Plant Labels

What's the deal with plant labels? Why are they so expensive??? I'm just looking for the plain old white plastic dealies and I don't feel like paying what they're asking for for that few labels.

Does anyone know where to buy a bunch for cheap (I've tried ebay, no luck) or can some one tell me how to make em from blinds?

Thanks!

I have gotten the ones cut from blinds,attached to trade plants. They have been started on the rounded edge of the blind and then cut on an angle to push into the soil. Have gotten ones with the names on labels and also with permanent marker (Not Sharpie) and both seem to work well in WI. The label ones seem to last longer, but I don't know what kind of labeling machine was used.
I tried using paint pens on old knives, but ended up with smeared letters that didn't last a minute-too bad-would have been pretty and cheap.
Using a sharp point on soft metal seems to be the cheapest way-but need to have a source and then to turn back all of the sharp edges with round tip pliers (craft ones). I don't use the plastic ones much anymore- as they don't hold up to the cold and the racing dogs!

I've often asked the same question, Captmicha! You can get something packaged in plastic to be thrown away, but those darned tags can cost 10 cents or more apiece! It doesn't make sense.

I use bucket loads of plant tags every year, and for me, the old plastic window blinds are the best. The slight curvature seems to make the stronger when sticking in the soil, as well. I cut mine in half lengthwise to get more bang for my buck. I've put the folks at the dump site on alert for me, as well as the Salvation Army shop, so I can keep a good stock of them.

I also rinse out bleach bottles and cut them up for tags. The plastic is very durable in that type of bottle. For my seedling tags, I've even cut up milk jugs, etc, since they won't be expected to live out the year outdoors.

I also recycle my tags by collecting them up over the summer in a five gallon bucket with holes in the bottom for drainage. Each time I empty a pot or dump seedlings in the compost, I throw the tags in the bucket. At the end of the year, I rinse them off, then put them in a container of hot, sudsy strong bleach water and let them soak until the ink comes off. I rinse them off, dry them on a towel, and put them in gallon bags for the next year.

We don't get the intense sun that some places do, so fading plant tags are less of an issue. However, I've found that sticking the end of the tag with the writing into the ground first protects the lettering longer.

I have found that its really cheaper to buy new blinds than the old ones. The smallest new blinds only cost $2.50 at Walmart and each blind can be cut into 4 tags. The old blinds seem to break very easily and they cost about the same here. I've also found that #2 pencils are the best for labelling. They don't fade, they're waterproof, and I can erase misspellings.

Pins, I hadn't thought of them getting brittle! I think that is because our sun exposure here doesn't break down the plastic as fast. I replaced some window shades two years ago. The old shades had been on the windows for at least 8 years. I'm still using those old blinds for tags and they're fine.

I've considered buying new shades, and I may have to if I run out soon. Another possibility is to go to the home improvement centers that cut blinds to fit people's windows. There are often scrap pieces available there.

Good idea about the graphite pencil.. it does last a long time. Grease pencil is pretty durable here, but I don't know how it holds up in truly hot places.

For labels, I save the metal ends from frozen fruit juice concentrate containers (12 oz. size) . I open a small hole with a hammer and nail and thread a short piece of thin wire through it. I write the variety name in permanent marker and fasten the label to a stake or to the support cage for tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. Easy to read and doesn't get buried or knocked over. There may be some rust around the rim at season's end, but they can be used another year.

A friend of mine does something similar. She cuts out pop cans and writes on the printed side, backward, so the unprinted side is embossed. Then she makes a metal stake with a curly cue top to hang them on.

Well, for the last time I promised myself, I went ahead and ordered a bunch. 100 4" labels with s&h came to almost 6 bucks.

I'll go through that in no time! I'm doing the blinds from now on!

The best way to print on your labels is with a pencil and then spray your lettering with hair spray. The lacquer weatherproofs and fade proofs. I have some miniature popsicle sticks that I labeled with the writing still clear as if it'd been labeled yesterday. The wood was rotting but there was the writing clear as can be.

Great ideas on plant labels. I learned the hard way not to use popsicle sticks! Now there are plenty of plants in my garden that I don't know the names of...

I invested in a few Sharpie Industrial pens. They state "super permanent ink - specially formulated for industrial, laboratory and commercial use; remains permanent under most chemical washes and extreme heat and steam up to 500 degrees". I've put them to the test by trying to scrub off the label with cleansers and the ink doesn't budge. I got them from office depot.

I recently saw someone use plastic knives for markers. I think I'll give those a try this year.

Heres a link to a supplier that is very reasonable. I been ordering from them for a couple of years. Postive ratings in the Watchdog.

Paul

http://www.novoselenterprises.com/products/general.asp

This message was edited Jan 22, 2005 3:34 PM

What exactly do they mean by permanent? That they won't wear off or fade? The problem I found with using markers is that the ink cracks and chips off.

