Need help finding a waterproof/fade resistant marker

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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Apr 30, 2004

I wonder if there is a UV-resistant tape or laminating plastic.

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Weezingreens Seward, AK(Zone 3b) Apr 30, 2004

When you buy plants from a 'real' nursery, they have those lovely plastic tags which offer pictures and information, as well as the name. Many of them are impossible to bleach out, even if you try. The ink must be baked in. It would be great to be able to create such tags on my computer, adding my pictures and personal information.

Every fall, I haul in at least two 5 gallon buckets filled with plant tags that I've cut from bleach bottles and window blinds. Once indoors, I soak them in strong sudsy bleach water to remove the ink, then dry them and stow them away for the next season. The only markings that don't bleach off are grease pencil and graphite pencil. I haven't tried the paint pens, as yet.

Rather than sun bleaching the tags, I have an issue with water. Paper tags run ink, and no matter how carefully I seal then in clear contact paper, they eventually leak and run. There has to be some way to do this successfully in a cost effective way.

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miss_kitty Franklin, LA(Zone 9b) Apr 30, 2004

i've been using old miniblind blades and sharpie markers
i write the pertinent information on the top (for easy reading) and the bottom of the marker, and have found so far that this seems to work ..
the top fades, but it can be re-written.. but the bottom part that goes in the dirt stays perfectly legible


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Weezingreens Seward, AK(Zone 3b) Apr 30, 2004

That's just what my friend with a sunny garden does, too. It seems to work for her, as well.

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gardenwife Newark, OH(Zone 5b) Apr 30, 2004

I find that some of the mini-blind slats get pretty brittle after one winter. If I don't move them, they're okay, though. I have thought about finding some old aluminum blinds and using them!

Post #854344
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Weezingreens Seward, AK(Zone 3b) Apr 30, 2004

I've used the painted aluminum blinds, but the paint comes off when I bleach them. I don't know how they'd do if I left them outdoors. The edges are also quite sharp when you cut them. I imagine strong sunlight would break down the plastic, but that doesn't seem to be an issue in my shady yard. Between the trees and mountains, I'm lucky to get a half day's sun... luckily our summer days are pretty long!

Post #854348
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miss_kitty Franklin, LA(Zone 9b) Apr 30, 2004

i doubt the mild winters we have here would affect the plastic very much...
i imagine, though.. after a few years in the sun they would become pretty brittle and just fall apart if messed with..

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