Non-fading plant tag marking pen?
 

I'm looking for some alternatives to using a "Sharpie" type permanent marker for marking plastic plant tags. I find that Sharpies fade too easily. I have used pencil, but have to tape over that to keep it from rubbing off of plastic.

The ideal marker would be:

• Available in hardware, hobby, garden or big box stores

• Non-fading, non-chipping. Permanent.
• Able to write on, stick to plastic

Any suggestions?

It's been quite a few years but at one point I used a garden marking pen and while it lasted longer than regular sharpies...it eventually faded too. Better than the regular sharpies though.

This is the one I got...I picked it up at a local garden center but I'm showing this so you can see what I used.
Garden Marker Pen - Labels And Pens | Greenhouse Megastore

I now use a label maker and I get over 2yrs but typically less than 3yrs out of it before the ink fades. Bonus, the label maker is neater and easier to read than my handwriting.

I haven't used them but sharpie now makes an "extreme" permanent marker. It might last longer. ??

Sharpie "Industrial" is much better than their regular pen, and I read that they had recently released one that's even better for UV stability, but I haven't seen them yet.

Brother P-Touch labels are the best.

I have used the same Garden Marker for the past 12 years and found that the plastic marker itself degraded from exposure before the marker writing faded!

I'm surprised the pencil wears off. That has been the best solution for me. If the tags are too shiny then it isn't as good. But some have an almost suede type finish on one side. Or I use a kitchen steel wool pad and rough it up first (or sandpaper). I never have to redo my pencil marked tags.

I mark everything with pencil. Surprisingly they last a very long time in the pot and no fading.

Andrew

I try to keep the tags that come with the plants but I also keep a list on my computer of what plants I have so that if I lose the tag but forget the exact name, I can still identify the plant (I have enough variety that it isn't usually too difficult to tell which orchid or other plant I am holding). Tags do disappear or break now and then.

Yeah, I bought a box of the Sharpie Industrial a couple years ago and have found that they too eventually fade almost completely, even under 6500K CFL lights.

I think pencil is very close to permanent, although you can rub it off.

My Sharpie Industrial has also faded. I won't buy another one. I typically mark the tag with pencil on one side and label maker on the other.

For mounts I often use a sharpie to write the information right on the back on the mount. These markings haven't faded on me yet after several years :).

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll try to find the garden marker pen (we have a local store that is just gardening). If I can't find that, I'll see if I can find the Sharpie Extreme. I may try sanding plastic tags to see if that helps pencil adhere to my tags better.

Has anyone tried so-called paint markers? Are these fine pointed & durable enough for labeling purposes?

Thanks for this thread. I was looking for the same thing. :)

Well, I tried getting the garden marker first but no luck. A place nearby had the Sharpie Extreme markers so I bought those, will let you know how it works out.

Thanks everyone!

Regarding paragraph 1, I find that if I just use an erasure on the tag, enough to remove the gloss, that a #2 pencil takes fine. Regarding the paint marker, the ones I have used did not have a fine enough tip to mark tags, although maybe someone makes them with a finer tip.