be certain to check them all.

Leaf Texture
See FC description - in our example I checked Glossy/Shiny.

Leaf Color
Again to the FC description - We do not have the option to select any shades of green, so that part is irrelevant. However, for 'Rain Man' I checked Red Back (or red reverse). You'll also enter variegation information here, when it's relevant. For the time being, there is no option to check if it just indicates the leaves are variegated, but does not indicate the color of the variegation. We're trying to get something added, but for now, just leave it blank if it does not specify the color of the variegation. As well, we have to leave it blank if the leaves are green, with no variegation or red back.

Other Details
This one is standardized. Check the following:

This plant is suitable for growing indoors
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Suitable for growing in containers

If anything other than those three are listed on an entry (a lot of them have Provides Winter Interest included), please submit an error report (using the red button at the top of the entry) and ask that it be removed.

Propagation
Check the following:

May be propagated by cuttings (leaf, sucker, or bloom stalk)

Exceptions to this rule are:

If it is a species, then also check: May be propagated by seed

If it is a Chimera, then check only the one that speaks of Chimera propagation.

Many of the entries have "May be propagated by seed" and "May be propagated by tissue culture" checked. Please submit an error report and request to have those removed.

Soil pH requirements
Most of them already are filled in, but confirm that only the two selections below are present.

If it's not filled in, then check:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)

If anything else is there, please submit an error report.

See, a lot of the checkbox information comes from the FC description, which is why I said it might be best for you to put that in first. If someone else is adding the descriptions for you and you come to one that doesn't have a description added yet, make a note of that one, tell your partner, skip it for the time being, and come back when they've added the description.

As you work, please check the descriptions on the ones that are already filled in to be sure that they actually are the correct description that FC gives, and confirm that all checkbox information that has been filled in is correct. If not, enter the correct description as a comment, and maybe note that it is from the AVSA First Class CD, or submit an error report to have the details corrected. Also, please confirm that the name is exactly correct. For example if one is entered as "Bob's Rockinghorse" but it really should be "Bob's Rocking Horse" you'd want to submit an error report on that. There are a few duplicate entries as well. I found 'Rebel's Splatter Kake' and 'Rebel's SplatterKake'. I submitted a report and it was corrected right away! :o)

I think that pretty much covers everything. If you have any questions at all that I can help with, please do ask me

Remember, the PlantFiles entries will only be as good as we make them. Let's all do our best to create a top-notch reference source for everyone! :o)

Many thanks to everyone who is putting forth their time and effort on this project! :o)

This message was edited Aug 22, 2007 2:29 PM

To add something if I may;

When reporting an error, please do so from the main PlantFile page. If it's reported from the comment area, the link we receive in the error report doesn't take us anywhere, and unless you named the cultivar in your report, we have no way of knowing which entry is wrong.

Thank you, Joan. I didn't know there was a way to report an error from the comment section, so didn't know to add that part. I mentioned the red button, but I think I'll go back up and edit the post to make it a little more clear where that is, so if someone just skims the first post, they'll know for sure.

You and mystic are great! Thank you both for all your help! :o)

Thanks for pointing me here, RG!

I wanted to add a comment about using the descriptions from FC... if you click on the "copy to clipboard" button in the database entry, the description will be copied along with the hybridizer, and the size (standard, miniature, whatever) will be added at the end of the description.

After you click that button, just go from First Class to the PF "add a note" box and use "paste" to enter the information as a comment.