The Search for the perfect plant tag continues: Slate tags??

[peeweelovesbooks]

Hi guys.

For some reason, the tags that I buy (which are 6 x 1) and are printed on both sides) become brittle quite fast. I've been looking for some tags that are 1) durable, 2) attractive and 3) not too costly.


So, in going through the listing on Etsy.com, I came across this listing for tags made out of old slate roofs:

slate garden or plant marker, set of 3 by jburlette on Etsy


What do you all think? Is slate inert enough not to damage my plants? I plan to print a transparent label with black lettering so that it will blend better.

Your comments/opinion is welcome.

[WhiteRabbit]

m - I am not sure how well the label tape would adhere to this

[peeweelovesbooks]

That's a good point!!!


He's going to send me a sample and I will try it out and see. I plan on using the industrial brother PT tape though. I'll let you know.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

That's a good point!!!


He's going to send me a sample and I will try it out and see. I plan on using the industrial brother PT tape though. I'll let you know.

was going to suggest maybe just trying a few

[EdinAZ]

I use plastic tags/ marker stakes I got from Calwest supplies. Some of these have been in my plants for about 10 years with no loss of color or flexibility. I use white for my species, yellow for hybrids, but they have a couple of other colors too. I use a Brady "I D pal" label maker with vinyl tape. probably similar to the what you were talking about. This tape comes in several colors too, including transparent, but I just use the white and yellow. The tape I've put on the marker stakes has also lasted without any problems.

Hope this helps.

Ed

[cloudswinger]

The brittleness comes from too much UV. I've found different plastics have differing rates of decay. I have some that are fine 2 years, and some that are all cracked up after 6 months. But I also have a problem with some critters stealing the tags, so I've taken to labeling the pots.

[EdinAZ]

Originally Posted by EdinAZ

I use plastic tags/ marker stakes I got from Calwest supplies. Some of these have been in my plants for about 10 years with no loss of color or flexibility. I use white for my species, yellow for hybrids, but they have a couple of other colors too. I use a Brady "I D pal" label maker with vinyl tape. probably similar to the what you were talking about. This tape comes in several colors too, including transparent, but I just use the white and yellow. The tape I've put on the marker stakes has also lasted without any problems.

Well, this post has been a great review of all the ways people use and think about to label their plants. Very interesting.

I don't mean to belabor this, but the labels I use have been fantastic. NO cracking or brittleness, NO fading, NO color loss, NO print degradation, NONE!

here are some pictures of a label that has been in this plant/pot for seven years (and I have some up to 10 years) in the greenhouse. The label stakes are $5 per 100 from CalWest (other sources may have them too). are I also pictured the label maker I use (it's a Brady ID PAL, and pretty easy to locate). It costs around $100, but since I bought it my wife and I have found many "needs" for labels around the house, kitchen, shop, etc. It runs off batteries or standard 110v (in the USA) household current. The vinyl label tape for it is kind of pricey (about $20 per roll) but how much you get from a roll will depend on how you use it. For my mounted plants, I punch a small hole in the "end" of the tag and wire it to the mount in an unobtrusive spot.

I have also used it outdoors with the same results . . . and anything that can stand up to the Arizona sun for more than a couple of years is probably indestructible.

fyi, the plant is a Bpl. Golden Spice 'Hot Peppers' (Bpl. = Brassavola (now Ryncholaelia) x Epidendrum x Laelia.

You'd think I get a commission on these, but I have just found this system to be the best labelling method for orchids and with a lot of "general utility" for other labelling.

Ed

[Ray]

If you shove the label down in the medium so only the top is there to grab, the label will not be blasted with UV.

or...

Try the Brother label on aluminum. Most folks cut up beer cans, but you can get "flashing" material from the Home Despot or Lowes.

I don't know if I'd bother with the extra expense of the "industrial" labels though. If I remember correctly, the only difference with the "normal" one is the adhesive, and that doesn't seem to be an issue at all! I put name tags on some Corningware casserole dishes before gong to a party about 15 years ago. They have been used a great deal, and run through the dishwasher many, many times since then, and they're still attached.

[shadec]

Originally Posted by Ray

Try the Brother label on aluminum. Most folks cut up beer cans, but you can get "flashing" material from the Home Despot or Lowes.

The good thing about aluminium (thats how its spelt here, the correct way :P) is that its soft and very durable, but only soft enough that it can be 'written' on, by pressing a ballpoint pen on it, which will be permanent, i dont know about cans, though i know you can buy aluminium plant tags, and even, if your really serious, a stamp-printer, which just uses small letter shapes, this is a really good system, but a bit more expensive than plastic. this is what they used for the orchids at the royal botanical gardens here in Sydney

[Ray]

Originally Posted by shadec

The good thing about aluminium (thats how its spelt here, the correct way :P)

Understood (I lived in England for a few years, so got used to their poor excuse for "English").