Greetings:

I wanted to share an idea I'm going to explore on labeling my figs and fruit trees.  As we all know it can be easy to mislabel or lose the label on a plant. 

I've been using aluminum cans.  I cut them into strips, drill a hole for a wire, and then primer and paint them black.  Then I use a gold or silver paint marker.   When I pot up, I also add the date and the label should stay with the plant forever.  It takes time to prepare them this way and the potential problem that I'm seeing is that the label starts to rub and scrape on the edge of the pot or some other object in the wind, it starts to look bad or flake off the paint.  And so I'm then worried about the longevity and I also want something that looks a little more professional.  I've seen the aluminum strip labels that you can write on with a pen, but I thing they look a little hokey.  From a photography stand point I'm a fan of black because it blends in better than a white or silver label.  You'll notice this whenever you go to a botanical garden and pay attention to the way landscape specimens are labeled.

Earlier in the summer I was using white plastic labels painted with black spray paint supposedly good for plastic.  The black paint was only lasting a month before flaking off.   The primered aluminum seems to be better, but it's not perfect and I want something that is going to last several years.

I stopped by Lowe's today and ordered some black 1" aluminum mini blinds.  I will cut these unto 2-3" pieces.  23$ for 200-300 labels.    I plan to relabel everything.  Call me crazy, but I also use the same color pot (Terra Cotta) on everything.   Terra cotta is not my favorite color, but it matches the bricks in my garden and it's a common color that I can keep adding to.

photo 1: painted aluminum can labels that I will probably just redo.  
photo 2: is just the book from Lowe's showing the different colors of the aluminum mini blinds. 
photo 3: old method showing a pot labeled with my plastic label and zip tie.
photo 4: the same variety later on in the summer with the aluminum can label and brass wire.

Kind regards.

I use strips of my favorite aluminum beer and soda cans.  BUT, I engrave AKA press hard with a pen over a soft surface the name of the varietal.  That is forever.  Engraved.  Does not disappear! 

Suzi

Thanks Suzi.  Good idea.  Where can I get an engraver?  Hobby shop?

Dan,

I've been using the cut up aluminum soda can and a ball point pen to ID my cuttings on transferring to a 1-gallon pot, but would like something a little nicer.  Your black label with gold ink is very nice.  How do you plan on marking the blinds?  How about a more permanent method like an engraving pen?  One day I hope to get to an approximately 1/8 inch thick brass or aluminum plate (~1 x 4 inches??) then stamp the name on the plate.

yea Suzi method, that's what I use, knew I saw a member mention it here before.

Dan, Just get a ball point pen, and something thick, and press hard!  I use a coaster.  It's kinda thick and leathery.  Easy peasy!  Happy New Year!  Hope you have your champagne and caviar on ice, and your jacuzzi on!

Suzi

Great looking plants and labels Dan .
I like the black aluminium mini blinds idea.

did a quick search and found this at ACE Hardware

Dremel® Deluxe Electric Engraver (290-01)

No champagne yet, just sipping on some Colorado Cool-aid.

I like then engraving pen idea.  The blinds will be a bit thicker than the can aluminum and I might not be able to press that hard and be able to maintain good penmanship.  Plus, the silver will come through, whereas that indentation of the pen will not.

Oh for crying out loud.  Press hard with a ball point pen!  Done!  Use a hole punch for the hole at the end, and tie the thing on with one of those green thingies!  NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!  Costs nothing!

Suzi

I use aluminum cans cut in strips and an electric ingraver from Harbor Freight, $6.99

For crying out loud.  LOL!    Remember, I'm being anal here, and want something "fancy"

I recommend a Mercedes Benz.  Your troubles will be over!

Suzi

The ball point pen method works but the results are sloppy.  The electric engraver looks much nicer as you don't have to press hard.

That's what I'm shootin for, the Mercedes Benz of plant labels.   You have that Champagne opened don't you?

Thanks WillsC and Steve.  I'm going to try the engraver.

The $6.99 Engraver from Harbor Freight does an excellent job. Soda/beer cans cut with scissors works too. I like 2 methods, alumimun gutters cut with tin snips and engraved with the name and aluminum tags on eBay.. In a photo, the name glows using the gutter/engraver method.

My aluminum can tags look sloppy too with my terrible writing plus add on trying to keep it neat pressing really hard using a pen.  I was searching e-bay and found a letter/number stamp set for $25 new and $7 used.  I'm sure either the blinds or aluminum can would look nice with stamped letters.  Yup, I desire the Benz of label making.

And I'm getting offended here, twice tonight I've seen derogatory names used.  Rocket Scientist - I used to be one, really.  I forgive you Suzi, I know it was only in fun : )   On another post "hokey" was used.  I graduated from Va Tech and am offended by the common use of "hokey" as something that doesn't appear right.  I'll forgive that one since I'm sure that one was in fun too.

Dan, The champagne and caviar don't come out till midnight, and we got 4 hours to go!

Suzi

Why not carve the name into the tree.

Dan Loves Vista

Dan ♥ Encanto

Dan & Maltese Falcon 4 Evah

Etc.

Oh Jeeze, Bob!  Now we need a wood burner!  It never ends!!

Happy New Year.  On my way to nap time until JD wakes me up for the big event!  I get 3.5 hours of bliss!

Adios and happy New Year!

Suzi

knife.

I saw new metal stamp sets on Amazon from $12.70 all the way up to $59.88

Crazy aka Dan - For the Rolls Royce of plant labels -

1.Write a list and the quantity of each variety needed

2. Send list to and engraver for trophy's and plaques - about 1/2"x4" should do it - with a hole punched on each side

3. Order them in brass so they don't rust.  Also order brass chain so you could chain it to the tree.

4. Pay the required amount.

Steve - really now, don't get your feathers ruffled up!!  I think Suzi actually paid you and all rocket scientists a fabulous compliment!!  Not used in a derogatory way at all - rocket science is hard!! That's why there aren't that many!  If it was easy as - making labels for fig trees, everyone would be a rocket scientist ;) And,  I'll bet you a nickel not many people here know the VA TECH mascot is named Hokie  - spelled with an "ie".  I am sure Dan used the work hokey with the common definition as being corny, or, sentimental.  Personally, I have never heard anyone use the word hokey to refer to something that doesn't appear right, I don't think that definition is as common as you may think.

Dan,

I buy my tags on ebay. They are double sided so you can write on both sides. I think you saw them when you came over. If not then I can send you some pictures.

omotm,

I have a set of the letter/number stamp.
Nice to have but too time consuming for what we are doing.

I use mini-blind slats [cut with tin snips] and a garden marker pen. The slats are plenty rigid enough to be shoved into the potting mix.
I stopped by a window coverings shop and they happily gave me several blinds that were defective and would otherwise go into the trash. Less in the landfill for them [well, everybody] free tags for me.

Those little rice-sized ID chips used for animals! Just slip it into the trunk of your tree. Voila! Then you can walk around with your scanner and know where and what everything everything is. Or, if you prefer, drive around in your Mercedes and use your pen to check them off your check list.