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Anyone make their own labels?

12 years ago

Hello, I'm trying to find info on how to make my own labels. I'm interested in something that makes waterproof tags... the ones that seem to be printed right on those hard white plastic labels? Every now and then I pick up an orchid that has its name printed right on the label, rather than hand written. I'm not sure if these tags have something taped on the tag or if the nanmes are printed directly onto the hard plastic... which is what I would like. If it matters, I only intend to print the orchids names. I have too many untagged orchids or the names were washed off over time. Thanks. Joss

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Comments (5)

orchidnick
12 years ago
2 things happens to labels. They get brittle from UV light, break and fall off or the writing fades. Some of the best orchid growers (Andy for example) give you lousy labels. Lots of useful info on them but after about 5 years very prone to breakage. In a potted plants that's OK but with a mounted plant you may loose it's ID. I have been making my own labels for years and feel they are superior to what I can buy.

My son replaced full length venetian blinds in his living room some years ago. The panels were floor to ceiling, 3 1/2" wide and made of a durable semi rigid white vinyl/plastic. Using a paper cutter I cut them into 3/4" to 1" strips and drilled a hole in one end. Once I started doing that, like a robot, I finished all of the panels, I must have a couple of thousand labels, enough to last me for this and the next two lives.

After experimenting with permanent markers, I always come back to regular graphite #2 pencil which seems to work best. I does not seem to fade. Prior to this I cut up regular venetian blinds which have the 1" wide strips, also good but these are better.

Several members have 2 labels for each potted plant. One goes in the bottom of the pot, the other in the usual place at the side. If the latter gets lost or fades, the one in the bottom of the pot is there to rescue the ID of the plant. On mounted plants I try to use 2 labels, one on each side so if one falls off, the other is there. When I water I always carry a pencil with me and when I notice a tag is fading, I freshen it up.

A respected hybridizer/grower, Gerardus Staahl of Peninsula Hybrids also uses these blinds but he cuts his tags 2" wide and writes the name of the plant horizontal. Makes sense, they are easier to read and one does not have to pull the tag out. I personally have not adopted that as to me, the 2" wide tag is to conspicuous.

So far the venitian blind tags have shown no sign of UV brittleness. Despite all that I have my share of NDTs (same as NOID, figure it out). Frustrating.

Nick
ilovetogrow z9 Jax Florida
12 years ago
NDT = No Data Taken ?
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orchidnick
12 years ago
Or 'No Damn Tag'.

Nick
ginnibug
12 years ago
I have started switching mine over to pencil marked tags. My girlfriend who is REALLY into photography says that's what to use on the back of photos BECAUSE it doesn't fade. Unlike some tags I've gotten that only last about two years; these were marked w/fine Sharpie markers.gb
marcydee
11 years ago
I use software and laser printer. Software is for plant tagging and also tracking information. I also use it to make bench signs for when I am having public sales. The tags hold up with out fading which is good since I use the same tag from the first to the last pots. Got to try out the software for 45 days and didn't lose any data when I purchased it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Tag N Track

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