I just watched the tutorial video and it was very helpful. However it does not address what to do when you want to add a plant to your list that is not in the plant data base. Looks like my plant list is limited to those in the Plant Data, not a true list of the plants I have.
For example I have a Rattlesnake Ginger, both the yellow and white. I want to put that on my plant list but it appears I can only list plants that ATP recognizes. How can I list my plants without knowing things like Genus, species and all that technical information that I don't have time to research. It might be in the Plant Data base but only with the Latin names so cannot search for it if I don't know the Latin name. I just want to make a list of all my plants. Looks like only specialized gardeners with technical knowledge can have a plant list. Not being negative just frustrated that the personal plant list seems to be too specialized. Yes, I would like to know the technical name but don't have time to work on it now.
Another example. I have a Costa Rican weeping bamboo. Don't know the genus etc but I know where it is in my yard, I know when I got it. Why can't I just enter Costa Rican Weeping Bamboo. As it is my personal plant list why does it have to be in the Plant Data Base.
Thanks
Mike

Here, I added the rattlesnake ginger for you -- you can now bring it up by using the common name. It took me all of 2 seconds to search the web for the latin name & from there I found many of the common names & added them to the database for that plant. All totaled time expended -- 5 minutes maybe. Since we have no photos of it in the database it would be very nice if you would add a photo of yours if you can spare the minute it will take to do so.
Rattlesnake Ginger (Calathea crotalifera)


And here. I have added the common name for your bamboo
Climbing Bamboo (Chusquea coronalis)

Thank You Ann, wow that was fast. I have not worked with ATP for very long so it takes me time to navigate the site. It takes my brain a few minutes to work through the computer process to search and input items. I'm a fanatical plant collector and have to have one of everything so I tend to acquire plants without knowing their name. Organizing a list is not going to be easy.

When I get a spare moment I will add those to my plant list. I will certainly take the time to post a pic of the yellow Rattlesnake when in bloom. The White one is a new purchase and will not bloom for some time.

Thanks Again.

You are welcome Mike!
I understand it's all a bit confusing right now. ATP has a gazillion features. But one of the best things about this site is that it is extremely easy to navigate. I think that throws people b/c we are inherently looking for things to be complicated so we tend to overlook the simple, easy things. Just relax & stop pressuring yourself. It's amazing what you will see when you are not searching so hard. Maybe a case of not being able to see the forest for the trees?
Whenever you want to find the latin name of a plant that you only know the common name for then just Google the common name. You may come up with 15 wildly varying plants all with the same common name but *yours* will be in there somewhere. When you find it then you will find the latin name. Then you can put the latin name (I copy & paste often!) into the search field of our database to find you plant here. You can edit the plant name to add the common name or names that are missing from the plant info.
All the members of ATP have *built* the database and we continue to do so. Some plants don't have common names added yet but I know there are 2 less now than there were before you posted your question. We all contribute to filling in the missing data on plants and that ranges from common names to culture requirements to photos. Also we like photos of all the different parts of plants not just blooms. Someone may be trying to identify a plant of theirs that has not yet bloomed so a photo of the leaves, the trunk or bark, the stems, the buds can all help identify a plant. So please as you get time add your photos of differing parts of your plants. I imagine you have a lot of wonderful plants that we don't yet have photos of in our database. There is a comment section too below the data for each plant where you can add your own thoughts about a plant -- you love it & why -- you hate it & why -- what great features it has etc...

But most of all ~~~ ENJOY!

Another easy way to find the botanical epithet for a plant is to put a pic of it on Plant ID. Can't wait to see some of your tropical beauties!