People that use the wires have a list of cultivars with a wire color assigned to them. This will indicate the pollen parent of the cross. You will have to write down the pod parent when you collect the pod.
People that use the wires don't usually record a date. You can add an additional worksheet that lists the cross and date. If you are going to add a tag with a date, you might as well just write the cross and date on it and skip using the wire.
Ed

I use an ink pen to write the pollen parent's initials on the scape as close to the flower as I can. If I have parents with the same initials then I might use a number after the initials. When the pods grow large I then write the initial right on the pod.

But I don't write the date. If you lightly squeeze the pod and it opens up, then the seeds are ripe.

I also find that I get nicer looking seeds if I don't water for a couple of days before I harvest the seeds.

Thanks!! I ended up buying chenille (funny, I know). It is cheap, colorful and comes a bunch to a pack. I use the Flower Database, so I can keep track of the colors there. I cut them into 2" pieces, just long enough to wrap around the stem. I also added a piece of scotch tape to the end of each and mark the date there. Works like a charm... none came off in the pounding rain last night...

I find twisting the wire way easier than trying to tie on string tags.

Ed, no buds yet on those babies... I am looking every day!

Hey, whatever works for you is best!

I have some IG kids from another cross just starting to bloom, so maybe yours is getting close.
Ed

A seperate hybridizing question: When you are trying to set buds on a large Tet flower, should I cut off part of the flower the day after? I find that the weight of the melted flower has been pulling the baby buds off the scape. Especially if it rains and adds more water weight to the spent bloom. Anyone have any different advice or anyone do this already?

I hope so Ed... I can't wait! :o) Seems like you are about two weeks ahead of me.