I buy printed markers for my roses. I find that if I spray with hairspray they last a very long time.

Paul

Well, I have a problem with popsicle sticks--Cujo thinks they're great
to carry around & chew on.

I'm listing all these ideas to try out. Keep 'em coming.

I don't know how they make those commercial markers so 'permanent'... I think the ink must be heat treated or something.

I think its probably more like an paint instead of ink.

Paul

CaptMicha............here is a link to a place I have ordered plant labels in the past....pretty reasonable.....Last year there was a co-op for labels....maybe someone will do it again.....

http://www.everlastlabel.com/about_us.htm

I will try to find the thread on the coop.....

Deann

Ok....found the thread from last year's Co-Op on plant labels....I myself ordered 300 of them....great deal....maybe LimyLisa will do it again...

Deann


http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/445853/

Thanks for those links. Speaking of hairspray, it also works great to use for making cut flowers last longer.

I use the free cd's that come in the mail. Write on the shiny side with a permanent marker. I stick it in front of the plant, in the dirt.

Since I like to take pictures, I'm always looking for the tag that doesn't look like a tag. Nothing spoils a shot like a big old plant tag!

I like the way it looks, it makes me feel knowlegable with a tag with a big old latin name on it. Lol. But in the ground in a garden, a nice decorative tag looks better.

I've got so many plants that all those tags make it look like a crime scene investigation! LOL!

Here are some other ideas...

Those old louvered doors, before you toss them, take the louvers out!

Also, everytime I go to the hardware store or Walmart, I grab a hand full of those FREE paintsticks.

Disclaimer: I have not USED these yet, so they have not been tested for durability, steadfastness, fade resistance, moisture repellance, or chew proofness. I have only collected them FOR use this year.

Meanwhile, I keep a journal, and everytime I plant, I make a little sketch showing what went where...
Somewhere in the DG memeber stores, I saw a store which offered custom plant labels. Free sample for $1 postage. If someone tries this out, please let us know...

I'm looking for plant labels... I think they're aluminum or some kind of metal... copper maybe? Public gardens use them for labeling species. Where do you think I could find them cheap? I really really detest paying even $1 per label.... I have just too many plants for that.

The ones offered in the DG store were just that in fact...

No, I mean something really fancy, like exhibition plant labels. Where the name of the plants are engraved. Those weren't even metal.

I tried this last year and it worked OK...We had hundreds of those disposable knives and forks you use at picnics left over from an event at work. I took them home and thought to use them as plant labels(some were clear and some were white). I wrote on the handle with best permanant marker I could find and stuck them next to the plant....They did not break down, were easy to read (except the clear ones) and I just went out & looked...still OK...just a thought. They only cost .99 cents for 100 white knives at Walmart and slightly more @ Target.

CaptMicha, my son made me several plant tags from rolled copper. He had an embossing kit for stamping the letters on. I can attach them to wood plants with wire, or I can hook them on stakes, or I can staple them to the stakes. They are very attractive, and they are indestructable. I just can't begin to have a tag for each one of my plants!

That's an awesome idea. Getting sheet copper is easy and I've always wanted to try my hand at engraving. They have a engraving kit at the local craft store.

That disposable cuttery idea is great! Cheap and easy.

Cap'n, show us one when you do it, sounds like a neat project, worthy of bragging.
Tamara

edited fer sepllong

This message was edited Feb 1, 2005 11:56 PM

I will!

CaptMicha, You may want to check this out also, I am gonna try this , this year along with all the others. Just have to tell the animals to leave alone.http://www.willowbrookacres.com/planttags.html

Good idea, MDreams. I've made them with pop cans, but not folded like that. These look much nicer. Here's the link so that somebody can click on it: http://www.willowbrookacres.com/planttags.html

OH - I like that soda can idea - I'm going to give it a try this afternoon! Thanks for the great link!
Wow, if this works for me I can feel justified in my soda habit!

Beer cans work, too! LOL!

Thanks Weezingreens, I not real up to date on the puter but learning.

Carolyn

You're welcome, Carolyn. If you want a web address to appear as a 'link' so folks can click on it, just open the site, go up to the tool bar and highlight the address, then go into edit and click on copy. Come back into DG and to your thread, then go into edit and hit copy. I was so happy when I found out how to do that!

I bookmarked it, I may just try that.

I spent a lovely afternoon making lots and lots of awesome soda-can labels . . . after making my son dig through the recycling bin to get them all for me! LOL
They turned out awesome - I can't wait to try them out. I think I'm going to put one outside soon to see how the "wear and tear" is. Last year my plastic labels were unreadable by season's end, and I had no idea what some varieties in my garden were!

Don't forget pics of your lovely handiwork!

This message was edited Feb 5, 2005 1:14 AM