A “grow list”—the term used by the carnivorous plant community for a documented collection—is often built up over years of diligent effort. These records, including detailed plant profiles, feeding histories, growth metrics, and photo timelines, represent a significant investment of time. Because this data is stored locally on a single device to prioritize privacy and offline access, a lost, damaged, or replaced phone can result in the permanent erasure of your entire collection history if a backup has not been created.
What This Article Covers
This article outlines the two primary methods for backing up your data within TrapNote. It explains the differences between CSV and ZIP formats, how the restoration process functions, and how plan-specific limits affect the importing of records.
Two Export Formats: CSV vs. ZIP
To provide flexibility for both data analysis and total recovery, TrapNote supports two distinct export formats:
- CSV Export: This is a spreadsheet-friendly format that captures your plant data as a text-based ledger. It is ideal for users who wish to view their collection in external software for filtering or custom analysis. However, CSV files are limited to text data and do not include your photo timeline.
- ZIP Export: This is the comprehensive backup option. A ZIP export includes the entire database of records along with every photo associated with your collection. This format is intended for full data restoration or for migrating your entire grow list, photos included, to a new device.
How Restoring and Importing Works
Restoring your records is a straightforward process of importing a saved CSV or ZIP file back into the application. This action adds the records contained in the file to your current database.
However, the restoration process is subject to certain functional constraints based on your current plan:
- The 10-Plant Free Limit: Under the free version of the app, there is a registration limit of 10 plants. During an import, once this 10-plant cap is reached, the app will stop adding new plant entries, and any remaining plants in the backup file will be skipped.
- Pro-Feature Restoration: Specific data types, such as Environment Logs (tracking temperature, humidity, and light hours) or a plant’s Trade Flag, are Pro-level features. While this data is preserved within a ZIP backup, it will only be restored and accessible if the user has upgraded to TrapNote Pro.
For a broader look at why keeping this data in one place beats a spreadsheet, see One App or a Spreadsheet? What Carnivorous Plant Collectors Should Actually Be Recording.
Secure Your Collection with TrapNote
We have designed the CSV/ZIP Export and CSV/ZIP Import features to ensure that your records are never locked into a single device or format. We believe data portability is essential for serious collectors; therefore, both the export and import functions are available to all users for free. Whether you are moving from a spreadsheet grow list or simply want the peace of mind that comes with a monthly backup, these tools provide the necessary infrastructure to protect your history.
Summary
For a carnivorous plant collector, data loss is a risk that increases as a collection grows. By utilizing the free CSV and ZIP export tools, you can ensure that your plant profiles and feeding logs are backed up and portable. Understanding the differences between these formats and how the 10-plant limit applies to imports allows for a more secure and organized management of your lifelong grow list.
Consult a specialist or supplier before making decisions about your plant’s growing environment or care.
This article organizes information from a recording and organizing perspective. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us. Last verified: July 2026
