The pros and cons of metal plant tags

[james mickelso]

Wow! All that information? Is it really needed? I guess if you are in the business of selling or hybridizing orchids but for most folks? Wow! Here's what I use. Last at least 5 years with no deterioration. Unless you are using plutonium or magnesium, metals won't hurt your orchids. The amount leached out of the metal is too miniscule to hurt them. You can order them from Graingers.com. Look under labels.

[alexmenke92]

That sounds good, I really appreciate your advice. I wasn't sure about heavy metals leaching from tags, I figured it would be miniscule but I just wanted to make sure. I am really in to the dart frog hobby so as you can imagine I am very careful when it comes to protecting animals and plants. I will check out the site. It may be a dumb question but what did you use to engrave the tag with?

[james mickelso]

My aluminum sandwich tags last 10 years. I used them on my bonsai all the time where repotting is paramount. They don't corroded at all. I use a ball point pen to write on them.