Share The Seeds

General and Off Topic => General Discussion => Topic started by: Roze on October 06, 2014, 04:49:22 PM

Title: How do you label your plants?
Post by: Roze on October 06, 2014, 04:49:22 PM

Hi guys,

 I'm experiencing some issues to label my outdoor plants, so far I've not found a effective method that resists the different climatic conditions for a long time. A proper identification is essential,  fortunately they are too many to remember the name of all ;)

So, how do you do it? Any ideas?

Thanks!

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: nobody on October 06, 2014, 05:47:47 PM

For long term stuff like trees I use scrap aluminum and etch it with a center punch (an old pen works too). If you use something thin like a soda can remember to file the edges after you cut the tag to remove the sharp edge.  :)

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: Auxin on October 06, 2014, 08:24:19 PM

I do the same.
I dont debur the edges tho, but I also dont wear gloves while gardening, I live dangerously  :P
The little triangles that are cut off can be an issue for bare feet tho.
When 'writing' on them with a ballpoint pen put a thin seed catalog/magazine/etc on a book and do it on that and write with firm pressure. They stay readable for many years.

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: MadPlanter on October 06, 2014, 08:56:54 PM

Those plastic vertical blind slots for windows make good material for cutting the tags like auxin did.

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: Seed Collector on October 06, 2014, 10:12:27 PM

I use plastic tags & a Sharpie marker.

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: hereje on October 06, 2014, 10:44:27 PM

I cut milk jugs into strips and use a perminate marker

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: New Wisdom on October 07, 2014, 12:16:11 AM

I use plastic tags and pencil.  Sharpie/permanent marker will degrade after a year or so of sunlight. I lost the labels for like 30 plants because of that fact.

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: happyconcacti on October 07, 2014, 12:50:42 AM

I use Cole's Aluminum tags. I've had them on plants for 3+ years and they're still readable.

When I get really fancy, I cut them out on a CNC machine. The 2nd pic is just an example, not a plant tag.  ;)

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: Auxin on October 07, 2014, 01:58:49 AM

 ;D I'll pass on CNC plant tags. I bought a lathe, a mill, tooling for both, and a mobile machine shop for the price of a CNC.
(They're $30,000)

CNC is cheating anyway :P

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: happyconcacti on October 27, 2014, 05:37:16 PM

Another thing I've done for indoor plants, is use old window blinds.

If you can find them used at a thrift they're incredibly cheap. I've used the metal blinds and cut them into 5"-6" sections. They take shaprpie marker very well and last for a year to two years.

I wouldn't use them outdoors on cacti though as they'll eventually fade.

Hcc

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: Sunshine on October 28, 2014, 03:41:51 AM

Epic idea hcc! I'll be using that. +1 :)

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: happyconcacti on October 28, 2014, 03:09:31 PM

Thanks Sunshine, It was my father's idea.

Another bonus about using blinds, the curvature of the slats of metal almost exactly fit the curvature of most 4" pots: They glide into the soil very easily without getting stuck.

Title: Re: How do you label your plants?
Post by: Roze on October 28, 2014, 08:22:49 PM

wow so many ideas!

I love the fact of recycling old stuff and turn it into useful items, already using scrap aluminum from old cans .. just perfect!

Thanks muchachos  :)