Plant Markers?

[JimZ]

Hi,

Just wondering if you could give me some tips on what you use to mark your orchids. Best place to buy them? Size and Width? What type of pencil works best to write on markers?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Jim Z

[Ross]

I use plain generic plant markers from WaMart. They are white and 5" long. I use a plain #2 pencil. Ink won't last.

[Becca]

I like the plant markers from repotme.com. What I like about them is that they have a places for you to mark when they bloom, when they were last repoted, and then on the other side they have the place for the name of the orchid. I usually just use a sharpie marker, but if you do use one, make sure you get a very fine tiped one or else it will be hard to read!

[cb977]

I use the plain old plant markers you can find in Lowe's or HD.
I also found aluminum tags that get a depression of what you're writing when you press down with a pen. They work well but it's hard to attach them to anything so you have to stick two of them back-to-back and it's a pain in the...
...I've also used cut-down pieces of old plastic venetian mini-blinds. Cut them down to about 3 inches or so and they work great.

What to write with? LOL...I've tried everything! I used ink and markers including Sharpies but the thing that works best is a plain old #2 pencil!

[JimZ]

Thanks for all the great ideas. I went to Home Depot this morning and found venetian mini-blind in their dumpster. They are going to work great.

Thanks for the idea.

JimZ

[cb977]

Originally Posted by JimZ

Thanks for all the great ideas. I went to Home Depot this morning and found venetian mini-blind in their dumpster. They are going to work great.

Thanks for the idea.

JimZ

[Ray]

As far as WHAT to write with, pencil can smudge, but it will last longer than most markers. Sharpie Industrial Strength are pretty good. There are also photographic pens that are even better, but i don't recall muc about them.

By far the most durable in my experience is a Brother P-Touch label.

[Grandma M]

I use the Brother P-touch label maker with different colored tape for the different types of plants. I order the colored tapes from Brother but the office supply stores carry the white tapes in several widths.

On the reverse side of the label is space to write info (with a pencil) such as re-pot date, flower date, or other info.

I color code mine like this - example
Paph - White
Phrag - orange
Phal - Yellow
Oncid Allaince - Blue
Vanda - Green

I place the printed tapes onto 1" X 6" labels. Note: Charleys has them on sale now for 50 pac -$3.40 regular price $6.95 (which is still cheaper than what I bought before)

Marilyn

[cb977]

Doesn't the humidity and water loosen the tape from the tag? I'd love to use something like that but it seems to me that they wouldn't stick very well.

[Grandma M]

Originally Posted by cb977

Doesn't the humidity and water loosen the tape from the tag? I'd love to use something like that but it seems to me that they wouldn't stick very well.

They really stick. If I want to peel them off to reuse the label it is an aweful job. Most of the time I just toss them.

I have soaked them in a glass of water for several days and they are still in perfect condition. I just wanted to see how they would hold up. I have had some of them for a couple of years and they look like the day I made them.