Re-labeling Project

[susiep]

I have decided today is a good day to make new labels for all my orchids. I bought the tags, I just need suggestions. I dated all my newest purchases (they all have tags). What to do about all the NOIDs... at least 30. What about keikis? Orphans? Any suggestions welcome.

[stonedragonfarms]

Susie
When I label my noids i usually just put the repot date on the tag and the genus (if it's readily known)...then when it's in bloom i'll pull the tag and list the flower color. If you know who the plant came from, you can always call it Den. NOID 'Jane's Gift' or some such thing. I have a few of these, and while I have no idea "who" they truly are, I always remember the friends that they came from when they are in bloom.
Good luck labeling, I'm off to repot
Adam

[camille1585]

I give my NOIDs names. For example, I name it after the place I got it, the person who gave it, what it looks like, or the hybrid it looks closest to. One NOID phal is similar to 'Brother Laurence' so I labelled it with the date I got it and called it -Phal NOID looks like Brother Laurence'- For the keikis I write the date I cut it off, and the -keiki Phal ____"
Speaking of which, I have a keiki to pot up soon!

[jim blanford]

All good advice, one other thing is to mark both sides of the tag. Nothing worst then knocking over a pot and breaking a spike trying to read a tag marked on the other side, hope this helps. Jim.

[tbaenziger]

I repotted some today as well; the weather was sooo nice in Houston...
My advice: use a pencil (#2 or softer) Too many of my friends, and myself, have taken the tag out after six months and there is nothing but a series of dots left from sharpies or other so-called permanent ink.
There is one thing I cannot fathom in the world of orchid-dom, and that is why people put the name of the plant facing in, toward the plant, so it cannot be seen without bending the tag or craning you neck. The idea of putting the name on both sides is OK, but I try to mark the repotting date and date of last blooming on the reverse: r 24ii'08, bl (4 on 1) 13IX'07, like that. I try to keep the same system so I can see immediately when a plant needs repotting when it was done last.

By the way, for really valuable plants I bury another small tag in the medium just in case the normal one gets blown away or just jumps out and commits suicide (this truly happens!)

Good luck. I find repotting to be soothing and a good time to get to know all the babies. Time well-spent, I think.